“Teen Beach Movie” 8 tonight, Disney Channel

FRESNO, Calif. — Choreographer and director Jeffrey Hornaday has loved musicals since he saw “Cabaret” 14 times when he was young. The veteran dance man never expected to find new fans that share his passion for the genre.

“I am so surprised that a young audience would embrace that old convention,” Hornaday said. “I guess it’s in the American DNA to like musicals.”

He’s counting on that interest in movie musicals for his new “Teen Beach Movie.” The made-for-cable film follows teen surfing sweethearts Brady (Ross Lynch) and McKenzie (Maia Mitchell), who ride the last wave of summer that mysteriously takes them into a classic beach party movie: “Wet Side Story.” It’s a tale of surfers versus bikers who battle over a beach hangout — told with modern musical tastes.

The challenge of “Teen Beach Movie” was entertaining that young audience while blending elements from ’60s movies and Broadway shows. Hornaday’s blend of styles includes a character in a fringe bikini that’s a nod to the beach movies, a dance that’s a tribute to the performance of “Cool” in “West Side Story” and a cast that will be familiar to the channel’s audience.

It won’t be the first time that he’s brought a new dance style to an audience. His choreography for “Flashdance” included the first use of break dancing in a feature film.

His understanding of how current music trends and dance go together extends beyond his film credits. Hornaday’s worked with some of the top names in the music industry: Paul McCartney, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Miley Cyrus, Reba McEntire, The Backstreet Boys, Mariah Carey, Lionel Richie, The White Stripes, Train, Devo, Stone Temple Pilots and Barry Manilow.

The work with Jackson came through his choreography for “Captain EO,” the Francis Ford Coppola 3-D short film featuring Jackson that was shown in the Disney parks. Hornaday had pre-planned dance moves for Jackson, but as soon a rehearsals started the choreographer knew that Jackson wasn’t comfortable.

“I stopped the rehearsal and we just started improvising together. I videotaped that and took it home to study. That let me create a dance vocabulary for Michael where the dance numbers fit him better,” Hornaday said.