Fred Tallaksen is an award-winning choreographer whose work can be seen and recognized all over the world. He is a two-time Emmy nominee, an American Choreography Award winner, a nominee for a second American Choreography Award, a winner of two Choreography Media honor Awards, an Espirit Award winner, as well as several Gala Awards, and a nominee for an Ovation Award and a Robby Award.
Being a talented and eclectic choreographer who is prepared, organized, professional and easy to get along with, puts Fred in demand with top Directors and Producers worldwide. He is well versed in many styles and disciplines and is super creative.
Lending his talents to film, television, commercials, stage, music videos and the corporate entertainment field, Fred has not only choreographed dancers, singers, actors and musicians, but also skaters, drummers, BMX riders, skateboarders, aerial artists, cheerleaders, gymnasts and all kinds of specialty performers. He has become known for his signature "everything but the kitchen sink" spectacle shows worldwide.
Fred worked one on one with Madonna and created choreography for her "Sorry" music video. He was then asked to choreograph the finale for her Confessions World Tour. The televised special on NBC earned him a Choreography Media Honors Award. Fred has also choreographed music videos for Weezer (Pork and Beans), James Blunt (1973) Kellis (Good Stuff) and Enrique Iglasias (Can You Hear Me.) The music video Fred choreographed for Juanes (Me Enamora) won a Latin Grammy Award for best video of 2008. Fred has also Directed music videos including: Tavio (Mi Pais), Storm Lee (I Came Here to Dance) and Carbon 9. (My Friend)
He was the skating consultant for Austin Powers III – Goldmember, and worked personally with Mike Myers. He choreographed other films such as No Place Like Home, Circuit, Whiplash and The Sex Monster.
Commercials include the American Choreography Award nominated Mountain Dew Busby Berkeley Spot, Washington Mutual, seven spots for Goodyear Tires, Mitsubishi, Dirt Devil, two spots for Round Table Pizza, Domino's Pizza, Chrysler, Toshiba, Adidas Men’s Cologne, Hilton Hotels, Shoebuy.com and McDonald’s.
For all seven seasons, Fred was the staff choreographer for the hit television series, Malcolm in the Middle and choreographed over 19 episodes. These earned him two Emmy nominations, a win for an American Choreography Award and a second Choreography Media Honors Award. For television, Fred has also choreographed: Modern Family, True Jackson VP, The 120th Rose Parade, Arrested Development, Miss Guided, Rules of Engagement, Blue Collar TV, Living with Fran Drescher, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, seven years on Days of Our Lives, Mad TV, Boy Meets World, Monk, Two Guys and a Girl and Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards. The title sequence Fred choreographed for Sid the Science Kid won an Emmy in 2008 for best title sequence. Fred has choreographed multiple episodes of this animated PBS children's show and has become an expert for choreography using motion capture technology.
For the stage, Fred has choreographed Damn Yankees, Music Man, Songs for a New World, Music of the Night and Miss Desmond Behind Bars which earned him an Ovation and Robby Award nomination. For Universal Studio’s Summer Movie Drive Inn, Fred choreographed Grease, West Side Story, Footloose, Xanadu, the Wizard of Oz, Happy Feet, Mama Mia, Little Shop of Horrors and Dirty Dancing.
Disney credits include the amazing spectacle entitled The Legend of Mythica for Tokyo Disney Seas (THEA award for best show), Dance Time at Disneyland Paris and the Pixar Play! Parade, at California Adventure. (Fred is also show Director for this spectacle)
A multi-award winning Director/Choreographer for his work in the corporate arena, Fred has worked on over 200 events all over the world for major corporations including Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Honda, Acura, IBM, FORD, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Goodyear, AT&T, Rolls Royce, Chrysler, Honeywell, US Sprint, Harley Davidson, Jaguar, Elizabeth Arden, the Disney Channel, Phillip Morris and countless others. Fred was staff choreographer for five years for the high roller parties on New Years Eve at the Bellagio and Mirage hotels in Las Vegas. For his work in the Corporate World, Fred has won an Esprit Award and several Gala Awards.
In 1999, Fred created “Rhythm Extreme” which is a high-energy percussion group that has performed at over 250 live events and in many commercials and videos. After 11 years this amazing group is going strong with a wide talent base in Orlando and Los Angeles.
Fred has choreographed and coached celebrities including: Madonna, Mike Meyers, Enrique Iglesias, Heather Locklear, David Spade, Lucy Lawless, Candis Cayne, Fran Drescher, Jamie Kennedy, Greg Kinnear, Bea Arthur, Kelis, David Cassidy, Frankie Muniz, Kelly Osborne, La Toya Jackson, Marisa Tomei, Scott Bakula, Amy Pietz, Queen Latifah, Rita Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Melissa Joan Hart, Portia De Rossi, Antonio Sabato Jr., Ben Stiller, Ben Savage, Jane Kazmerick, Ruben Studdard & Kimberly Caldwell from American Idol, Mariel Hemmingway, The Osmonds, Paul Lekakis, Cloris Leachman, Whitney Houston, Bryan Cranston, Wendie Malkin, Judy Greer, Laura Bell Bundy and Vanessa Hudgens.
Fred has been a quadruple threat performer since his teens and performed in musicals such as Cats, Starlight Express, On Your Toes, Tommy, Pippin and Jesus Christ Superstar. He danced, acted, tumbled and did skating stunts for commercials including Coke, Pepsi, HBO and Adidas. Fred has sung jingles for Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Blue Cross and Pop Tarts. Music videos and television include Madonna, Black Sabbath, Bobby Womack, General Hospital, Loving, the Rosie O’Donnell show and the Superbowl halftime show. Fred was the skating, body & photo double for Mike Myer's character Goldmember in the film "Austin Powers III - Goldmember." He has the honor of performing with the amazing Ann-Margret for concerts and in her variety show. Fred was the host of the TV series "Get Up and Dance" on Comcast and he was the on camera runway coach for the reality series "Miss America Reality Check." Currently Fred plays the role of the eccentric choreographer "Mr. X" on the Nickelodeon hit show "Big Time Rush.".