- 5 months ago
Ever wonder how those iconic dance numbers and electrifying music performances come to life? We're taking you behind the curtain to witness the magic of creation! Join us as we peel back the layers on legendary rehearsals, comparing raw, unpolished practice footage with the breathtaking final spectacles that captivated audiences worldwide. Get ready to see the passion, precision, and pure talent that transform vision into unforgettable moments.
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're looking at some of our favorite musical moments from film, music, and theater, and taking a peek behind the curtain to see how it all came together.
00:1810. Regionals – Pitch Perfect
00:30We spend a lot of time with the Bellas in their rehearsal space as they prep for performance after performance. Thanks to Rebel Wilson, aka Fat Amy, we get to fall even deeper down the aka rabbit hole, stepping into the real-life rehearsal room.
00:48I opened up my eyes and I am happy now living without you, I'm the last you all alone.
00:55If you're curious what kind of treble goes down elsewhere, Skylar Astin offers a peek inside Treblemaker HQ, too. We already know they're all pitch perfect, but this behind-the-scenes footage proves they can turn the beat around with their moves, too.
01:11Give me your hand, darling. Do you feel my heart beating? Do you understand?
01:20Also, we're loving the Bellas' color coordination. We're taking this whole thing as the sign to re-watch the entire movie immediately.
01:28You can't hear it!
01:439. You Can't Stop The Beat
01:45Who doesn't love a good DVD extra?
01:50The Corny Collins Council kids started dancing,
01:52and then the detention kids were working in another room,
01:54and then the dynamites came in.
01:56We had four rooms going all day, every day.
02:00If you've got just under an hour and a half to spare,
02:03this one's well worth it.
02:05We get to see how the numbers we loved on stage
02:07were brought to life on screen,
02:09from ladies' choice to run and tell that,
02:12to the full-blown finale of You Can't Stop the Beat.
02:15The block of the berry, the sweet of the juice.
02:18I could say it ain't so, but darling, what's the use?
02:21It's incredible hearing from the cast
02:23about the challenges they faced to deliver routines
02:26that wouldn't look out of place on a Broadway stage.
02:29And according to them, You Can't Stop the Beat
02:32isn't just an epic finale number,
02:34but also seems to be a reasonable description
02:36of the rehearsal schedule that brought it all together.
02:39Ever since the first saw the light,
02:41a man and woman like to shake it on a Saturday night.
02:44So I promise they can share me here with all of my mind today.
02:49Number eight, delicate music video, Taylor Swift.
02:53If there's anyone who loves to throw caution to the wind
02:56when they dance, it's Taylor Swift.
02:58All night with your hands up in my hair,
03:01echoes with your footsteps on the stairs.
03:03Sure, some of her moves look like the kind of dancing
03:06we usually save for our bedrooms, but that's the point.
03:10Even the most unusual looking steps are choreographed to feel free.
03:21It's not the first time Taylor has chosen to shake it off
03:24as a way to challenge the labels placed on her.
03:27But what stands out in the rehearsal footage
03:29is how much joy she finds in just letting go.
03:32She's not trying to fit a specific image.
03:35If anything, she's trying to break it.
03:37And clearly, she's having a whole lot of fun doing so.
03:48Number seven, all that dancing, Chicago.
03:52It's no surprise that a Fosse-inspired film leans hard into the dance.
03:57And lucky us, we get a peek at how some of Chicago's biggest numbers came together.
04:02Right up here is where I store the juice and all that jam.
04:09Even in rehearsal gear, the cast brings all the attitude, the movement,
04:14and the full Fosse meets Marshall Flair.
04:17Catherine Zeta-Jones, even while in sweats and just marking the steps,
04:22still brings full sass. That's an Oscar winner in the making right there.
04:26It's also fun to see Renee Zellweger's dance glow up from total novice to vaudeville ready.
04:36We get to see the pair bring out all the razzle and dazzle dancing to hot honey rag
04:41with director slash choreographer Rob Marshall.
04:44Rehearsal Roxy and Velma came to slay and clearly they did.
04:52Number six, like all of it, High School Musical 2.
05:05As much as we love Kenny Ortega's choreography in the first movie,
05:09he seriously raises the bar in the sequel. Watching him at work is fascinating.
05:14I want fabulous, that is my simple request.
05:17All things fabulous, bigger and better in dance.
05:22You can see him tweaking and building on the choreography in real time,
05:26always pushing to make it serve the story better. The group numbers especially are packed with
05:31energy, and seeing them go from rough run-throughs to polished perfection is incredibly satisfying.
05:38Work, work this out. We'll make things rise. The sun will shine.
05:45Each number feels collaborative, with Ortega feeding off the cast's energy to shape every move.
05:52And speaking of the cast, you can tell both behind the scenes and on camera, they're having the best time.
05:59No surprise, Ortega scored an Emmy nomination for this one.
06:03The drums, we're gonna have fun in the sun. Now that all the hard work, work is done.
06:11Everybody's one for all, and all for one.
06:15Number five, abracadabra music video, Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga never does things quietly. And dropping
06:24this music video during the 2025 Grammys made a big splash.
06:28Choreographed by Paris Goebel, the idea is about being ready to face challenges,
06:41like learning this dance perhaps. When you work with Gaga, you have to bring your own style and energy,
06:47and let your freak flag fly high. You can see that energy in both the rehearsals and the final video.
06:53Abracadabra, amor, ooh, na, na. Abracadabra, ortega, ooga, ga.
07:00Without the costumes, the choreography really stands out for its sharpness, unusualness,
07:06and of course the famous monster claw. It's a very stylized and dramatic performance. Even in
07:12rehearsal, everyone is focused, like the music has them under a spell. Maybe it does.
07:23There's no love tonight.
07:27Number four, what is this feeling? Wicked.
07:30Wicked has probably released enough BTS footage by now to rival part one's runtime,
07:36but one standout clip shows Grande rehearsing some now viral choreography.
07:40And I will be loathing for forever. Loathing, please. Loathing, you.
07:53The number demands so much coordination, whether it's one of the more dancey bits,
07:58or any moment Elphaba, Glinda, and their classmates have to navigate the school grounds.
08:03In rehearsal, she gives it her all. You almost don't notice her shiz crew is missing. We're also
08:09treated to some rehearsal footage from Popular 2. Ninja!
08:14And now, and now, please look at Cynthia Erivo, please.
08:18Cynthia's like, what in the world am I watching? This is…
08:22And speaking of Grande, she doesn't need to come and go by bubble drop to drop some BTS sneak peeks.
08:29Fun as they are, we're still asking. Yes, and will there be more?
08:34Number 3. Beyoncé's Superbowl Performance – Superbowl 47 Halftime Show
08:45Beyoncé's performances are part spectacle, part history lesson, and always a cultural statement.
08:51After all, how many artists have a Coachella set so iconic that it's renamed after them?
08:56But today, we're talking about her Superbowl halftime show. This is Queen Bee after all.
09:01She doesn't do anything by halves. When Bee puts on a show, you know to expect 1,050% at least.
09:20Beyoncé later shared rehearsal footage that showed just how much work went into it all.
09:28You see her leading the team, banging out the choreography, and giving it her all.
09:38It makes the final show even more spectacular.
09:41Oh, and yes, Destiny's Child's surprise reunion still has us cheering.
09:46Number 2. So Much Britney – Various
09:59Britney Spears is just as famous for her dance moves as she is for her legendary hits.
10:04And lucky for us, she's always been generous about sharing rehearsal footage.
10:14If you've got a favorite Britney routine, chances are there's behind-the-scenes video of her working
10:24it out in the studio. Her rehearsals really look like a blast. She's often laughing, goofing around,
10:30and clearly having fun. Yet she never slacks on the choreography.
10:41Even when she's just marking the steps, there's real focus.
10:45That's where you really see her passion shine through. Away from the stage lights and camera angles,
10:51she's less pop princess and more hard-working artist who's genuinely in love with performing.
11:05Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:10Anything Goes – Anything Goes – Broadway Revival
11:13In rehearsal, she lets anything go. On stage, it's all de-lovely.
11:31Hamilton Medley – 78th Tony Awards.
11:34From the room where it happened, to 10 years of making it happen.
11:50Ballet Training – Black Swan
11:53We're taken behind the scenes to Natalie Portman's grueling ballet training.
11:57And… Come on. Forget about control, Nina. I want to see passion. Come on. Reach.
12:07More. You're stiff. Stiff like a dead corpse. Let it go. Let it go.
12:13Rush – Troye Sivan
12:15There was nothing rushed about putting this music video together.
12:18I feel the rush. Addicted to your touch. Oh, I feel the rush. It's so good. It's so good.
12:26I've had the time of my life. Dirty dancing.
12:29You can have the time of your life seeing how this iconic routine came together.
12:33Because I have the time of my life.
12:40Though I never felt this way before.
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13:01Number 1. Thriller – Michael Jackson
13:05Did you know there's a whole making of thriller documentary?
13:08It takes you behind the scenes to show how this landmark music video came together.
13:24From the storyline to the costumes to, of course, the dance.
13:28We see choreographer Michael Peters working with MJ and the dancers
13:33to build the routine that's still instantly recognizable today.
13:36What's great about the footage is how it shows the thinking behind the moves
13:47and how the dancers were pushed to really get into character.
13:50It definitely hits different without the zombie getup, but it's still fascinating to watch.
13:55It's incredible seeing how much personality and detail went into every step.
14:00And it's still a total thriller to watch.
14:11Is there any BTS rehearsal footage that surprised you compared to the actual performance?
14:17Let us know in the comments.
14:19He'll walk into a studio and purely on rhythm. I mean, I purely give him a rhythm of the step.
14:25And he does it, you know, and it really just, it's fascinating.
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