Learning Directly From the Source: Gil Duldulao

Choreography by Gil Duldulao

There's a difference between learning choreography and learning it from the person who actually created it — and that difference was the entire point of Gil Duldulao's latest session at The Manor LDN, part of the studio's ongoing Janet Jackson Series. Duldulao taught original choreography that has defined Janet Jackson's performances and influenced dancers worldwide, and his work has played a key role in shaping her signature style. This wasn't a class about replicating a routine; it was a class about understanding why the routine exists in the first place.

That distinction gave dancers something a video breakdown never could: real insight into the musicality, precision, and performance quality behind some of the most recognisable routines in pop music, explained by the person who built them. Every correction carried context — not just "here's the step," but "here's why this step exists the way it does." For dancers looking to genuinely deepen their understanding of commercial choreography rather than just their step count, that context is the entire value of the class.

It was an unforgettable moment, and one that highlighted something The Manor LDN keeps proving true: learning from industry-leading choreographers like Gil Duldulao isn't just a nice credential to have taught you — it fundamentally changes how a dancer understands the craft.