Lee Jay Hoy is a professional ballet dancer & model. He is currently rehearsing for a new Disney movie which will be realized in 2021. Photographer Giorgio Lattanzi lensed the dancer and model for an all-new exclusive for Man of Metropolis. We also caught up with Lee to talk about his career, love for dance, and what he has been up to the first half of 2020.
MM: Portraying Billy Elliot in the West End is an iconic role that goes beyond just the music. How did this opportunity change your career and life? How did you feel your last day on stage as Billy, walk us through the emotions you had, who you saw after the show, and the biggest takeaway/learning from playing Billy?
LH: It opened many doors for me in the Dance and Fashion world. This would not have happened if I had not been given the opportunity to play ‘Older Billy Elliot’ in the West End Musical. On the last day as ‘Older Billy’, I felt very emotional as I didn’t want to leave after spending 3 years there. The show ended up closing after 11 years in the west end. So my whole family including my headmaster came to see my last performance.
MM: First, off we have to ask how are you finding time and space to dance during this pandemic?
LH: So I wake up every morning around 8 am and take a ballet class at 9 on zoom. Later in the day, I participate in a yoga class to stretch out all my muscles. Space is a little bit restricted as I’m 6 foot 2.
MM: Do you have a favorite dance / choreographed moment you like to practice to?
LH: At the moment as I don’t have much space I tend to just stick to doing a ballet class every day.
MM: When was the last time you danced in front of an audience? What was the show, performance, and did you have any family or friends in the audience?
LH: So the end of last year I performed Swan Lake over in Ireland in front of an audience. My family and friends couldn’t come to watch as it was over in Ireland.
MM: Ok, during quarantine we have discovered Tik Tok. Are you into it — any favorite accounts we should follow?
Actually I don’t have TikTok but I do have Instagram. My favorite accounts on Instagram are 80s Lolita, this was Hollywood and British culture archive. Check them out.
MM: You are currently filming Cruella with Disney. That is a huge machine. What as the experience been like so far and where is production at this point due to COVID-19?
LH: I finished filming ‘Cruella’ before COVID-19. The experience has been incredible. The sets, costumes and makeup are out of this world. It’s been one of the best jobs I’ve worked on. I got to work with Emma Stone on one of the scenes. She is such a talented actress and so lovely.
MM: Let’s switch gears to fashion. When you are not in costume for dance or film, how would you describe your personal style?
LH: I would describe my style as a more teddy boy which was a British subculture in the 50s.
MM: Number one fashion brand you would shop if cost didn’t matter?
LH: So my number one brand would have to be Gabicci. Proper old school brand.
MM: Recently the film, Center Stage celebrated 20 years. Are you familiar with that movie?
LH: Funnily enough, that’s my favorite movie of all time. That’s the whole reason why I auditioned for ballet school. I really looked up to Ethan Stiefel who played the lead role in the movie.
MM: What are your top 3 dance movies of all-time? Why?
LH: My top 3 dance movies are Center Stage, Dirty Dancing, and Footloose. The reason behind this the music passion and style.
MM: What is your all-time favorite song to dance to and why?
LH: The way you make me feel by Michael Jackson is my all-time favorite song to dance to. It reminds me of the dance scene in the Center Stage.
MM: Words to live by?
LH: No one is you and that is your power.
PHOTOGRPAHER: Giorgio Lattanzi
STYLIST: Angelica Stenvinkel
TALENT: Lee Jay Hoy
HAIR: Masayoshi n Fujita
MUA: Chantal Amari
PRODUCTION: Cre8Studio
DIRECTOR: Simone Pllegrini
DOP: Alessandro Berdondini
