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Gregory Butler

@gkbut

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Director/Choreographer/Writer/Teacher/Movement Coach/Performance Director/Actor/Singer/Dancer/Full time dreamer. My thoughts-My opinions-My life✊🏾

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“A Doll’s House”
4/4

Should boy’s play with dolls?
ABSOFU**KINGLUTLY!!

📸 @gregoryzabilski

Styled by ME
Dress: Universal Threads
Sneakers: Converse
Doll: Encore Toys

#joy #gregoryzabilski #photography #play #iam #me #doll #dolls #dance #dancer #damcers #blackmale #blackmaledancers #blackmaledancer #blackboyjoy #blackmanmagic by @gkbut

Gregory Buttler / Los Angeles, Ca, 2024.

Part III

In his own words (audio transcribed)

“My queer journey walks hand in hand with my spirituality. The more work that I have done on creating a God of my understanding, the less I seek to see myself through the eyes of a world that judges me and hates me.

Because now I see myself through the eyes of a creator who loves me and accepts me.

My God is crazy about me.

My greatest prayer each day is that I will stand in the center of God’s dream for me, and I stand in the center as a proud black gay man.

I’m a king, baby.

I’m just wearing a dress.”

Shirt - @maisonblanche.swiss

Shoes - @leizileifashion by @gkbut

QUEER DANDY!

I’m inspired by those who choose to stand out!

I’ve always loved to dress up. In elementary school I used to wear button up shirts, dickies and an occasional jacket. But out the fear of being picked on I lost that style and settled for ‘fitting in.’ My uniform of choice was wrapped in the safety of the epitome of masculine attire, jeans and a T.

Today, as the 2025 Met Gala happens I relish my growth over the years and how I’ve dared to dress for myself and that elementary kid who wasn’t afraid to stand out!

Happy Met Gala Day!

The theme of the 2025 Met Gala…
SUPERFINE: TAILORING BLACK STYLE

“It pays homage to black dandyism and (explore) the importance of clothing and style to the formation of Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora.” per the Met

Photos #1 Maxwell Poth
#2,3,4 Aron Aaron Jay Young

#metgala2025
#blackexcellence
#blackdandy
#queerdandy by @gkbut

The celebration of Chicago’s 30th year on Broadway continues with another interview—this time with Donna Marie Asbury! Donna performed in the ensemble of Chicago for 20 years! She also understudied Roxie and Velma and performed with dozens of celebrities over the years. She has many fond memories of the cast of Chicago.  To listen to this interview: 1 Follow @immortaliconsofdance 2 Comment CHICAGO30 beneath this post 3 Check Your DMs for the link  Curated by @laurynjohnson20  #annreinking #chicago30 #dancehistory #broadwayhistory #immortaliconsofdance by @gkbut

Tap was never my ministry. 😂

When choreographer Michael Shawn hired me for a Buick industrial (remember those?), I was on the ‘struggle bus’ through the big tap number. I went to him for advice. He said, “Smile big and the audience won’t notice your feet.”

Then he put me DOWNSTAGE for a section of the number!

I KILLED IT. Because I had to. 😂

Look, I could tap, but the style never quite sat right in my body or my soul. Michael saw that. He also believed in me enough to put me where everyone could see me. He challenged me to work hard, then work harder at finessing what I could do.

Now, as a choreographer, I know how much trust goes into placing dancers in formations. Throughout my career, I’ve tried to give other dancers the opportunity Michael gave me, the opportunity to rise up!

For the lineage of dancers that stretches from you, through me, and beyond…

Thank you, Michael. 🕺🏾❤️💃🏾

#michaelshawn #choreographer #grateful #tbt #passingiton by @gkbut

We’ve done so much, you and I—all because you dared to dream. And look at us…STILL AT IT!

Detroit-New York-LA

I’m so proud of how far we’ve come.

#keepthedreamalive #lookhowfarwevecome #dreamer #stilldreaming by @gkbut

A while back, I did a self-tape for a role on a TV show and heard nothing back, so I let it go.

Today, I received an email from my agent saying they’d heard from production. The role, which was originally going to be cast locally in West Virginia, is now being cast in L.A. It starts tomorrow, and they wanted to know my availability if I were chosen.

I’m posting this as a reminder to all of my fellow creatives: WE NEVER KNOW WHY WE DIDN’T GET A ROLE!

It reminds me how powerless I am over the outcome. My job is to do the audition, let it go, and leave the rest to the folks who get paid to make those decisions!

But what I love most is that, completely out of nowhere, I got a little affirmation:

I STILL GOT IT! HA!

Keeping the dream alive! 🎭

#Actor #ActorsLife #OneNeverKnows by @gkbut

The Dance Division of Juilliard is celebrating its 75th anniversary! I wrote about my Juilliard experience on my Substack.

‘…I attended for one full year, and at the end of that year, the founder of the Dance Division, Martha Hill, and I decided it was time for me to go. Ok, maybe she decided.’

Full article can be found on my Substack. Link in bio

#juilliard #dance #dancer #dancemajor #substack by @gkbut

I made this post a few day’s ago and someone responded with the question, ‘So what is your point?’

Here was my response:

“So what is your point?”

Since you asked, I’ll make the point explicit.

For Black Americans, the image of a Black person hanging from a tree does not exist in a historical vacuum. Trees were used as sites of lynching—public acts of racial terror meant not only to murder Black people, but to send a message to entire Black communities.

So when I say, “Black people do not hang themselves from trees,” I am speaking to the historical and cultural weight of that image. I am speaking to why seeing a Black body hanging from a tree immediately evokes something very specific for many of us.

You don’t have to share that history personally to understand that it exists.

And sometimes, instead of asking, “So what is your point?” the better question might be, “What am I missing?”

That question leaves room to learn.

🙏🏾🤎

#blackhistory #lynching #historicalcontext #blacklivesmatter by @gkbut

Dedicated to the dancer in you! 🌹

…The last time I taught the choreography from Chicago was about a year ago. Because of my hip, I was barely walking without intense pain and medication. The mean streets of New York City are no joke, and navigating them with a physical disability was beyond frustrating. There were moments I had to stop myself from completely breaking down…

Full article can be found in my Substack. Link in my bio

#dance #dancer #choreographer #creativeprocess #marthagraham by @gkbut

We think today’s point of view is pretty ‘killer’. Thanks Gregory for sharing your immense knowledge with us! by @gkbut

Thank you, Susan. You made so many feel seen and a part of this remarkable legacy!
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Repost from @paulwontorek
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This is Susan Goulet, the genius who transformed the alleyway leading to the stage door of @chicagomusical at the Ambassador Theatre into an ever-evolving tribute to every performer and musician who has helped bring the beloved show to life on Broadway. When I stopped by, Susan was hand-painting @matteolane as the 75th member of the Billy Flynn club. Bold. Beautiful. Breathtaking. More tributes to history and legacy like this, please. @susangouletproduction by @gkbut