Britney Spears Choreographer Brian Friedman's Exhale AMA

[PokemonSpears]

1 minute ago, BrianFriedman said:

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.

[BritneySpurs]

2 minutes ago, osherlovesbritney said:

 

You know Britney literally has a song called You Drive Me Crazy right?  just teasin ya =P

[PokemonSpears]

Another question:

• How was it working with her on the X Factor? Did the judges really have a lot of input on the contestants' performances? Did she get to pick the songs? Because I remember Simon always criticizing her for the song choices for Beatrice Miller

[BrianFriedman]

16 hours ago, Hungry Hun said:

2 questions:

1 - I have a friend of a friend who would lke to ask you how was the process to create the HIAM choreo. Did you had a concept in mind? Did you first considered what Britney could do at the time and how her body moved, or you created the dancers first and then adapated for her.

2 - Would you ever work with Britney again if there's is an oportunity?

I admire your work a lot, not only what you have done for Britney but in its entirity. You show that theres a lot of integrity on what you do, its art.

The request from management, Britney and entire team was to GO BIG! The song was super aggressive and rigid and the video treatment was already created. Due to that I went super edgy on the hard hitting moments of the song and created some gestural etherial moments on the more melodic breaks. I loved what I came up with regardless of what fans think. The dancers on the tour still to date say it is the hardest thing they have ever done. Britney was able to change any choreography at any given time during our working history together which she did during HIAM. What we ended up with was choreography that we were both happy with. She was not forced to do choreography that she didn't like contrary to speculation. 

 

Yes I would work with Brit again if it was right for both of us. 

 

Thank you so much for your kind words xx

[portrait]

did it start already? hello please help me.

[TakeYourHand]

4 minutes 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.

I really LOVE this answer as well because fans could really see a difference in her performances and we never get validation that what we’re seeing with our eyes is real! 

[PokemonSpears]

1 minute ago, portrait said:

did it start already? hello please help me.

30 mins ago

[BritneySpurs]

1 minute ago, BrianFriedman said:

The request from management, Britney and entire team was to GO BIG! The song was super aggressive and rigid and the video treatment was already created. Due to that I went super edgy on the hard hitting moments of the song and created some gestural etherial moments on the more melodic breaks. I loved what I came up with regardless of what fans think. The dancers on the tour still to date say it is the hardest thing they have ever done. Britney was able to change any choreography at any given time during our working history together which she did during HIAM. What we ended up with was choreography that we were both happy with. She was not forced to do choreography that she didn't like contrary to speculation. 

 

Yes I would work with Brit again if it was right for both of us. 

 

Thank you so much for your kind words xx

I love the HIAM choreography! The last chorus is fire.

[PokemonSpears]

Just now, TakeYourHand said:

I really LOVE this answer as well because fans could really see a difference in her performances and we never get validation that what we’re seeing with our eyes is real! 

I still wanted to believe it was just an illusion

[frederiickx]

@BrianFriedman You are an incredible choreographer!! LOVE your work!

[Jordan Miller]

2 minutes ago, portrait said:

did it start already? hello please help me.

Haha yup. @BrianFriedman is answering questions now

[Catalin]

14 minutes ago, ThisMeowBiteback said:

So why do you think the current state of her dancing is the way it is ???  It’s like night & day with her 

I feel like if she put more effort and cared more she would get better, but you can't force a passion that just isn't there.

[portrait]

Just now, PokemonSpears said:

30 mins ago

thanks :-* 

but why is he writing the answers? I expected a video chat.. it's 1998 again  

my question to brian: wheres the live stream? ... jk

[Tear the floor up up]

3 minutes ago, portrait said:

did it start already? hello please help me.

Starts on page 9, hun!

[BrianFriedman]

16 hours ago, Army1 said:

@BrianFriedman@JordanMiller

What do you think is the root cause of the drastic differences in Briney's dance performance/abilities between areas....IE Slave 4 U (Britney era) vs Til The World Ends (Femme Fatale era)

Many say laziness, while others of us say it's because of the possible medication or her mental condition/cognitive function post breakdown.

Working with both versions of her, both pre 2007 and post 2007, what do you think is the root cause? (IF YOURE EVEN ALLOWED TO GO THERE)

Thanks!

Unless Brit is answering the question it's all speculation and opinion. One thing I can say loud and clear is that in my 20 years of history with Britney I have never sold out and spoken about her personal life. I have been there through every single thing you can imagine with her but it's not my place to say. We may not be in contact now but we once were close friends and I would never betray a friends trust and talk publicly about their personal life. What I can say is that I treasure all of the versions we see of Britney. 

[bluestrawberry51]

10 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. 

This literally hurts me to hear, what a shame... Anyone who leaves hate and death threats are not fans. Period.

[Tear the floor up up]

Just now, BrianFriedman said:

 What I can say is that I treasure all of the versions we see of Britney. 

AMEN

[BrianFriedman]

16 hours ago, vzlafan said:

which artist have you made the most connection and with which has it been more uncomfortable to work?

On Britney Tours you would have rehearsed some songs and them was removed from the final set?

Have u ever rehearsed a routine for britney song that doesn't come out?

What is you favourite routine for britney shows?

If you prefer Routines for music video or for Live Shows?

 

Greetings from Venezuela

 

PS to all exhalers, So we have many proves they read us, so we need to do #britneythemovement to you know what im talking about. Because some user magically today wake thinking/posting a totally different opinion than yesterday, we will all wake up before we fall asleep one by one.

I was working with Britney on the Blackout album before stepping away and I absolutely love what I created for Gimme More. That song was an immediate obsession for me when she first played it and I am sad the world couldn't see what we created. I never videoed anything from rehearsals since it was just workshopping movement at that stage. 

[Mattyj7883]

1 minute ago, BrianFriedman said:

Unless Brit is answering the question it's all speculation and opinion. One thing I can say loud and clear is that in my 20 years of history with Britney I have never sold out and spoken about her personal life. I have been there through every single thing you can imagine with her but it's not my place to say. We may not be in contact now but we once were close friends and I would never betray a friends trust and talk publicly about their personal life. What I can say is that I treasure all of the versions we see of Britney. 

♥️♥️

[DignifiedLove]

I feel like I’m late to the party omg but do you have any behind the scenes footage of her on the set of music videos, such as Slave, Overprotected, HIAM, etc. and would you be willing to share?  
Also, were the early 2000s as magical as they seemed?
And last, could you upload more rehearsal clips?  Thank u omg