Micky Kurz’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Micky Kurz. Check out our conversation below.

Micky, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Typically I start the day with a breakfast including coffee:) Nothing goes without my morning coffee ritual. I try to take time for my breakfast and don’t rush myself. If I have an early appointment I rather wake up a bit earlier too, so I have enough time.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Micky Kurz, a creative director, choreographer, movement director, and emerging director based in Los Angeles. I began my career as a dancer at a very young age in Europe, performing on major stages and television. That early experience gave me a deep understanding of storytelling through movement, which naturally evolved into choreography and creative direction as I started shaping not just performances, but complete visual worlds.
What makes my work unique is that movement is always at the foundation of everything I do. Even when I am directing, photographing, or developing concepts, I approach projects through emotion, rhythm, and human behavior. Having worked internationally across dance, fashion, television, and branded content, I have learned how to balance artistic intuition with high-level production and commercial storytelling.
At the moment, I am focused on expanding further into directing for film, television, and commercials while continuing my work in creative direction and photography. I am also developing original scripted and unscripted projects and building visual worlds that feel elevated, intentional, and emotionally grounded. At the core of my work is the desire to create imagery and stories that feel alive, honest, and deeply human.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was simply a curious, free-spirited kid growing up in Stuttgart, Germany. I was raised by two loving parents, my mom and my dad, who always did everything they could to give my older sister and me a safe, supportive childhood. They tried to shield us from hardships within the family and focused on creating a sense of stability, warmth, and possibility. Looking back, I realize how intentional that was, and how much it shaped me.
My grandparents on my mother’s side lived right across the street, and my grandmother’s home felt like a second world to me. I spent countless hours there cooking with her, helping my grandpa in the garden, and simply being surrounded by love and patience. Outside, I played with other kids on the street, explored freely, and experienced the world with a sense of excitement and wonder that felt endless at the time.
My parents raised me with a lot of trust and freedom. They were not overly strict, and they allowed me to find my own boundaries, which gave me space to develop curiosity, independence, and creativity. I tried many different sports, from soccer to tennis, but dance was the one thing that truly stayed with me. It felt less like an activity and more like a language I naturally understood.
Before expectations, pressure, and definitions came into play, I was a kid who believed the world was wide open. I felt free to explore, to imagine, and to express myself without limits. In many ways, that version of me still lives in the work I create today.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back the most is my own inner critic. I am naturally an overachiever and an overthinker, and I tend to approach life and work with a strong sense of perfectionism. While that drive has pushed me to grow and refine my craft, it has also, at times, slowed me down.
There have been moments where I did not act on creative impulses because I was afraid of failing or not being good enough. I would question ideas before giving them the space to exist, and in doing so, I sometimes stopped myself before even starting. I occasionally envy people who seem more carefree in their creative expression, who share and create without overanalyzing every outcome.
At the same time, I truly believe that there is always an audience for authenticity. There will always be someone who connects with your work and sees value in what you create, simply because it is honest and human. Learning to quiet my self-criticism and trust my instincts more has been an ongoing process, and it is something I continue to work on every day. Growth, for me, has meant learning that progress often comes from action, not perfection.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think I do come across as an extrovert to the outside world. However, I personally think I am more introverted. I can be shy in the sense that I do not necessarily need to be the center of attention, even though in public situations it sometimes ends up that way. I guess that is just my absolute charismatic aura doing its thing. Jokes aside, when people make something about me, I tend to get shy.
I even feel weird celebrating my birthday in a big way. At the same time, when it is about someone else, I love organizing, planning, and going all out. I prefer being quiet, avoiding big crowds and chaotic environments, and spending time in calmer, more intentional spaces.
I also think I can sometimes come across as cocky in public, but in reality I am a very loving person who values depth and real connection. I am much more interested in meaningful conversations than quick small talk. So while the public version of me might seem confident and outspoken, the real me is more introspective, grounded, and connection-driven.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me first and foremost as a good human being with strong morals. Someone who treated others with respect, kindness, and honesty, and who showed up as a loyal and genuine friend.
I would also love to be remembered as a creative leader, someone who inspired others to trust their ideas, express themselves freely, and think differently. And who knows, maybe I will invent or create something along the way that keeps me in people’s minds for a very, very long time. If that happens, I hope it comes from a place of curiosity, generosity, and a genuine desire to contribute something meaningful to the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mickykurz.com
• Instagram: @mynameismicky and @mickysees
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickykurz/