backup dancer
{{Short description|Performer who dances with or behind the lead performer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
A backup dancer also known as background dancer{{Cite web |first=Will |last=Storr| title = The truth about life as a background dancer| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/dance/8554651/The-truth-about-life-as-a-background-dancer.html | work = The Telegraph | date = 5 June 2011 | access-date = 13 June 2013 }} 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) improve the visual aesthetics of the lead performer, and provide a symmetry and rhythm to accompany the music.
Backup dancers
Some performers began their music careers as backup dancers for other artists, including:
- Lee Know from Stray Kids (for BTS){{Cite web|title=Watch: Stray Kids' Lee Know Talks About Being BTS's Back-Up Dancer + Shows His Part In "Not Today" Performance|url=https://www.soompi.com/article/1357877wpp/watch-stray-kidss-lee-know-talks-about-being-btss-back-up-dancer-shows-his-part-in-not-today-performance|date=9 October 2019|website=Soompi|language=en|access-date=2020-05-17}}
- Kim Hyo-yeon from Girls' Generation (for BoA){{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}
- Yoon Ji-sung and Kang Daniel (for Shihyun and Cao Lu){{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}
- Kevin Federline (for Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Christina Milian, and LFO){{cite web|last1=Schwarz|first1=Hunter|title=Kevin Federline Was A Backup Dancer In A Justin Timberlake Music Video|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/hunterschwarz/kevin-federline-was-a-backup-dancer-in-a-justin-timberlake-m#.mwDk8mx0B|publisher=Buzzfeed|access-date=2 March 2015|date=26 April 2014}}
- FKA twigs{{cite news | url=http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/9460-fka-twigs/ | title=Interviews: FKA twigs | first=Carrie | last=Battan | publisher=Pitchfork Media | date=22 July 2014 | access-date=8 March 2015 }}
- Cris Judd (for ex-wife Jennifer Lopez' 2001 video "Love Don't Cost a Thing"){{cite web|title=Cris Judd Talks Jennifer Lopez Marriage: "You're No Longer a Normal Person"|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/cris-judd-talks-jennifer-lopez-marriage-no-longer-a-normal-person-2014149|work=Us Weekly|access-date=2 March 2015|date=14 September 2014}}
- Jennifer Lopez (for the New Kids on the Block, MC Hammer and Janet Jackson's 1993 video "That's the Way Love Goes"){{cn|date=May 2020}}
- Rain (for Park Jin-young and Park Ji-yoon){{cite news | title =Pop star Rain (Bi), reaching out beyond Asia | url =http://english.kbs.co.kr/society/people/1365736_11774.html | work =KBS Global | access-date =18 February 2007 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070125163936/http://english.kbs.co.kr/society/people/1365736_11774.html | archive-date =25 January 2007 | url-status =dead | df =dmy-all }}
- Tupac Shakur (for the Digital Underground){{Cite video|title=Tupac Shakur – Thug Angel (The Life of an Outlaw)|date=2002}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hotshotdigital.com/tribute/TupacShakur.html |title=Tupac Shakur |publisher=Hotshotdigital.com |access-date=7 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113032551/http://www.hotshotdigital.com/tribute/TupacShakur.html |archive-date=13 January 2012 |df=dmy }}Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 330.
- Michael K. Williams{{cite web|title=From Backup Dancer To 'The Wire': How A Scar Transformed A Career|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/06/21/323973907/from-backup-dancer-to-the-wire-how-a-scar-transformed-a-career|publisher=NPR|access-date=2 March 2015|date=21 June 2014}}
- Zendaya{{cite web|title=Zendaya Coleman Danced In Sears Commercial With Selena Gomez Before She Was Famous!|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/zendaya-coleman-selena-gomez-sears-commercial_n_3697038|publisher=huffpost|access-date=13 February 2022|date=2 August 2013}}
Gallery
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Balinese dansers dansen de kètjak TMnr 10004676.jpg|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
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
Further reading
- {{cite web | last=Oshmyansky | first=Rosalyn | title=Snake Bites Nicki Minaj's Backup Dancer at VMA Rehearsal | publisher=Entertainment Tonight | date=23 August 2014 | url=http://www.etonline.com/news/150273_backup_dancer_for_nicki_minaj_bitten_by_snake/ | access-date=4 March 2015}}
- {{cite web | title=Meet Jay-Z and Beyonce's Incredible Backup Dancers | website=Yahoo News | date=24 July 2014 | url=https://news.yahoo.com/video/meet-jay-z-beyonce-incredible-152045930.html | access-date=4 March 2015}}
- {{cite web | last=Spiegel | first=Amy Rose | title=How Do You Even Become A Backup Dancer? | publisher=BuzzFeed | date=11 June 2013 | url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/verymuchso/how-do-you-even-become-a-backup-dancer| access-date=4 March 2015}}
- {{cite web|title=P!nk backup dancer is from Atlanta - Video |publisher=WXIA-TV |date=1 March 2013 |url=http://www.11alive.com/video/2196822034001/0/Pnk-backup-dancer-is-from-Atlanta |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150309130402/http://www.11alive.com/video/2196822034001/0/Pnk-backup-dancer-is-from-Atlanta |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 March 2015 |access-date=4 March 2015 }}