If you are a dancer who wants to pursue a traditional path, the template for success is well laid out, though quite hard to achieve. However, if you are the type of dancer who wants to pursue a more modern approach, there are far more choices but an even less obvious pattern to follow. Lily MacMenemey finds no reason for pause or concern over this, she’s fearlessly thrown herself into creative endeavors and found herself performing in music videos with the most famous artists, in films with iconic companies like Disney, and collaborating with other dancers/choreographers to strengthen and inspire those who would follow in her footsteps.No matter what type of creative endeavor one might undertake in these times: actor, musician, comedian, writer, dancer, etc., you must conceive of and tenaciously pursue it. On any given day you can find Ms. MacMenemey on stage, on set, or in a teaching studio, seemingly in a state of constant motion. There are only a handful of famous marquee dancers known by name but Lily MacMenemey’s presence is profound and vibrant throughout today’s modern entertainment community.
A professional career in entertainment can be like surfing, you prepare and then go where the wave takes you. For Lily, this wave has taken her into a number of films. Notably, this took place at a time when most of the industry was in lockdown due to the pandemic. Only the most talented and sought after professionals were included in these productions due to covid protocols and curt schedules. Locking & popping in the Manjari Makijany (of the Oscar Winning Dunkirk and BAFTA Nominated The Dark Knight Rises) directed Spin (originally released by Disney in India then worldwide) to the Disney+ release Sneakerella, her hip hop routines in Netflix’s Work It and Lifetime Network’s A Christmas Dance (also available on Amazon Prime), Lily’s work has been seen by nearly every demographic. She emphasizes that she truly enjoys her film work but concedes, “It’s hard to pick a favorite because I learn so much from every project and really appreciate all the interesting and talented people I meet and work with. I would probably say that the project I learned the most from was the Justin Bieber music video ‘Available’ from his Changes album.” Ms. MacMenemey also worked as assistant choreographer to Jaja Vankova on this music video and it marks one occasion of a notable series of collaborations between these two immensely talented dancers. Jaja (known for her choreography for artists such as Justin Bieber, Ludacris, and others) brought Lily aboard the R.U.R. Dance Alliance to take a leadership role in this organization which takes a holistic approach to the professional, creative, and health well-being of dancers. Holding courses in Los Angeles, Phuket Thailand, and other locations, R.U.R. has performed at prestigious events such as “Highlight the Style” alongside icons like Flat Top and Toni Basil. Her involvement in R.U.R. is something that Lily perceives as immensely important in her own professional story stating, “I’ve benefited from my involvement in R.U.R. and am happy as an alumni member to give back to new aspiring artists. Having been down this road, it’s important to me to help these artists prepare and understand what to expect. The most difficult thing about the life of a dancer is also one of the most exciting things. It’s the unpredictability that comes with this line of work. Your whole life can change with a single email at any moment. It’s not a job that fits into a traditional 9 to 5, five days a week lifestyle. It means not knowing what your schedule will look like in a week, let alone what country it will be taking you to. Its learning how to keep up with such a fast life and dealing with the dry times that seem excruciatingly slow. Overall, it’s incredibly exciting and I thrive on the fast pace and unpredictability, even though it also means missing out on family events and often not being home for the holidays or missing friends’ birthdays, weddings, and big life events. It asks you to make choices that don’t always feel good in the moment, but you know they will pay off eventually.”
Writer: Coleman Haan