We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chayil Brooks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chayil, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
How I keep my creativity alive is by going to the movies. Going to see a movie was when I realized I wanted to be a movement director. Film makes every thing feel more intense for us. The acting, the costumes, the sound and even the camera work. It pulls the viewers in especially when you’re in the theater and the surround sound in that room is intense, how can you not get inspired!?
I specifically call myself a movement director & not just a choreographer. A choreographer create dance movements, phrases, formations, etc. They work with rhythm, and counts. A movement director is strictly storytelling, not always dance-based. For an example the 2025 film Frankenstein starring Jacob Elordi had a movement director, Abby Warrilow, which she worked closely with Elordi to really make us, the audience, believe he was a Frankenstein. Another cool thing about movement directing is sometimes you have a say on the camera movement.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a professional movement director. I create storytelling movement on both dancers and non dancers on film. I have been dancing & choreographing professionally for more than 10 years. In 2019 I started to focus more on movement directing. I choreographed & directed a dance film called Giselle, inspired by the ballet Giselle, which came out this past July on my YouTube (Chayil Brooks) and instagram (@choreographybychayil). I am in the beginning stages of creating my next dance film which will be out spring or summer of 2026.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities that I have that were & still is the most impactful in my journey is my creativity, being a sponge, and storytelling. I have always been a creative person, I am always day dreaming and creating dance movement in my head all the time. Being a “sponge” has helped me grow as a dancer because I’m able to absorb instruction faster than others. With storytelling, I was always told by my friends and family that I am really good storyteller and I think that helped me when directing dance films that has a story, knowing how to present it to the audience so they can understand what they are watching.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always looking for dancers, or film directors to collaborate with. My dream is to work on a big Hollywood movie, doesn’t matter the genre of film and to see my work on the big screen. If there are any film directors looking for a movement director they can always send me a message on instagram @chayil.brooks or @choreographybychayil. Same for dancers needing a choreographer or someone to film their passion projects.
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