Dondraico Leonta Johnson wasn't always a dancer, but nowadays you can find him choreographing some of today's most popular artists. Johnson, a Fort Lawn, S.C., native, started out as an athlete and excelled in football, baseball, and track and field, but by the time he was 17, his dance career was in full swing. Most recently Johnson was the mastermind behind the choreography in WGN's Underground series, and this weekend you'll be able to see him put in work with the cast of the new Ghostbusters film.
Although he's performed with the likes of Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Lil’ Kim, Usher and Will Smith, Johnson says the Ghostbusters movie has been his favorite project to date. In an interview with The Root, Johnson discussed his dancing and acting career and which cast member of Ghostbusters picked up the moves fastest.
He also related to what cast members Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon spoke about in a recent interview with The Root—about all the outtakes and comedy that took place. (You can imagine how hard it is to get any work done when you're working on a movie full of funny people.)
"It felt like I was hanging out with some friends of mine. When you're on the set hanging out with a bunch of comedians, all you do is laugh all day," Johnson said.
When you think of top-notch dancers, chances are you don't expect a bunch of Ghostbusters to have moves like Jagger, but think twice. The cast easily picked up Johnson's dance moves, but of course there were those who stood out.
"It was a tie between Melissa [McCarthy] and Kristen [Wiig]. I didn't even know they could dance that well," Johnson said.
Now a veteran in the dance game, Johnson has had a lot of memorable experiences and has worked with just about everyone. But as in any job, you always have your favorite co-workers.
"My top three faves were working with Michael Jackson on the This Is It tour and Janet Jackson's Super Bowl, and of course the Ghostbusters film," Johnson said.
Like many people in Hollywood, Johnson isn't a one-trick pony; he's also an aspiring actor. If you've flown Virgin America, you've probably seen him in the airline's safety videos. So whether dancing or acting, Johnson is just about everywhere nowadays. And he's definitely sure of himself.
"I think that I'm good at what I'm good at. And people think I'm good at what I do, so acting kind of fell into my hands," Johnson said about his acting career.
To see Johnson's dance moves, make sure you check out Ghostbusters, which opens Friday, July 15.