Local dancer competing on NBC’s World of Dance
Paso Robles High School alumnus Allie Giroux dancing with top performers
–Paso Robles High School alumnus Allie Giroux has professionally entered the dance industry after winning national awards at dance competitions in her youth. Giroux has performed in the 2016 Missy Elliott tribute in New York City at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors, danced with Nicki Minaj at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, and most recently recorded NBC’s World of Dance with her team, Rouge Crew.
Giroux was directly booked for her spot in Nicki Minaj’s set and attended 10 days of rehearsal to perform in two songs: No Frauds, featuring Lil Wayne, and Regret in Your Tears.
“It was an experience…definitely a learning process,” said Giroux, who performed alongside other dancers she has looked up to in her career during the set.
Giroux started her dance career when she was 10 years old, training at Artistry in Motion in Paso Robles and later Street Heat in San Luis Obispo during high school. Giroux was offered a full ride scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City her sophomore year, but ultimately decided to pursue her passion for commercial dancing in Los Angeles. She signed onto the talent agency McDonald Selznick Associates (MSA) after moving to Los Angeles two months after graduation. The agency is a pioneer in the field of allowing dancers to pursue a professional career with an agent.
Allie, pictured lower left, performs with Nicki Minaj at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards.
“She’s very driven, very passionate… [there’s] something about her that you’re drawn to… [she’s] really focused, upbeat, and bubbly,” said Bob Woodard, owner and artistic director of Artistry in Motion. Woodard has taught Giroux since she joined the studio at nine years old and calls her a leader in the studio.
Giroux cites her intensive training as making her a chameleon in adapting to multiple styles of dance.
“[I’m a] lover of movement and freedom of expression…to express yourself in that way with music,” said Giroux, who trained in various styles of dance, such as ballet, theatre, jazz, tap and hip-hop.
Her recent experience on World of Dance showed Giroux new views of the industry. At her choreographer’s encouragement, Giroux and other dancers auditioned for the show, and filming began in early 2017. The competitors experienced late night rehearsals, such as finishing training at 3 a.m. to resume at 5 a.m. World of Dance premiered on
Allie danced in two songs during Nicki Minaj’s set. She is pictured left of the singer at the Billboard Music Awards.
May 30 and is currently airing.
“She is the most kind-hearted humble hard-working dancer I’ve come across…The industry in LA could break 99 percent of people… in those moments she never ever gave up and I commend her for constantly knowing in her heart this is what she was made to do,” said Street Heat owner and founder Heidi Asefvaziri, who has trained Giroux since she was 15. When Giroux visits Paso Robles, she continues to take classes and teach at Street Heat and Artistry in Motion.
In the next two to three years, Giroux aims to go on tour with an A-list artist, such as Beyonce or Rihanna, dance in music videos, star in movies similar to Step Up, or participate in national commercials for Target and JCPenney.
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