Backup dancer
A backup dancer also known as background dancer[1] is a performer who dances with or behind the lead performers in a live musical act or in a music video. Their movements (especially where there are many moving together) provide a visual symmetry and rhythm to accompany the music.
![](../I/m/Dallas_Cowboy_Cheerleader_Laura_Becke_provides_backup_dancing_while_Mark_Wills_performs_for_Coalition_forces_during_a_recent_performance_at_Contingency_Operating_Base%2C_Speicher%2C_Iraq%2C_Dec_061217-A-CY421-048.jpg)
Backup dancers
Some notable performers began their music careers as backup dancers for other artists, including:
- Lee Know from Stray Kids (for BTS)[2]
- Kevin Federline (for Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Christina Milian, and LFO)[3]
- FKA twigs[4]
- Cris Judd (for ex-wife Jennifer Lopez' 2001 video "Love Don't Cost a Thing")[5]
- Jennifer Lopez (for the New Kids on the Block, MC Hammer and Janet Jackson's 1993 video "That's the Way Love Goes")
- Rain (for Park Jin-young and Park Ji-yoon)[6]
- Tupac Shakur (for the Digital Underground)[7][8][9]
- Michael K. Williams[10]
Events
United States
![](../I/m/Katy_Perry_-_Super_Bowl_XLIX_Halftime_02.jpg)
On 25 February 2015, a backup dancer performing with Madonna at the Brit Awards accidentally pulled Madonna backwards down a small flight of stairs when performing an act that involved pulling a cape off of Madonna's neck.[11] Madonna quickly recovered and continued with the show, and later attributed the accident to the cape being tied too tightly.[11]
At the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show on 1 February 2015, backup dancers dressed in shark costumes accompanied Katy Perry as she performed.[12]
In September 2014, three backup dancers for Cher sued the performer for wrongful termination based upon allegations of racial discrimination.[13][14] At the time, Cher's publicist denied any wrongdoing, stating that "the accusations are ridiculous" and that "they couldn’t be further from the truth".[13] In the lawsuit, it was stated that the dancers were informed that the firing occurred to "save costs on the tour".[13] The lawsuit sought over $10 million in damages.[13]
Gallery
- Balinese dancers in 1937 performing in a kecak
See also
- Corps de ballet
- Backing vocalist
- Extra (actor)
- Taxi dancer – a paid dancer in a partner-dance
References
- Storr, Will (5 June 2011). "The truth about life as a background dancer". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- "Watch: Stray Kids' Lee Know Talks About Being BTS's Back-Up Dancer + Shows His Part In "Not Today" Performance". Soompi. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- Schwarz, Hunter (26 April 2014). "Kevin Federline Was A Backup Dancer In A Justin Timberlake Music Video". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- Battan, Carrie (22 July 2014). "Interviews: FKA twigs". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- "Cris Judd Talks Jennifer Lopez Marriage: "You're No Longer a Normal Person"". Us Weekly. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- "Pop star Rain (Bi), reaching out beyond Asia". KBS Global. Archived from the original on 25 January 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2007.
- Tupac Shakur – Thug Angel (The Life of an Outlaw). 2002.
- "Tupac Shakur". Hotshotdigital.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 330.
- "From Backup Dancer To 'The Wire': How A Scar Transformed A Career". NPR. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- Almasy, Steve (25 February 2015). "Madonna falls at Brit Awards; Twitter's got jokes". CNN. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- Malec, Brett (2 February 2015). "See the Sexy Backup Dancer Who Was Katy Perry's Super Bowl Shark". E!. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- Gorenstein, Colin (18 September 2014). "Backup dancers sue Cher for alleged discrimination". Salon. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- The Associated Press (18 September 2014). "Backup dancers sue Cher for alleged discrimination". Lebanon Daily News. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
Further reading
- Oshmyansky, Rosalyn (23 August 2014). "Snake Bites Nicki Minaj's Backup Dancer at VMA Rehearsal". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- "Meet Jay-Z and Beyonce`s Incredible Backup Dancers". Yahoo News. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- Spiegel, Amy Rose (11 June 2013). "How Do You Even Become A Backup Dancer?". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- "P!nk backup dancer is from Atlanta - Video". WXIA-TV. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.