Director Biography – Ani Taj (SUNDAY)

Ani Taj is a director-choreographer and founder of The Dance Cartel. She choreographs music videos, films, large-scale dance experiences, VR, concerts, and non-traditional musicals, and is a deep believer that whatever the platform, dance can actually be a GOOD TIME for everyone.

In 2019 Taj & collaborator-sister Amy O’Neal co-choreographed Wajatta’s VR experience Runnin, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival and won “Best Interactive” at SXSW.
In 2020, before the world stopped, Taj launched a giant and totally absurd immersive dance experience with longtime collaborator Sam Pinkleton, commissioned by Virgin Voyages, which we hope will be back soon.

Choreography highlights include: TV appearances with The Dance Cartel on Conan and The Late Late Show; music videos for Yoko Ono, Reggie Watts, Shura & Vic Mensa; live performances at Ace Hotel NY, PS1/MoMA, the High Line, Brooklyn Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Knockdown Center, Seaport Music Festival, The Shed, OBERON (ART). On screen, Taj has also enjoyed working in the niche of quirky-horror-choreo for the film adaptation of Mac Wellman’s Bad Infinity and SLMBR PRTY’s comedy-horror short Unfinished Business.

As a performer, Taj has danced on Broadway in the Tony-nominated hit Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, as well as with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Reggie Watts & Tommy Smith, Les Freres Corbusier, Liz Swados. Taj is an Adjunct at NYU/ETW. @anitaj @thedancecartel (she/her/hers)