Dante Marquiess Corde

On October 1, 2026, the music stopped far too soon for Dante Marquiess Cordé, a beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, friend, dancer, choreographer, and entertainer whose life touched people on and far beyond the stage.

Born on May 27, 1981, to Sherri Cordé and Jeffrey Roland Johnston, Dante was an entertainer at heart. Long before he danced on some of the biggest stages in the world, his journey began with a love for performing and a determination to turn that love into something greater.

Originally from Bellflower, California, Dante later moved to Sacramento, where his passion for dance began to take shape. While attending Grant High School, Dante and a group of friends formed the dance crew 5150. What started among friends quickly became something special, with the group earning a reputation for winning competitions throughout the area.

After graduating from Grant High School in 1999, Dante returned to Southern California and moved to Hollywood to pursue dance professionally.

That leap of faith would change his life.

While dancing at Millennium Dance Complex, Dante was discovered and landed his first major opportunity as a principal dancer for the R&B group B2K. From there, he built an extraordinary career as a professional dancer, choreographer, and entertainer. His talent took him around the world, working alongside some of the biggest names in entertainment and performing on some of the world’s most celebrated stages. His creativity extended beyond live performances into film, television, music videos, and commercials. Whether performing in front of the camera or bringing a creative vision to life behind the scenes, Dante built a career that reflected his passion, versatility, and dedication to his craft.

As his career grew, Dante also opened doors for other dancers to pursue their dreams. He created opportunities, helped others find their way into the entertainment industry, and used his experience and connections to help them succeed. His influence reached far beyond his own accomplishments, leaving a lasting impact on the dancers who followed in his footsteps.

Dante loved hard, and he fought hard.

He was a dreamer in every sense of the word. If you had a conversation with Dante, you were almost guaranteed to hear the words “what if” at least five times. His mind was always going, always imagining, always dreaming.

And he was silly beyond words.

His laugh was contagious, his sense of humor was unforgettable, and he could turn an ordinary moment into a memory that lasted for years. Some stories with Dante did not even need to be retold. You could say one word, look at each other, and suddenly you were both laughing uncontrollably all over again. Dante remembered birthdays. He checked in. He celebrated your victories and never missed an opportunity to tell the people he cared about that he loved them. He was the person who showed up, remembered the little things, and made sure you knew you mattered.

To the world, Dante may be remembered as an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and entertainer. To his family, he was so much more.

Dante was preceded in death by his father, Jeffrey Roland Johnston; his grandmothers, Violine Cordé and Evelyn Johnston; his grandfathers, James R. Johnston Sr. and John William Cordé; his great-aunts, Florence Gipson, Shirley Rucks, Joarlie Hurd; his great-uncles Willie Mitchell, Jessie Mitchell, Charlie Hurd; and his cousins, Richard Gipson Jr., Markeon LeBlanc, and Marquis LeBlanc.

He leaves to cherish his memory his mother, Sherri Lynn Cordé; his sisters, Janae Cordé-Richard and Starr Richard; his aunts, Gail Gipson, Rhonda Bush, Joyce Felix, Kathleen Farmer, Sandra Simpson, and Victoria Johnson; his uncles, Duane Farmer and Darnell Brown; a honorary sister, Sacreea King, and a host of other relatives, dear friends, and loved ones who will cherish his memory forever.

Dante lived a life filled with creativity, laughter, love, and purpose. He left his mark on an industry he loved, opened doors for those coming behind him, and gave his family and friends a lifetime of stories they will continue to tell.

The stage is where Dante shared his gift. The lives he touched are where his legacy will live on.