Madison Parkinson doesn’t merely dance – she communicates without words. As she travels from class to class in Los Angeles, directs emotion on screen in Toronto, or posts raw truths to her 77K followers on TikTok, the 22-year-old dancer and content creator is rapidly emerging as one of the most genuine voices both on stage and in social media culture.
Parkinson’s career started when she was ten, but the roots of her art began much sooner. “My mom was a dancer when she was young, so dance was always part of my world,” she says. While she spent her early years in gymnastics, it was a hip-hop class that turned the switch. “Something clicked,” she says. From there, she delved into jazz, ballet, contemporary, studying every genre, developing not as a technician only but as an artist.
“Contemporary gave me a voice. It let me speak without words,” she says. “It wasn’t something I loved. It became who I am.”
Growing up in a small Ontario town, Parkinson found her niche on a competitive dance team, but her dreams were far bigger. Her quest for self-expression brought her to Los Angeles and New York City, where she reports the experience was humbling and transformative. “I had to begin again,” she says. “The speed, the intensity – it challenged me to reach deeper and uncover who I was, not as a dancer, but as a creator.”
That same commitment to openness and growth translated to her online world. When the pandemic put the world into lockdown, Parkinson uploaded what she calls a “silly, relatable” TikTok video. It went viral. Instead of trending, however, she doubled down on authenticity. “I wanted other dancers to feel seen and understood,” she says. “I know what it’s like to navigate anxiety, burnout, and pressure. I began making content in order to build community.”
Her TikTok username: (madison_parkinson1) – has become a platform for dancers around the globe who visit not only for fun choreo but for genuine discussion of mental health. “Dance got me through anxiety, but it also tested me,” she explains. “I wanted to talk about that.”
The reconciliation of stage and screen is second nature to her. “At the heart of both is storytelling and connection,” she says. “On stage, I’m drawing energy from the audience. On TikTok, I have a couple of seconds to get someone to feel something – but it’s the same intention.”
As her online presence increases, her live-performance ambitions remain aggressive. Her ultimate goal? Doing back up dancing for artists like Lady Gaga, Adele, or Tate McRae. “Lady Gaga is somebody I look up to a lot. She’s fearless, and she uses her voice in ways that are so powerful.”
Parkinson’s reach has also drawn brands. She works with Dancewear Solutions.
But more than brand deals is her platform. Parkinson’s greatest message to dancers is this: “You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful.” It is a message she takes into her choreography and teaching. “I want dancers to be great performers, but even more, well-adjusted individuals who understand their value.”
She’s currently exploring acting – an art form she says allows her to tap into the same storytelling core. “Dance and acting both let you express what’s hard to say. It’s another extension of who I am.”
Her message to young creatives or dancers struggling to find their voice? “Speak up. Don’t shrink yourself. Your individuality is your superpower.” She’s so fired up about reminding people that it’s alright to rest, to say no, to save your peace. “Growth takes time. And it’s not linear.”
Behind the sparkly lighting and fluid movements, Parkinson has experienced actual difficulties. Debilitating anxiety used to make auditions unbearable. New rehearsal spaces pushed her to be flexible. “Those experiences molded me. They made my performances authentic.”
Nevertheless, she adds, the greatest misconception about dancers today is that the lifestyle is effortless. “People don’t always notice the discipline, sacrifice, and mental toughness behind it. Dancers are both athletes and artists.”
When she gets stuck creatively, she goes back to her beginnings. “I think about that little girl who fell in love with dance at 10. She’d be proud of how far I’ve come.”
And what she hopes her legacy will be? “I want people to remember how I made them feel. That I showed up authentically. That I helped others feel seen.”
Whether on stage or screen, Madison Parkinson isn’t acting for a clap; she’s performing to connect. And in a world ever more dominated by fleeting trends, that kind of earthy authenticity may prove to be the most powerful movement of all.
Follow Madison Parkinson
Portfolio: bio.site/madisonparkinson
Brand Collaborations: creatorsold.io/lululemon
PR / Collaborations: [email protected]
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCD5tBd8HzCG1yvJ2HJvJJ9w
TikTok: @madison_parkinson1
