Scholarly article:Who Run The World? Beyonce Girls!
- Busy Bees
- Feb 25, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 14, 2020
Feller Allison
May 16, 2013
Summary:
In the peer review article “Who Run The World? Beyonce Girls!” We are offered insight on the lives of Eight women dancers working in Beyonce’s dance group. The article starts off with Alison arguing that people can’t remember who played at the Superbowl on February 3, 2013. She says what they will remember is how Beyonce absolutely threw down for more of her anticipated Halftime show. We then are introduced to each woman that the article focuses on. After the introductions the article instantly gets into the problems the women face when trying out for Beyonce dance group. It's a fierce sport Alison says “everyone can dance but only certain have it” With so few female dancers accompanying Beyonce onstage during this tour, it was crucial that the casting team pick eight girls perfectly suited for the job. Of course they had to be talented, and of course they had to be able to master that branded "Single Ladies" ring-finger point and Beyonce stomp-walk-strut. Lastly the article talks about the effect performing and touring can have on these performers. Being in and out of hotels can be exhausting, one dancer said the hardest thing is figuring out when to rest while touring. Another issue is trying to find free time to sightsee, teach, go out, eat and experience the world.
Response:
I believe that often the time and dedication that is put in by any performer is often overlooked, by those who get to witness that craft. We as audience members aren’t there for the adversity or the blood and sweat that is required to excel at such high levels. When you think of the name Beyonce the first thing that usually comes to mind is how perfect and beautiful she is. She seems almost God like for example “The first time I met Beyoncé, she came in bright and early to rehearse with us. Everybody stood so far away from her, giving her so much space. She looked at us like, 'Guys, I don't bite!"( Kimmie Gipson). During the article the most stressed point is how being a dancer in Beyonce group you are instantly associated with the idea of being perfect. The requirements seem very demanding for example "The whole rehearsal period was a lot," says Sarah Burns, who joined the Beyonce team in 2012. "Emotionally, physically, mentally -- it was very stressful." During rehearsals, the eight dancers were required to wear all black, and if Beyonce was in the room, they also had to wear heels. I hope that more articles like these become big so we can truly understand that performers are people too. They don’t have super powers they simply are just willing to go above and beyond.
-Calvin Nimely
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