Gary has been involved in show business, entertainment and dance since the age of five. He received his Associate of Arts Degree from Prince George’s College and his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Maryland. He has owned and directed one of the largest gymnastics and dance complexes on the East Coast and was the director and choreographer for Superstars Show Troupe, one of the country’s hottest performing groups.
Gary and his students have appeared on the hit TV shows, Star Search, The Today Show, P.M. Magazine, and Good Morning America, have performed at the Apollo Theater, Disney World, The White House for three U.S. Presidents, the National Theater, NFL and NBA half-time shows, and were invited to perform at the World Expo in Brisbane, Australia.
Gary has appeared on the cover of Dance Teacher Now, Dancer Magazine, and Performer’s Edge Magazine, and is one of the hottest practicing jazz and acrobatics teachers. He has taught for every major dance organization in the United States, including Dance Educators of America, Dance Masters of America, Dance Olympus, Dance Caravan, Canadian Dance Teachers, NADA and Professional Dance Teachers of America. Gary has taught Master Classes from coast to coast and from Canada to Puerto Rico, also bringing dynamic styles of teaching to private studios across the country. He has worked with great stars such as Sinbad, Celine Dion, Ricky Martin, Donald Trump, Michael Bolton, Gregory Peck, Lorrie Morgan, Don Rickles, Shari Lewis, “Downtown” Julie Brown, Stevie Wonder, Shania Twain, Heart and the Go Go’s. Many of Gary’s students have gone on to professional careers as dance teachers as well as Broadway and Vegas performers – such as J.C. from ‘N Sync.
One of the most highly sought after performing arts judges in the country, Gary has also served on the Board of Directors for Dance Educators of America, where he held the position of Competition Chairman. In this position, he built Dance Educators of America’s National Dance Competition into one of the biggest in the U.S. In 1992 Gary received the 3rd Annual Robert Christopher Award and in 1991, Mexico honored his achievements in the Art of Dance. Also, Gary has been the proud recipient of the coveted “Angel Award” presented by Gus Giordano at the Jazz Dance World Congress.
Since 1994, Gary has served on the executive committee for the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover the costs of heart transplants for needy recipients around the world.
Gary began working in the talent competition business over 25 years ago, when he and his parents opened their very first “Starmaker Competition” in Washington, D.C., and has since gone on to lead the nation in establishing comprehensive and fair rules in the talent competition industry.
Gary, in his quest for discovering new talent, established STARPOWER NATIONAL TALENT COMPETITION in 1988 and has set a rapid pace in building this organization into one of the largest and most prestigious talent competitions in America. It is his goal to make Starpower an exciting, professional and fun-filled event, creating memories for a lifetime for performers, dance teachers and parents in attendance.
On a personal note, Gary loves being a father to his two daughters, Noelle & Jada and is proud to have Noelle a part of the Starpower team. He also loves being able to join his own family with his Starpower family he has created over the past two decades. Being a dance parent for a second time around with Jada, helps him relate to what the parents go through on a day to day basis and strives to always keep that in mind when organizing and planning Starpower events. Gary has truly worn all hats in the industry which has only helped him become the successful man he is today.
