Michelle Johnston

Michelle Johnston rose up the ranks from chorus gypsy to choreographer of film and TV and featured performer herself. She got her first break in 1982 as a dancer in "One From the Heart," directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and then danced with John Travolta in "Staying Alive" (1983). Two years later, she was chosen by choreographer Jeffrey Hornaday as a dancer in "A Chorus Line," directed by Sir Richard Attenborough. Johnston became Bebe Benson, singing "At the Ballet," and also assisted Hornaday on the film. She went on to become Hornaday's assistant choreographer on Madonna's "Who's That Girl?" world tour, on the Michael Jackson film, "Captain EO," and on various music videos. Johnston then assisted Hornaday on "Dick Tracy," and danced in the film as well. She began choreographing on her own with an episode of "Tales From the Crypt" in 1990, and, when Hornaday was chosen to direct "Shout!," a John Travolta vehicle, he gave Johnston the nod to choreograph the film on her own -- the plot offered the story of a fugitive hired as a music teacher in a Texas town. Johnston went on to choreograph an episode of "Great Scott!" on Fox in 1992, as well as the Ray Liotta film, "Article 99" that same year. Also a singer as well as a dancer, Johnston was a mere 17 years old when she toured Japan performing and choreographing a stage show. Hornaday has directed her in a music video, "Here Comes My Baby," and she has performed in "Showgirls," the 1995 movie, and, that same year, made a straight comic performance as a Sears salesperson in "Grumpier Old Men."