Toni Basil

Toni Basil (born Antonia Christina Basilotta on September 22, 1943) is an American multi‑talented performer whose career spans over six decades in music, dance, film and television. Raised in Philadelphia and later in Las Vegas, she absorbed theatrical influences from her parents—her father led an orchestra and her mother performed in vaudeville—fueling a lifelong passion for rhythm and movement. By the early 1960s she was already a head cheerleader at Las Vegas High School, a role that later inspired the iconic cheer‑leader uniform she wore in the groundbreaking "Mickey" video. Basil entered professional dance as a child and quickly became an assistant to famed choreographer David Winters, appearing on shows such as Shindig! and in films like Viva Las Vegas and Pajama Party. Her work on the historic concert film T.A.M.I. Show (1964) earned a place in the National Film Registry, and she continued to shape popular culture by choreographing for the Lockers, directing early music videos for the Talking Heads, and consulting on major tours for David Bowie and Bette Midler. Mickey, released in 1982, catapulted her to international fame, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming one of MTV’s first viral hits; the song’s catchy chant and Basil’s cheer‑leader choreography remain symbols of 1980s pop. **Beyond the single, Basil recorded two studio albums, contributed vocal work for Devo, and acted in cult classics such as Easy Rider and Slaughterhouse Rock. Her choreography graced Hollywood productions from American Graffiti to Legally Blonde, and she served as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance?. Recognized with an American Choreography Award, an Emmy, multiple MTV nominations, and induction into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023, Basil continues to influence new generations, teaching, directing, and preserving the legacy of street‑dance pioneers she helped bring to mainstream awareness.