New York City. 2008.

He was working at a toy store.

His daughter came to work with him because he couldn't afford childcare.

He had lost everything.

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Director · Choreographer · Writer · AI Filmmaker

PAUL
BECKER

"I grew up with nothing in a small town on Vancouver Island. No connections, no money, no plan — just the need to move."

VIII

NOW

Paul Becker directing on set
Director

Julie and the Phantoms — 13 Emmys, Rotten Tomatoes Golden Tomato for highest reviewed series of the year. Breaking Brooklyn for Lionsgate. Live concerts for Kanye West and The Jonas Brothers. Currently directing LEGO's first live-action musical, Heartlake.

Choreographer

Storytelling through movement across 100+ films and 400+ television episodes. Descendants. The Last of Us. The Twilight series. Ralph Breaks the Internet. The Muppets. Sucker Punch. The Kissing Booth franchise. Every project driven by narrative, not steps.

Writer

Co-wrote Breaking Brooklyn with Louis Gossett Jr. Scripts for Sesame Street Live and Ringling Brothers. Co-wrote four of five songs for Heartlake the Musical.

2025

The Last of Us. The work keeps evolving.

2025

Co-wrote four out of five songs for Heartlake the Musical, LEGO's first live-action musical.

2025

Head judge on America's Top Choreographer television series.

2026

Opened an AI consulting company focused on visual workflow and imagery in film and television.

I

SMALL TOWN

Paul as a child in Victoria, BC Victoria, British Columbia

Born in Victoria, British Columbia. A small town on an island at the edge of Canada. No industry. No entertainment connections. No path forward that anyone could see.

His mother ran a diner. Two dancers who worked there walked into a studio one day. Paul followed them in. That was the beginning of everything.

II

THE HUNGER

Taught himself breakdance. Beat Street. Breakin'. Electric Boogaloo. Anything he could find on a screen, he studied on the floor.

Followed dancers from his mom's diner into a studio. Walked in with nothing. Walked out obsessed.

Booked his first job — the Ninja Turtles TV series.

Paul at 16

At 16, moved to Vegas with dreams of being in the circus. That didn't quite work out. But he was moving. That was the point.

III

SOMETHING CLICKED

2001
Paul in Chicago, 2001

He booked Chicago the Musical, directed by Rob Marshall.

He watched Rob work every night. The way he built a frame. The way he moved people through a story. Paul knew — not hoped, knew — that directing and storytelling was his real calling.

Something clicked.

Paul and his daughter Marlee

Around the same time, at 21, he became a father. His daughter Marlee arrived. Suddenly everything had weight.

IV

THE RISE

Paul and Robin Williams on RV
2005

RV with Robin Williams. Working with legends became the norm.

2006

Choreographed The Muppets. Yes, that includes choreographing puppets.

Paul Becker directing Louis Gossett Jr. for Breaking Brooklyn
Brooklyn brownstone
2007

His choreography career took off. Word got around. After choreographing many movies, he bought a brownstone in Brooklyn.

V

THE FALL

2008 housing market crash news graphic
2008

The financial crisis hit. The Big Short happened.

He lost the brownstone. He lost everything. He and his daughter became homeless.

He got a job at FAO Schwarz toy store to make ends meet. He brought Marlee to work because he couldn't afford childcare.

VI

THE PIANO

Paul Becker with Kenny Ortega at the piano

While on shift at FAO Schwarz, Paul looked up and saw Kenny Ortega walking through the store.

Kenny Ortega. The director of High School Musical. The choreographer of Dirty Dancing. A legend.

Paul made a decision in about three seconds.

He ran downstairs.

Changed out of his uniform.

Quit his job.

And jumped onto the big floor piano next to Kenny Ortega.

They met in the middle.

They shook hands.

Paul Becker and Miley Cyrus during the 2009 breakthrough
2009

Two weeks later, a job offer came from Kenny Ortega.

Miley Cyrus. Jonas Brothers. Best of Both Worlds tour. Paul became the choreographer. His life changed overnight.

Paul Becker with Kenny Ortega

Kenny became a collaborator. It saved Paul from homelessness. It gave him a second life in the industry.

VII

THE RETURN

Choreographing Hellcats
2010

Head choreographer on Hellcats. The TV grind began.

SYTYCD Canada
2010

Judge on So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

Paul and Michael Bublé
2013

Collaborated with Michael Bublé. More late nights, more magic.

Paul with Lily Collins
2014

Mirror Mirror with Lily Collins. Director and producer of Canada's Got Talent.

Breaking Brooklyn BTS
2015

Directed Breaking Brooklyn for Lionsgate. Co-wrote the screenplay with Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr.

2015

Director of the Pan Am Games Closing Ceremonies.

Disney's Descendants
2016

DESCENDANTS

Disney's Descendants released. Paul served as head choreographer alongside Kenny Ortega. It became a global phenomenon — a billion-plus views and a franchise that defined a generation of young performers.

2018

Rehearsing with Neil Patrick Harris. Broadway meets Hollywood meets insanity.

Paul Becker YouTube channel screengrab
2020
YouTube

YouTube channel grew to over 250,000 subscribers.

2022
MTV

Won MTV Award for Best Direction — Julie and the Phantoms.

Paul Becker holding his Leo Award on the red carpet
LEO AWARDS

Five consecutive Leo Awards for outstanding choreography. The most decorated Canadian choreographer with Leo Awards.

Paul Becker

"I'm just getting started."

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