Kenny Wormald

A seasoned dancer with an impressive track record of performing with big-name talent, Kenny Wormald made headlines when he landed the lead role in the 2011 remake of the feature dance film, "Footloose."

The New England-born Wormald took to dancing early, studying various forms from the age of six and winning numerous awards by the time he graduated high school. He moved to Los Angeles in 2002, where he secured choreographed spots in film and on television, including music videos of well-known performers like Madonna and Mariah Carey. In 2007 he was cast on the MTV reality series, "Dancelife" (2007), and toured as a backup hoofer for Justin Timberlake.

Wormald had a big break the following year when he appeared as a lead in the TV movie, "Center Stage: Turn It Up" (Oxygen, 2008). In 2010 his profile rose even more when he was cast as the star of "Footloose," after Zac Efron and Chace Crawford passed on the role, offering Wormald a major opportunity to showcase his acting skills and, like Kevin Bacon had 20-plus years earlier, his undeniable mastery of dance.

Born July 27, 1984 to parents Ed and Melanie Wormald, Kenny Wormald grew up in Stoughton, MA, outside Boston. He held a fascination for dance from a young age, and like any child of the Eighties and early Nineties, learned the basics by copying the moves of Michael Jackson and New Kids on the Block. An admittedly hyperactive child, his parents enrolled him at age six in dance classes at The Gold School in nearby Brockton.

His teachers recognized his obvious talent as he mastered various dance styles, including jazz, ballet and tap, as well as modern dance and acrobatics. At age 10, Wormald danced with a troupe that performed for President Bill Clinton at an Easter egg hunt on the White House lawn. He went on to win several awards, including Master Dance of New England at age 11, Junior Mr. Dance of New England at age 13, Teen Dancer of Boston at age 14, and Teen Mr. Dance of New England at 15. He also was also a gold medalist in tap at the World Dance Championships in Germany.

His accomplishments notwithstanding, Wormald had to endure teasing from his close friends once he made it to Staughton High School. To offset the stigma, he would play football and baseball, but balance those sports with his commitment to dance, leading his friends to constantly rib him when he missed football practice in order to practice ballet.

After graduating high school, Wormald and a friend relocated to Los Angeles in 2002, with success as professional dancers in mind. Hitting the auditions hard, Wormald quickly won a dance role on an episode of "The Drew Carey Show" (ABC, 1995-2004). He went on to appear alongside Kevin Federline in the 2004 feature, "You Got Served," and danced in several music videos, including Madonna's "American Life" (2003) and Mariah Carey's "It's Like That" (2005).

In 2006, he danced with Nelly Furtado on "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ), and also appeared as a dancer in the feature film, "Clerks II." The following year he was cast as a regular on the MTV reality show, "Dancelife," which followed the highs and lows of six wannabe hoofers struggling to succeed in the professional dance industry. He also toured as a backup dancer for Justin Timberlake, whom Wormald claimed to admire greatly.

Wormald caught a break in 2008 when he appeared in a lead role in the dance drama, "Center Stage: Turn It Up," about a ballerina who, with the help of her love interest (Wormald), attempts to make it into a prestigious ballet school in New York City. That same year, Wormald choreographed a video for Korean group TVXQ, and in 2010 he toured with the Pussycat Dolls, a burlesque dance troupe that at one point included Wormald's former girlfriend, Ashley Roberts.

Major success finally beckoned in 2010 when Wormald was announced as the lead in the remake of the 1984 dance feature sensation, "Footloose," in which Wormald would appear in the role made famous by Kevin Bacon. The movie reboot, about a rebellious young man who makes waves in a conservative small town, was highly anticipated, with Wormald finding himself cast after actors Zac Efron and Chace Crawford both declined the role.