Photograph Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Day by day Beast/Getty
When Dr. Dre referred to as up Fatima Robinson and invited her to choreograph this yr’s star-studded Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present, the trade veteran was greater than prepared for the problem.
Along with choreographing Dr. Dre’s “Been There, Performed That” music video in 1996, Robinson has additionally labored with co-headliner Mary J. Blige on a few music movies, together with “Household Affair,” which the R&B singer carried out on the Halftime Present. She was additionally the artistic genius behind co-headliner Kendrick Lamar’s show-stopping and barely controversial Grammy efficiency in 2016. Plus, Robinson choreographed one other uncommon second for hip-hop on the 2011 Tremendous Bowl when Black Eyed Peas and Usher carried out.
If Robinson didn’t already sound like the perfect candidate for this yr’s Halftime Present, a fast scroll via her IMDb web page reveals an illustrious, wide-ranging listing of accomplishments, together with musical performances on the Academy Awards, the 2006 movie Dreamgirls, and Michael Jackson’s iconic “Bear in mind the Time” music video.
Likewise, Robinson’s confidence as a seasoned choreographer was on full show on the Halftime Present in Los Angeles earlier this month. This efficiency particularly was no simple feat, because it featured a handful of headliners, together with Dre, Blige, Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and particular visitor 50 Cent, along with a slew of background dancers, drill groups, and extras. It takes a transparent imaginative and prescient and one eye on element to handle so many shifting items whereas giving every famous person their alternative to shine—to not point out that all the present occurred on an intricately designed set.
And contemplating Robinson’s roots in hip-hop music, the importance of this yr’s occasion got here with a further stage of that means and stress.
The Day by day Beast spoke with the distinguished choreographer about working with every headliner, recreating 50’s “In da Membership” video, and navigating the present’s Los Angeles-inspired format.
How does it really feel seeing all of the love the Halftime Present has gotten?
I really feel nice as a result of we put a lot work into it, and it’s all the time nice when the work you set into it will get acknowledged. And it’s additionally, I believe, only a huge win for hip-hop music and the tradition.
You already had one Halftime Present underneath your belt when Dr. Dre recruited you. Have been you as nervous this time round?
Every time it’s totally different in a complete different gigantic means. And if something, this one had extra stress as a result of it was in L.A. It had extra artists I needed to take care of. And it simply appeared, due to the brand new stadium and [that] the Rams received, there was simply a lot linked to this explicit Halftime Present. I believe it was positively far more stress.
The dollhouse set design with the Compton landmarks was such an integral a part of the present this yr. Did you contribute to any of these concepts in any respect?
Es Devlin, our manufacturing and artwork creator, created the look of the stage and he or she went and did a tour of Compton. However I helped with what the rooms needs to be. , she’s an Englishwoman. [She said], “I didn’t know what needs to be put within the rooms to make them really feel genuine.” And I simply needed to assist out with what that's and doubtlessly be sure that it made sense.
So it was cool. We selected the barbershop. And I populated that with some dancers referred to as the Glitch Mob. Dre and I had been sharing Instagrams with totally different dancers that we had seen on-line. Then there’s a drill staff from South Central referred to as Black Diamonds. They have been a drill staff that I had labored with earlier than, so I positively needed to get their vibes in there as a result of I like their syncopation.
And we knew 50 [Cent] was going to be our shock visitor and he was going to be within the membership. And so we simply stored sort of populating them. And I didn’t even understand it till afterwards. Individuals have been telling me that it felt like a play and live performance collectively.
"INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Dancers carry out in the course of the Pepsi Tremendous Bowl LVI Halftime Present at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)"
Steph Chambers/Getty Photos
The stage was so intricate and confined in comparison with different Halftime Reveals. Was it tougher determining learn how to transfer individuals round?
Yeah, it positively had its challenges. However I like when you could have someplace to go or when you may inform a narrative with the motion and the dance. Like when Dre went into one in every of his rooms, he hit a little bit stutter step together with his guys. And when Snoop was in his room, he hit a step with the drill staff. They usually each walked upstairs and met on the rooftop within the center. It makes staging a present simply a lot extra enjoyable.
And we had totally different variations of it. The C Stroll was on a special facet at one level, as we have been making an attempt to provide everybody within the stadium items of the present. It simply appeared higher on the open-face facet. It made sense for it to be there, the place you could have many extra eyes at dwelling than you do on the stadium. And plus, the stadium has that huge oculus that they will have a look at.
What was the method of working with every artist?
Nicely, Kendrick simply had the one picture of those guys in a field. In order that was sort of all we had for that. After which I took that picture and began to play with what I felt appeared proper for that. Then we knew we needed Mary on the rooftop and for her to have dancers unfold on the market. Nevertheless it was Es’s design that had Dre developing within the studio. After which Eminem needed a giant entrance. So it was actually about working with every one of many artists, catch[ing] a vibe and see[ing] what they needed.
How troublesome was it hanging 50 Cent the wrong way up?
Nicely, he did it in his music video years in the past, so it was sort of a homage to that. So what I did was have one in every of my dancers go to his fitness center. After which he did it for us, and we timed how lengthy it took him to get down and all that after which we synced the music. Then we put all of it collectively and we have been like, that is doable. We truly made the bars, the specs, the identical means he had them in his fitness center to make it simple. I believed it was enjoyable, and it was fairly simple for him as effectively.
Did you're feeling such as you bought to benefit from the present because it was occurring?
I did. I went to a field with some pals and I simply watched it as a fan. I had a lot enjoyable. The night time earlier than, I used to be speaking to our director, Hamish Hamilton. And I used to be similar to, I simply don’t know anymore. I’ve watched it so many occasions. I’ve moved issues. I fastened issues. , I’m now tweaking at it and nitpicking at it. I can’t even inform anymore if it is nice. I've emotions of greatness within the rehearsal room. And I’d flip to the dancers, like, “Are we nonetheless good?” They usually’re like, “Oh my god, that’s superb.” However then I simply didn’t know. So it was so good to see everyone round me have such a superb time and actually join with it.
Have been there any concepts you had or stunts you needed to try this bought left on the chopping room flooring?
No. We bought the whole lot in. Even with Dre taking part in the piano, we have been capable of squeeze that in. So no, I believe we have been capable of work the whole lot out. It might’ve been nice to see Snoop do one other tune or see even Eminem do one other tune. You solely have a sure period of time. However I really feel like we picked songs that labored collectively very effectively. So I used to be very happy.