DENNA THOMSEN and ZAK RYAN SCHLEGEL
Creative Directors
Benjamin Kaufman
Executive Producer
DENNA THOMSEN is a maverick choreographer, filmmaker, dancer and actress who has made a significant impact on the entertainment industry.
Denna grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and later received a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado State University. She moved to California in 2007 joining Hysterica Dance Company, founded by Kitty McNamee. Denna made her first big break as Lead Actress opposite Shia Labeouf in Sigur Rós’ “Fjögur Píanó”, directed by Alma Ha’rel. She went on to work with Madonna, David Bowie, The Weekend, Snoop Dogg, Florence + The Machine, SIA, Justin Timberlake, Doja Cat, Harry Styles, Kanye West, Florence Pugh, Margot Robbie, Ewan McGregor, Anjelica Huston, Zoe Saldana, Jared Leto, Kristin Wiig, Zendaya, Kate Hudson and more.
She soon became an in demand choreographer for television shows like Winning Time, Euphoria, Pose, Angelyne, and Perry Mason as well as films including Booksmart, Blonde, Don’t Worry Darling, Rebel Moon, and Honey Boy. These projects gave Denna the opportunity to collaborate with Directors such as David Fincher, Adam McKay, Spike Jonze, Olivia Wilde, Edgar Wright, Jon Chu, Sam Levinson, Ryan Murphy, Kim Gehrig, Floria Sigismondi, Megaforce, Raine Miller and Hannah Lux Davis. Denna’s strong sense of narrative storytelling is evident in her work and can be seen in campaigns for Gucci, Moschino, Apple, Sirius XM, Mercedes, Secret, Nike, Sonos, Diesel and AirBNB. Her work for Director Tom Noakes Reebok spot, won a World Choreography Award for “Best Choreography in a Commercial”.
Denna harnessed her ability to alchemize dance movement and acting from acclaimed educators at The Lee Strasberg Institute, The Beverly Hills Playhouse, Aquila Morong and John Hindman Scene Study.
Her gift to tell compelling stories through movement design, coupled with her willingness to take creative risks, inspires dancers to explore new artistic possibilities and sets her apart as a true visionary in the dance world.
ZAK RYAN SCHLEGEL is a community builder, choreographer, performer with Shen Wei, creative director of CONGRESS, and educator at The Joffrey Ballet School. His dance work has been presented from The Juilliard School in NYC to Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA. The New York Times calls him “a star” & Wall Street Journal “eye-catching & effortless”. His extensive research of Eastern and Western movement traditions, philanthropic commitment, and multi-disciplinary leadership are underpinned by philosophy and spirituality.
On stage, Zak has performed and toured globally as company member and soloist in Shen Wei Dance Arts, Italy’s Spellbound Contemporary Ballet led by Mauro Astolfi, Yin Yue Dance Company and Backhausdance on iconic stages from BAM, Art Basel Miami and Hong Kong to The Guggenheim, Asia Society in NY and Hong Kong, Arcosanti’s FORM Festival, and LA’s Walt Disney Concert Hall in collaboration with the LA Philharmonic. He has created an evening length, experiential sound bath “Liminal” with Jonsi and Alex Somers of Sigur Ros, and has danced the works of Jean-Guilliame Weiss, Ryan Heffington with associate Ryan Spencer, Nina McNeely, Mandy Moore with associates Jillian Meyers & Megan Lawson, Michael Rooney, Jennifer Backhaus, Denna Thomsen, JA, Lisa Eaton and Josie Walsh. He received formative training from Rafael Bonachela at Sydney Dance Company, Danielle Agami, Lucas Crandall, has participated in Gaga research with Ohad Naharin in Tel Aviv, Israel and holds a BFA from Chapman University.
Commercially, Zak can be seen in Ryan Heffington’s Emmy award-winning choreographic work for HBO’s Euphoria directed by Sam Levinson starring Zendaya, Nina McNeely’s Emmy award-winning choreographic work for HBO’s The Idol (Associate Choreographer + Dancer) directed by Sam Levinson starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, the feature film Babylon, directed by Damien Chazelle starring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, and is the featured artist in Lexus’ L5 campaign. He has worked with directors Damien Chazelle, Sam Levinson, Jon Watts, Edgar Wright, Jonas Åkerlund, Melina Matsoukas, Floria Sigismondi, Amy Seimetz, Sebastian Strasser, Nina McNeely, Dugan O’Neal, Kitty McNamee, Greko Sklavounos, Eliot Lee Hazel, WIFE, Lita Albuquerque and GMUNK.
Other commercial collaborations include: The Weeknd, Sigur Ros, Britney Spears, Ry X, Lawrence Rothman, Years & Years, Peaches, Ghost, MIKA, Ecko, Audrey Nula, Nova Wav, Fitz and the Tantrums, Japanese Breakfast, Lawrence Rothman, The Pierces, Sam Sparro, Vogue Italia, FLAUNT and OUT magazine, Lexus, Toyota, Ford, Squarespace, Amazon Prime, Sleep Number, Tedx, The Getty, Milk and FIDM in multiple genres and platforms from film/television, music videos, live stage performances, commercial campaigns and print editorials.
BENJAMIN KAUFMAN’s background in creative business started in fine art, public art and design. He opened a lowbrow art gallery called Hold Up Art and consulted for other LA based galleries until 2012, when he pivoted to artist management, working full time with an art collective called CYRCLE, developing fine art shows, art works and the corresponding content for galleries and museums across the globe. CYRCLE collaborated with artists such as JR and Vhils, and designed products and pieces for clients such as MGM Grand, Reebok, Cannon and DC Shoes.
In 2015, Ben helped to refine a concept for a multidisciplinary management and production company with producer Coleen Haynes (HSI, Black Dog Films), called MAAVVEN, where the company focused on creating synergies among multifaceted visual artists. At MAAVVEN he oversaw management of a roster of over 20 artists including Floria Sigismondi, Philippa Price, Fatima Robinson and Nina McNeely. Clients included the likes of Katy Perry, David LaChappell, Sigur Ros, Noname and St. Vincent, and brands such as Balmain and Redbull. At MAAVVEN, Ben produced videos for Universal Music and Warner Music, developed and launched a dance event series called Congress, with Denna Thomsen and Zak Ryan Schlegel, and has worked on creative direction, consulting and production for 88 Rising (Niki, Joji).
In 2020 Ben left MAAVVEN to focus on consulting, including work on Hypha, a subscription based climate solutions non profit. At Margot Station he's been focused on company operations, finding unique approaches to building community, creating and refining marketing outreach and design strategies, as well as collaborating on projects such as Bryan Carberry’s indie doc *smiles and kisses you*, Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary directed by Garret Price, and a yet to be named feature about the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Often challenging industry standards, Ben works to develop efficient, creative strategies for bringing stories to life.
Ben lives in east LA and is interested in the intersection of high and low brow, believes in the utility of a purse and is considering adopting a standard poodle.
