Interview Date: February 16th, 2025
Episode Summary:
This episode features Khalid Freeman—body percussionist, choreographer, and field team director—known for merging musicianship and movement. A veteran of STOMP (nine years), Cirque du Soleil, and five Super Bowl Halftime Shows, Khalid translates drummer-level musicality onto the body, treating the performer as the instrument itself.
Khalid retraces his path from tap (inspired by Gregory Hines) to stepping and finally to body percussion, unpacking how “you are the drum set.” He explains the difference between stepping’s militant power and body music’s nuance, and shares how STOMP honed his dynamics, phrasing, and counting. Highlights include being an original cast for Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour and later contributing choreography to MJ ONE (“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”).
On the Super Bowl side, he demystifies the field team role—executing KP’s vision, staging giant formations safely, and problem-solving live.Khalid encourages dancers to develop a musician mindset (ghost notes, sustains, phrasing), break the fourth wall to connect with audiences, and cultivate versatility by training across styles and teachers. He contrasts film (repeatable, permanent capture) with live events (one shot, controlled adrenaline) and reminds performers to be coachable, patient, and fully present.
Above all, find your authentic “grocery-cart/shower/kitchen dance” so industry work doesn’t erase your voice.
Show Notes:
- (07:43) – Formal intro and career overview
- (08:48) – Body percussion explained; stepping vs. body music
- (12:35) – Nine years in STOMP; musicality and dynamics
- (17:01) – Triple-threat: breaking the fourth wall
- (24:09) – MJ Immortal cast experience & callbacks
- (25:09) – Adding body percussion to MJ ONE
- (41:27) – Five Super Bowls overview
- (42:20) – What a field team director actually does
- (51:19) – Super Bowl auditions: artist team vs. field cast
- (58:29) – Film vs. Super Bowl: nerves, capture, and focus
Biography:
Khalid brings versatility to the Body Music world with his unique percussive dance style. Putting his stank and flava in various shows and groups such as (Stomp, Stomp the Yard, Stomp Out Loud, Molodi, LXD, Cirque Du Soleil’s Michael Jackson Immortal tour and ONE and Beatles LOVE, Usher, Spiegelworld, 5 Super Bowl Haltime shows, European Games closing ceremony and more). Khalid took his instrument/art form on 17 world tours, 46 countries and all 50 states over 26 years so it’s clearly his passion and career mission to expand the love of body percussion.
Connect on Social Media:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/khalidfreeman/
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