Julie McDonald (agent)
Encyclopedia
Julie McDonald is a talent agent
and co-founder of McDonald Selznick Associates (MSA), an agency headquartered in Hollywood, California
, that represents dancers, choreographers, stage directors, and production designers. In the 1980s, McDonald worked as a ballet
and modern dance
r and owned a dance studio in Venice, California
, called Room to Move. Due to a knee injury while shooting a television commercial she was forced to end her dance career early but she still had the desire to work in entertainment. In 1985, after taking a three week entertainment business course, she took a position as an agent at Joseph, Heldfond & Rix (JHR) agency. At the time JHR only represented actors. McDonald became the country's first dance agent by creating the company's (and thus the country's) first agency department dedicated exclusively to dancer representation; at the time, representation for dancers did not exist. At the first audition, 300 dancers showed up. One of her first clients was Paula Abdul
.
While at JHR, McDonald worked to improve working conditions for dancers and secure overtime and hazard pay. In 1990, she founded the Dancers Alliance to establish minimum rates for work. She eventually left JHR agency and started McDonald Selznick Associates in 2000 with business partner Tony Selznick. In addition to running MSA, she is on the advisory council of Dance Camera West film festival. She is also an associate producer for the dance documentary MOVE.
In 2010, McDonald was honored at The Carnival: Choreographer’s Ball
"for being a pioneer of dance representation." Her award was presented to her by Paula Abdul
, Tony Selznick, and Robin Antin
. In 2011, she won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th Annual Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival.
Talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
and co-founder of McDonald Selznick Associates (MSA), an agency headquartered in Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, that represents dancers, choreographers, stage directors, and production designers. In the 1980s, McDonald worked as a ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
and modern dance
Modern dance
Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. Although the term Modern dance has also been applied to a category of 20th Century ballroom dances, Modern dance as a term usually refers to 20th century concert dance.-Intro:...
r and owned a dance studio in Venice, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, called Room to Move. Due to a knee injury while shooting a television commercial she was forced to end her dance career early but she still had the desire to work in entertainment. In 1985, after taking a three week entertainment business course, she took a position as an agent at Joseph, Heldfond & Rix (JHR) agency. At the time JHR only represented actors. McDonald became the country's first dance agent by creating the company's (and thus the country's) first agency department dedicated exclusively to dancer representation; at the time, representation for dancers did not exist. At the first audition, 300 dancers showed up. One of her first clients was Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
.
While at JHR, McDonald worked to improve working conditions for dancers and secure overtime and hazard pay. In 1990, she founded the Dancers Alliance to establish minimum rates for work. She eventually left JHR agency and started McDonald Selznick Associates in 2000 with business partner Tony Selznick. In addition to running MSA, she is on the advisory council of Dance Camera West film festival. She is also an associate producer for the dance documentary MOVE.
In 2010, McDonald was honored at The Carnival: Choreographer’s Ball
The Carnival: Choreographer’s Ball
The Carnival: Choreographer’s Ball show is the longest running dance show in Southern California, and a popular monthly showcase of the top/elite choreographers in the world...
"for being a pioneer of dance representation." Her award was presented to her by Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
, Tony Selznick, and Robin Antin
Robin Antin
Robin Antin is an American dancer, choreographer, music video director, actress, showgirl, clothing designer and entrepreneur. In 1995 in Los Angeles Antin, Christina Applegate and Carla Kama founded the modern burlesque troupe The Pussycat Dolls...
. In 2011, she won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th Annual Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival.