From Janet Jackson to BTS, some of the most memorable dance routines share a surprising connection! Join us as we spotlight the creative minds who shaped pop culture's biggest moments through dance. These visionaries have quietly revolutionized music video choreography while working with multiple superstars.
00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the choreographers you may not know are behind more than one of your favorite music videos.
00:1910. Sergio Hays
00:21What did Troye Sivan, Kylie Minogue, Girls Girls and BTS have in common?
00:3011. Sergio Hays
00:34Brazilian choreographer Sergio Hays, of course.
00:37As the founder of the CDK dance troupe, Hays has some of the most iconic music videos, including Troye Sivan's Rush, which earned him a VMA nomination in 2024.
00:4712. He also choreographed Got Me Started and One of Your Girls for the singer.
00:59His work extends to Kylie Minogue, Bebe Rexha, and Tuvalu's My Oh My, plus major J-pop and K-pop acts like Girls Girls and BTS.
01:08Hays said he really wanted to push the K-pop group with choreography that broke the mold from anything we'd seen from them so far.
01:169. Travis Payne
01:25Are you a fan of Maya, Michael Jackson, Salt-N-Pepa, Tevin Campbell, and Vogue?
01:309. Travis Payne
01:36Then you might also be a fan of Travis Payne.
01:39A key choreographer in MJ's later career, Payne worked on Ghosts and Scream.
01:43The latter broke the record for the most expensive music video ever made and earned him a VMA win.
01:49He also won for En Vogue's My Lovin', You're Never Gonna Get It, and Free Your Mind, and scored a nomination for Maya's My Love Is Like Whoa.
02:04Watching back now, you can recognize Payne's signature style in the way the movements highlight power dynamics and create a distinct visual rhythm.
02:128. Sean Bankhead
02:22Meet Sean Bankhead, the creative genius behind some of your favorite music video choreography.
02:28He's the mastermind behind some of Fifth Harmony's videos and Normani's wild side and motivation.
02:33His resume is stacked.
02:44Lil Nas X's Industry Baby, Tate McRae's X's, and Victoria Monet's On My Mama.
02:51Honestly, we could easily make a top 10 list of his work.
02:54He's also a longtime collaborator with Missy Elliott.
02:57Check out I'm Better.
02:59Banghead enjoys playing with movement and genres, often finding inspiration from the most unexpected places to create attention-grabbing choreography.
03:14Known for tailoring his work to each artist, it's no wonder he's the creative force behind so many unforgettable videos.
03:217. Michael Peters
03:30This is the guy behind one of the most iconic music videos ever.
03:34Over 40 years have passed since the release of Michael Jackson's Thriller, and its place in pop culture is still unmatched.
03:49Peters has shared how tough it was to sync MJ's sharp signature moves with zombie-like choreography.
03:55But it's fair to say he set the gold standard for what we've come to expect from music video choreo.
04:00Of course, it makes sense when you consider his Tony-winning work on Dreamgirls.
04:11Peters also worked on MJ's Beat It.
04:13But did you know he choreographed Lionel Richie's Running with the Night and Pat Benatar's Love is a Battlefield?
04:19We're just saying, try watching those without picturing zombies now.
04:316. Jamaica Craft
04:32Craft credits her time as a dancer for TLC as key to honing her skills.
04:37From there, she went off to choreograph for Ahmarie, Eve, and Ciara, calling Promise one of her career highlights.
04:52She's a longtime collaborator with Ciara, working on videos like Goodies, Like a Boy, Body Party, and Ride.
04:58Craft also worked her magic on Justin Bieber's Somebody to Love, Usher's Yeah, and Neo's Closer.
05:04However, for this choreographer, it's never just about showcasing her artist's talents, but rather about how she can get them to connect with the music.
05:18You can see that in her work with Ciara, where she plays with different energies to show power, strength, and sensuality.
05:255. Frank Gatson Jr.
05:35Who run the world?
05:44Okay, sure, Beyonce might sing it.
05:46But behind every great routine is an outstanding choreographer who deserves to be celebrated.
05:51Gatson Jr. is the mastermind behind some of B's most iconic videos, from Crazy In Love to Single Ladies.
06:06He's been with her since her Destiny's Child days, and also collaborates with Kelly Rowland.
06:10His impact doesn't stop there.
06:12He's worked with En Vogue on hits like Free Your Mind and Salt-N-Pepa on What A Man.
06:17What a man, what a man, what a man, what a man, what a man, what a man, what a man, what a man, what a man, what a man.
06:22Sing it now.
06:23He's also worked closely with Usher, choreographing for videos like Love In This Club and You Make Me Wanna.
06:28Also, not a music video, but fun fact, he even choreographed for the muses in Disney's Hercules.
06:34Although, honey, it may seem impossible, that's the gospel, true.
06:454. Fatima Robinson
06:47If you grew up obsessed with music videos and trying to copy every move, you probably owe Fatima Robinson a thank you.
06:54She got her big break at just 21, choreographing Michael Jackson's Remember the Time, then shaped an era with Aaliyah's Try Again, Are You That Somebody? and Rock the Boat.
07:12She put her stamp on Meghan Trainor and Mary J. Blige's moves, even winning a VMA for Family Affair.
07:18And let's not forget her work with the Black Eyed Peas on Hey Mama and My Humps.
07:29From the 90s to today, her influence is everywhere. No, seriously.
07:34If a music video made you wanna dance, chances are, Robinson was behind it.
07:393. Jaquel Knight
07:46Knight worked alongside Frank Gatson Jr. on some of Beyonce's most iconic videos.
07:52He also choreographed Hold Up, Drunk in Love, Formation, and more.
08:04If we listed every credit to his name, we'd be here all day, so here's just a taste.
08:09He's collaborated with Megan Thee Stallion, Kelly Rowland, Victoria Monet, Rihanna, Fifth Harmony, Nicole Scherzinger, and Tinashe.
08:18And that's barely scratching the surface.
08:20What sets Knight apart is how he brings out an artist's essence in every move, making choreography an extension of their persona.
08:35The stories he tells through his choreography are always a sight to behold.
08:47No wonder so many of his routines have become pop culture landmarks.
08:512. Paris Goebel
08:54If Goebel looks familiar, it's probably because you've seen Justin Bieber's Sorry music video.
09:04Not only did she choreograph it, but she also danced in it with The Request and Royal Family Dance Crews.
09:11That video blew up on YouTube, and it even won Video of the Year at the AMAs.
09:23Apparently, she was discovered at age 19 after JLo saw her dance videos on YouTube.
09:28Since then, she's worked on hits like Touch by Little Mix, Friends by Monica and Ty Dolla Sign, Level Up by Ciara, and Lady Gaga's Abracadabra.
09:38She's coined her style as Poly Swag, blending dancehall and Polynesian moves.
09:43Basically, it's all about feeling the rhythm and letting it move you.
