Mar 17, 2016
“The Real Michael” aka Michael Oluwamuyiwa Adegoke is the only African who is an award-‐winning Five United States Professional LaCn Ballroom Showdance Championship, World FiIh-‐Place LaCn Finalist, actor, singer, model and show host. Michael became more publicly recognized while co-‐starring with Lani Misalucha in “VOICES” (Las Vegas) aIer performing in over 240 episodes and as a judge on the “MALTINA DANCE ALL” show, the Nigerian version of “So You Think You Can Dance”, which commands over 35 million loyal viewers. EARLY LIFE Born into a family of intellectuals, his parents made a life-‐changing decision, and move to America in 1981 where he began working on two masters degrees in SoIware Engineering and TelecommunicaCons MODEL Michael conCnued being bullied throughout college, so he decided to prove his antagonists wrong by learning hip-‐hop and weight training. By the age of 19, he had outgrown his awkward phase and started to resemble the tall, muscular, and handsome man who would soon dominate and light up fashion runways for years to come. However, Michael’s first aaempts to find a modeling agency were met with rejecCon and discriminaCon. Determined not to give up, he landed three separate contracts in six months with Twin CiCes Model & Talent, Sean Doyle Fashion, and Vandalism Designs, one of the biggest fashion agencies in the Midwest. Michael stayed with the agencies for 12 years, modeling in over 60 major runways shows. DANCER While modeling, Michael developed a strong passion for hip-‐hop dance and started pracCcing on his own. Within a short period of Cme, he was performing with top choreographers, such as Yana G, Kathy Bornoff, Caesar Russell, and Pazazz. Eventually, Michael went on to perform with “The ArCst Formerly Known As Prince”. In 2001, Michael met Lisa Zamarripa, a ballroom dancer, and started training in LaCn ballroom showdance with Robert and Jennifer Foster (former World Professional Showdance Champions). Seven years later, Michael became the first African to win five United States Regional Professional Ballroom Showdance Championships and a fiIh-‐place posiCon in the World Championship. SINGER AND COMPOSER Michael began his musical career in 1986, as a member of an acapella ensemble at his high school. He sang in his church choir for 17 years, wriCng songs for the group’s performances, and once leading dual choirs in a concert of African songs. In 2001, Michael performed with Adrian Walker, a musical director and songwriter from Minnesota, at the grand opening of the Fresh AnoinCng InternaConal Church. In 2007, Michael wrote, directed and starred in a musical dance show; “BACK TO THE MOTHERLAND” (part I & II). The show debuted in 2007 and 2008 to sold-‐out audiences in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He’s currently singing as a lead singer with Isaac Hanna Entertainment in Hollywood. ACTOR, TV PERSONALITY AND SHOW HOST In 1987, Michael made his first acCng debut in college, where he starred in two stage plays: YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU from 1939, and the BriCsh drama television series, UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, directed by Mrs. Brown Fields. He received the Best Actor’s Award for both roles. In 1991, Michael made his first television appearance on Episode 10 – “Acid Rain” of the PBS “NEWTON’S APPLE” show, as a background actor, with David Heil. In 2001, he performed before a live audience on the KARE-‐11 “MALL OF AMERICA IS DANCING” show with Lisa Zamarripa (Michael’s professional dance partner). In 2012, Michael signed up with Central CasCng in Hollywood where he played mulCple roles with two Hollywood legends in “The Unbreakable Sword with Eric Roberts and “AcCve Shooter” (directed by Patrick Kilpatrick). In 2005 and 2006, Michael directed and hosted two salsa dance championship shows in Minnesota. The shows were televised live on the City Metro Cable Network (MCN 6), with a live audience of over 1,000. While visiCng Nigeria on his charity mission work in 2009, Michael was invited as a guest judge and performer on “CELEBRITY TAKES TWO”, the Nigerian version of “Dancing With The Stars”, directed by Segun Lawal. Returning from Nigeria in 2009, Michael teamed up with InternaConal super star Lani Misalucha co-‐starring in “VOICES” a musical dance show in Las Vegas for 2 years. In 2010, Michael joined Paragon of Salsa Magic to on ESPN’s “FAST TRACK TO FAME”, a new talent show produced exclusively for SPEED by Stars Avenue ProducCons, David Hill, George Greenberg, Michael Binkow, and Joe Revello (from FiveBinks) as execuCve producer. In 2010, Michael broke into the world of comedy, hosCng the PAA-‐70 “INTERNATIONAL BIRTHDAY PARTY” in Minnesota. That same year, he hosted the “AFRICAN NIGHT COMEDY” in Los Angeles, sponsored by Bassey King. One month later, Michael opened for New York’s funniest comedian, Jude Away Away, at the African ArCsts’ AssociaCon’s USA event. Michael soon traveled back to Nigeria, where he served as a judge on the number one family show in Nigeria-‐-‐“MALTINA DANCE ALL”-‐-‐directed by Hollywood producer and director Vincent CariaC, for Seasons 4, 5 and will be returning for season 6 in September 2012. In 2011, Michael Adegoke appeared as a guest on the "MIC WOM" late night show in Hollywood, with Alicia Richardson (a United States LaCn dance champion) where they performed to “The Falling Leaves” in front of a live audience. In 2012, he was featured on episode 11 or the Hollywood Exes’ Show: with Andrea Kelly, Nicole Murphy, Sheree Fletcher, Jessica Canseco, Mayte Garcia VISIONARY AND PHILANTHROPIST Prior to leaving Minnesota, Michael founded the Twin CiCes Salsa Dance Fiesta Studio in 2003. The studio became one of the largest in the Midwest, with over 2,500 members as Michael’s students. A friendly, caring, and passionate person, Michael established the “Michael Adegoke Hope 4A Child” organizaCon, which cares for children around the world who are orphaned, abandoned, or has HIV/AIDS. To date, Michael has donated over $60,000 to the organizaCon, which is currently operaCng in 4 countries; Namibia, Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. TODAY As Michael become more successful, opportuniCes came to share the stage with legends such as R&B superstar Akon during his 2008 Tour, Esera Tualo during his 2009 CD Release in Minneapolis, Kool & the Gang, Lani Misalucha in the 2010 producCon of “VOICES” in Las Vegas, and Andrea Kelly (R. Kelly’s ex–wife) at the MMPA PresidenCal Birthday Party and VH1 Michael is currently working on a new musical album, scheduled for release in 2012 in Nigeria. In addiCon, he is wriCng and co-‐producing his upcoming movie, “DANCING WITH SEX,” based on his own true-‐life story. Michael is collaboraCng on the film with the Sheik of Nollywood (producer Zeb Ejiro from Nigeria) and Hollywood Global Media ProducCons in California. Today, Michael is a widely sought-‐aIer choreographer and arCst. His path to stardom proves what the human spirit can accomplish when relentless drive and determinaCon converge with dreams. His long, arduous journey from his childhood in West Africa to where he is now-‐-‐one of the most accomplished and innovaCve dancers and arCsts alive today-‐-‐is an inspiraCon to everyone facing overwhelming obstacles and challenges along their road to success.