Spencer Liff is an award-winning Director and Choreographer with work frequently seen on both stage and screen. He has earned two Emmy Nominations for Outstanding Choreography for his work on the hit FOX TV series “So You Think You Can Dance”, where he has been a resident choreographer for the past 10 seasons. Highlights of his other TV credits include Dancing with the Stars, B Positive, One Day At A Time, Parks and Recreation, How I Met Your Mother, Mike and Molly, 2 Broke Girls, Alexa & Katie, NBC’s Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris (Choreographer & Co-Producer) The Latin Grammy Awards, The Emmy Awards, and The Oscars. Films include Steppin’ Into The Holiday starring Mario Lopez, Stephen Karam’s Speech and Debate, and the upcoming Legendary Pictures feature film The Toxic Avenger.
Spencer is currently the Director / Choreographer of the new Broadway show, “DRAG The Musical” Written by and starring Drag Race All Stars winner Alaska ThunderF*ck! The musical received rave reviews during its 4 week sold out world premiere in Los Angeles Fall of 2022.
Broadway Choreography credits include “Head Over Heels” an Elizabethan love story set to the music of the iconic 1980's all-female rock band The Go-Go's! The Lincoln Center Theater revival of the groundbreaking musical “Falsetto's” Directed by James Lapine. After receiving rave reviews for its Broadway run, Falsetto’s did a national tour and was filmed for PBS. Spencer also provided the exciting Musical Staging for The Tony Award winning revival of "Hedwig And The Angry Inch" starring Neil Patrick Harris.
A standout moment in Spencer’s career came when he infused contemporary Dance with American Sign Language for the critically acclaimed Broadway revival of "Spring Awakening". This re-imagined production originated in Los Angeles with Deaf West Theater. He was nominated for a Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Astaire Award for the show's run on Broadway, and won both the Los Angeles Ovation Award and The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his outstanding work.
As a performer, Spencer earned his Equity card at the young age of 7 years old in the first National Tour of The Will Rogers Follies directed by the legendary Tommy Tune. He made his Broadway debut in Big-The Musical, followed by The Wedding Singer, Cry-baby, Equus, and 9 to 5. Spencer won the 2008 Fred Astaire Award as Best Male Dancer on Broadway for his role in Cry-baby for which he was also Associate Choreographer and dance captain. Performing credits for Film and TV include Hairspray, Across the Universe, Footloose, Smash and Gypsy starring Bette Midler.
A driving force behind Spencer’s overall creative vision has always been fashion. In 2021, he channeled this passion into a new venture, The Vintage Cheetah, a boutique collection of curated statement vintage pieces and his original jewelry designs. In 2022 he costume designed his first feature film, as well as several stage productions and high-profile nightlife events in New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles. Alongside his design work, he has a select group of clients who trust him to style them for fabulous red carpet events. Spencer's enthusiasm for fashion, costume design, and creative direction continues to flourish as he looks to the future.
Spencer's passion extends beyond his professional career success. As a proud faculty member of the Broadway Dreams Foundation, he has taken his talent and experience around the world, teaching masterclasses and providing opportunity and mentorship to aspiring performers of all ages. His commitment to making quality arts education accessible and inclusive for all has earned him a reputation as a champion of the next generation of artists.
Spencer’s personal lifestyle is a blend of dedication, adventure, and creativity. When he’s not busy working, he spends his leisure time exploring the world, practicing yoga to keep his mind and body in sync, and hunting for unique treasures at local flea markets. As a connoisseur of mid-century furniture, he adds a vintage flare to all his home decor. His biggest design project to date is renovating his 1950's homestead cabin in Joshua Tree, California. He finds dancing in the desert at sunset to be the perfect life balance for the big city energy of Manhattan.