John Mark Hackman is an American choreographer, writer and stage producer.[1] Most notably recognized as the creator and executive director of street dance performance company Chicago Dance Crash,[2][3] Hackman is also the founding choreographer of photography/performance project The Living Canvas[4][5] under the directorship of Pete Guither as well as the cofounder of The Keeper of The Floor Championship (KTF) alongside dancer/actor Kyle Terry – the production now being recognized as one of the longest-running professional "all styles" dance battles in the United States.[6][7]
Hackman's writings are known for a live production style of storytelling that combines stunt work and dance with recorded narration and dialogue.[8] This concept has been seen in Hackman's writings for nationally-touring productions including Booms Day,[9]Tribulation and the Demolition Squad,[10]Gotham City[11] and The Bricklayers of Oz.[12] among others.
Hip Hop
As a producer and hip-hop culture advocate within the entertainment industry, Hackman has been a presenter, investor or consultant for several professional street crews and musicians.[13][14][15]In a Newcity Magazine interview regarding the future of show business after the 2000s, he predicted an industry-wide embrace of hip hop and street styles specifically for commercial performing arts. '“More often than not, this contemporary view is usually taking street styles (breaking, waving, krumping) and putting them in a theater with concert techniques like modern, ballet or jazz,” Hackman says. “Our generation is getting established enough to start producing our own work and all these new TV shows and movies have hit this decade that have ballerinas onstage with breakers, it seems like it’s an approach that’s only going to gain popularity into the 2000-teens and well beyond that.”'[16]
Personal
Hackman is a graduate of Illinois State University,[17] and resigned from Chicago Dance Crash as CEO in 2022 to work for the City of Chicago's Film Office and Cultural Department, appointing Jessica Leyva as his successor.[18][19]
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