Britney Spears Choreographer Brian Friedman's Exhale AMA

[BritneyWithGlasses]

Just now, osherlovesbritney said:

ok an idea maybe can Brian open an watch2gether (powered by YouTube) like so he could play us his favorite Britney songs live

https://www.watch2gether.com/?lang=en this is the site and you can join via links the room masters send

[vinay]

Where you contacted for choreographing either of her Vegas residencies?

[Mattyj7883]

1 minute ago, Roxxy said:

You're mexican? Why are all my faves Mexicans. Am I a mexican magnet. 

I love that we continue to have our own conversation while there is so much going on around us.  Like THE @BrianFriedman is doing an AMA and we are still taking about Overprotected.  Love.  

And, no, I’m not Mexican.  I just love Santana from Glee and always think of that line.

 

[Jordan Miller]

Brian responding to all the comments flooding in

[BrianFriedman]

16 hours ago, PokemonSpears said:

• How did you end up working with Britney?
   
• How did you come up with the iconic breakdown of Slave (or actually the whole choreo)? 
   
• There's some slight changes across the different live performances of Slave from back in the day, depending on the TV show or the awards show, even the music video lacks the last part of the choreo, were those changes planned in advance, or why was it even different from performance to performance? 
   
• What do you think or how do you explain that Britney made the choreography look so easy and natural ? Did she have any trouble while learning the moves?  Did she have any input on the choreographies, like adding or removing something? 
   
• As a dancer and choreographer, what do you think about the evolution of Britney's dancing style? Do you think she could pull off the original Slave choreo nowadays? 

Great questions! 

I was called in to dance on the Grammy Awards in 1999 and never left LOL! The next time I danced for her was the Oops tour and then I began choreographing and the rest is history. 

 

The changes are generally due to the creative breakdown for each performance, the stage layout or the treatment. We rehearsed for the VMA's and video at the same time so we just picked sections to go into the video. 

 

She had ZERO difficulty learning Slave 4 U. One thing that we did as a choreography team was let Britney and each of the dancers shine and make the material their own. They were "artists behind the artist". That is why you see different takes on the choreography. Britney did it was a **** effortlessness while I am over her shoulder hitting hard. It's all about seasoning... we all taste different. there is no right or wrong, only preference. 

 

She could pull it off if she wanted to  I see her on IG... she's gettin it in with that fitness 

[Mattyj7883]

Just now, JordanMiller said:

Brian responding to all the comments flooding in

[TakeYourHand]

10 minutes ago, BrianFriedman said:

The free Britney movement is something I am on the sidelines for. I am not in Britney's life right now and haven't been for some time. I can't really comment on what's going on behind closed doors when I don't know the facts. What I can say is that if Britney wants and is ready to take control of her life then I support that fully. I only and have ever only wanted the best for her and for her to be happy. 

You answered this perfectly! You’re a true professional and a true friend. This is a great reminder to fans that your questions should be towards Brian and NOT questions that only Britney can answer. The rest is speculation. Thanks again Brian!

[PokemonSpears]

 

4 minutes ago, BrianFriedman said:

Great questions! 

I was called in to dance on the Grammy Awards in 1999 and never left LOL! The next time I danced for her was the Oops tour and then I began choreographing and the rest is history. 

 

The changes are generally due to the creative breakdown for each performance, the stage layout or the treatment. We rehearsed for the VMA's and video at the same time so we just picked sections to go into the video. 

 

She had ZERO difficulty learning Slave 4 U. One thing that we did as a choreography team was let Britney and each of the dancers shine and make the material their own. They were "artists behind the artist". That is why you see different takes on the choreography. Britney did it was a **** effortlessness while I am over her shoulder hitting hard. It's all about seasoning... we all taste different. there is no right or wrong, only preference. 

 

She could pull it off if she wanted to  I see her on IG... she's gettin it in with that fitness 

thanks so much for answering  

4 minutes ago, BrianFriedman said:

She had ZERO difficulty learning Slave 4 U.

[BrianFriedman]

16 hours ago, jennyj said:

Why did you Brian and Britney part ways?  Was it Britney's choice, Brian's choice, or someone on her team's choice?   (sorry I know that's a deep question lol)
I'm not really a fan of his spastic choreography, but he did give Britney some of her best iconic choreography by taking it and adding her own flavour to it.

Our story is long and personal. I stepped away from Britney for a moment during the Blackout era for reasons that her and I only need to know. We reconnected for the Femme Fatale era and due to death threats from fans, constant hate messages and a loss of love for the music industry in general I decided to walk away from the Femme Fatale tour. It was a difficult decision to make but my sanity and happiness were more important. Fans loved to ridicule me for comments I made in an MTV interview and then blame me whenever they didn't like a Britney performance which is ridiculous to me. Luckily Britney and I were able to reconnect on X factor US. Who knows if we will ever work together again. That is up to Brit... we would need to sit down and talk and make sure we're on the same page though. 

[Roxxy]

4 minutes ago, BrianFriedman said:

She could pull it off if she wanted to

So she's still there. Primeney lives...

[cvanity]

what is your ALL time favorite Britney Song!?

[BrianFriedman]

16 hours ago, AmorProhibido said:

I've heard from several different sources that Mayte Garcia, Prince's first wife, played a part in the creation of the Slave 4 U choreo. Is this true at all? If so, how much of a role did she play in it?

Mayte Garcia was most definitely part of the Slave 4 U process which I have said publicly in the past. Wade and I brought Mayte in to work with Britney on making sure that the dancing was authentic. The choreography was created by Wade and I based on authentic moves she taught us. 

[ThisMeowBiteback]

4 minutes ago, BrianFriedman said:

Great questions! 

I was called in to dance on the Grammy Awards in 1999 and never left LOL! The next time I danced for her was the Oops tour and then I began choreographing and the rest is history. 

 

The changes are generally due to the creative breakdown for each performance, the stage layout or the treatment. We rehearsed for the VMA's and video at the same time so we just picked sections to go into the video. 

 

She had ZERO difficulty learning Slave 4 U. One thing that we did as a choreography team was let Britney and each of the dancers shine and make the material their own. They were "artists behind the artist". That is why you see different takes on the choreography. Britney did it was a **** effortlessness while I am over her shoulder hitting hard. It's all about seasoning... we all taste different. there is no right or wrong, only preference. 

 

She could pull it off if she wanted to  I see her on IG... she's gettin it in with that fitness 

I always say this, I feel like Britney lost her seasoning if you will these last couples years. She is not suppose to look like her backup dancers, but she’s supposed have her own flair to the choreography & to me she lost that over time 

[BritneyWithGlasses]

2 minutes ago, BrianFriedman said:

We reconnected for the Femme Fatale era and due to death threats from fans, constant hate messages and a loss of love for the music industry in general I decided to walk away from the Femme Fatale tour.

 the Britney army is brutal. 
SHAME ON US 

[PrinceAli89]

2 minutes ago, BrianFriedman said:

Our story is long and personal. I stepped away from Britney for a moment during the Blackout era for reasons that her and I only need to know. We reconnected for the Femme Fatale era and due to death threats from fans, constant hate messages and a loss of love for the music industry in general I decided to walk away from the Femme Fatale tour. It was a difficult decision to make but my sanity and happiness were more important. Fans loved to ridicule me for comments I made in an MTV interview and then blame me whenever they didn't like a Britney performance which is ridiculous to me. Luckily Britney and I were able to reconnect on X factor US. Who knows if we will ever work together again. That is up to Brit... we would need to sit down and talk and make sure we're on the same page though. 

Wow, this truly speaks volumes about the Britney fan base. 

[Britneyarmy8]

2 minutes ago, BrianFriedman said:

We reconnected for the Femme Fatale era and due to death threats from fans, constant hate messages and a loss of love for the music industry in general I decided to walk away from the Femme Fatale tour. It was a difficult decision to make but my sanity and happiness were more important. 

oh my

some brit fans are actually crazy

[BrianFriedman]

16 hours ago, CripplerCrossface said:

Many says that since the comeback she dance better during rehearsals than on stage.

Do you agree with that?

And, in that case, why do you think it is the cause of that?

Not sure which comeback you're talking about but for me during Femme Fatale era she had some moments that were better in rehearsal for sure. I don't know why that is but I can definitely say that she was much more nervous that I had ever seen in the past. Britney back in the day was fearless but during Femme Fatale she definitely was more hesitant. I don't know what caused it... only she can answer.

[Jordan Miller]

4 minutes ago, BrianFriedman said:

Who knows if we will ever work together again. That is up to Brit... we would need to sit down and talk and make sure we're on the same page though. 

It'll happen 

[BritneyWithGlasses]

1 minute ago, Britneyarmy8 said:

some brit fans are actually crazy

 

[BritneyWithGlasses]

1 minute ago, BrianFriedman said:

Not sure which comeback you're talking about but for me during Femme Fatale era she had some moments that were better in rehearsal for sure. I don't know why that is but I can definitely say that she was much more nervous that I had ever seen in the past. Britney back in the day was fearless but during Femme Fatale she definitely was more hesitant. I don't know what caused it... only she can answer.

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