Das Rounds Out UCLA Gymnastics Coaching Staff
June 04, 2019 | Gymnastics
Professional choreographer and dancer BJ Das will serve as UCLA Gymnastics' volunteer assistant coach, joining Head Coach Chris Waller, Associate Head Coach Kristina Comforte and Assistant Coach Dom Palange.
"BJ brings with her a skill-set that is unique," said Waller. "A former collegiate gymnast, she has spent the last 12 years dancing with the likes of Ariana Grande and choreographing for music videos, commercials and collegiate floor routines. While we will get to utilize BJ's coaching on all of the events, her primary role will be choreographing, cleaning, and stylizing floor and beam routines. Her effervescent energy and creativity will bring joy and artistic freedom to the team culture."
As a professional dancer, Das has performed live with Beyonce, P!nk and Usher and toured with Avril Lavigne. Her music video credits include Beyonce's "Run the World (Girls)", Ariana Grande's "Baby I" and Justin Bieber/Nicki Minaj's "Beauty and a Beat". Das has also performed live at the 2019 Grammy Awards, the 2018 American Music Awards and on "The Ellen Show", "The Voice" and "Late Show with James Corden", among others. Additionally, Das has choreographed for TV shows "GLOW", "Fresh Off the Boat" and "The Masked Singer", along with the Emmy Awards and Radio Disney Music Awards. Her first Hollywood experience was as a gymnast on the movie "Stick It". Das has been signed to Bloc Talent Agency as a dancer and choreographer since 2007.
"My ultimate dream has always been to combine my passions for dance and choreography with gymnastics, and there is no better place to bring that together than UCLA," said Das. "This team has so much talent and enthusiasm for performing, and I can't wait to invest time in training these talented student-athletes to continue to grow and expand in dance and performance. I know I have big shoes to fill, and I'm very grateful for the support and blessing of Miss Val, who led the way for dance to play such an integral role in the sport of gymnastics."
Das served as the volunteer assistant coach and choreographer at the University of Utah in 2019. The Utes ranked in the Top 5 in the nation last season on floor exercise.
A 2006 graduate of the University of Washington, Das earned her Bachelor's degree in psychology. She competed on the Husky gymnastics team for two years.
