Married choreographer duo known for cinematic, emotionally-driven dance storytelling that redefined couple choreography and won World of Dance Season 2 (2018).
Background
Keone Madrid: Filipino-American, started in competitive dance, clean technical style.
Mari Madrid (née Takahashi): Japanese-American, contemporary/lyrical background, emotional expression.
Marriage: Dance partners first (2010s), married 2012, couple goals content.
Signature Style
- Storytelling: Every piece has narrative arc, character development, emotional payoff
- Musicality: Texture hits, lyric interpretation, silence usage
- Connection: Partner chemistry, trust-based lifts, synchronized isolations
- Cinematography: YouTube videos directed/edited with film-level production
Viral Moments
2015: “Chandelier” (Sia) — emotional duet, 5M+ views
2016: “Runaway” (Ed Sheeran) — couple choreography blueprint, wedding dance inspiration
2017: World of Dance Season 1 (Division winners), emotional backstory
2018: World of Dance Season 2 Champions — $1M prize, mainstream recognition
Beyond Competition
BYU cougar cheer: Both attended Brigham Young University, performed at sports events
Workshops: Global teaching (Asia, Europe, North America), couple choreo masterclasses
Music videos: Directed/choreographed for Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish
Cultural Impact
- Normalized Asian American leads in dance world
- Elevated “couple dance” beyond ballroom stereotypes
- Showed that YouTube dancers could win mainstream competitions
Social Media
Instagram 600K+ followers, YouTube collaborations with Kyle Hanagami, Matt Steffanina
Related
- #WorldOfDance, #CoupleChoreography, #CoupleGoals, #BYU
Sources
- https://www.youtube.com/@keoneandmari (archived content)