Jean-Victor Mackie, a dancer from California, has built a massive following by turning social media into his personal stage. For over five years, he’s been posting two videos a day on TikTok, captivating more than 9 million followers with his inventive choreography. A former backup dancer for Mariah Carey, he’s also become known for performing in his signature Birkenstocks. And honestly – who could blame him?

“I always wanted to be part of the social media world and have my own little platform,” he says. “When I was around 8 or 9, I used to film myself cooking with my aunt, but I never uploaded the videos to YouTube. That came later.”

By the age of 12, Jean-Victor was already booking commercials, after his father connected him with an agency.

The son of a preacher, Jean-Victor grew up in what he describes as a “strict household.” After elementary school, his parents opted for homeschooling. One day, his mother made a decision that would unknowingly change his life: she signed him up for dance classes. 

“I didn’t want to dance at all at first,” he admits. “I had no rhythm. I was absolutely garbage – I couldn’t dance. My mom forced me into it. I started with ballet, which is the foundation for basically everything in dance and in mobility in general. I still do ballet to this day. At first, it felt frustrating and limiting. But once I understood the techniques and fundamentals, I started to enjoy it. It felt freeing. The key was repetition and discipline.” And consistent he is : Jean-Victor estimates he’s trained around 700 hours a year for the past nine years, totaling roughly 7,000 hours of practice. “I’m very disciplined,” he says simply.

“When I first got on TikTok five years ago, I wasn’t really into it. Everyone thought it was weird and kind of embarrassing,” he laughs. “But then people got addicted to it.”

He began by posting comedy sketches, but when one of his dance videos went viral, his audience exploded. Now with over 9 million followers, Jean-Victor uploads two to three videos every single day. 

“Sometimes I hear a sound and think, ‘I need to choreograph to this – it’s fire.’ Other times, I jump on a trend or come up with something with my friends. I film most of my content alone, but I love collaborating too.”

Teaching dance has become one of Jean-Victor’s favorite things to do. “I love it,” he says. “I like creating a vibe in class and giving people the freedom to add their own style on my moves. It’s not about competition or high-pressure rehearsal: it’s about having fun, learning, and expressing yourself.”

From recovery wear to full-on dance gear, Birkenstocks have found an unexpected ambassador in Jean-Victor.

“Birkenstocks are super popular in the dance world, especially after class because they feel like slippers,” he explains. “But I’m the person that dances in them…,“ he laughs. 

“I honestly don’t remember when I started dancing in them. One day, I just decided to take it seriously in Birks. People were amazed and kept saying, ‘How are you doing this in Birkenstocks? That’s so cool.’ But for me, they’re actually more comfortable and I’ve never rolled my ankle in them, which I can’t say for other shoes.” 

Jean-Victor even danced in his worn-out Arizonas on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, a talk show watched by over 4 million viewers each day. A Birks fan at heart!