Behind the scenes of ‘The Idol’: Crafting Jocelyn’s iconic dance

The journey of a pop star’s comeback

Creating the now-iconic dance for “World Class Sinner/I’m A Freak” from HBO’s “The Idol” required choreographer Nina McNeely to delve deep into the psyche of Jocelyn, the pop star played by Lily-Rose Depp. Jocelyn’s character is a former child star who reached the pinnacle of fame, only to face a severe mental breakdown. The rehearsal scene in the series marks her big comeback, laden with immense pressure to reclaim her spot at the top.

“She had canceled tours and needed to get that money back. She needed to top the charts, and she was rehearsing amidst a scandal,” McNeely explained. This backdrop set the stage for a dance that had to be both a statement and a spectacle.

A legacy of collaboration

McNeely, a visual artist and dance legend, has an impressive portfolio, having worked with Major Lazer, Björk, the Foo Fighters, and The Weeknd. Her collaboration with The Weeknd began due to his admiration for Gaspar Noé, for whom McNeely choreographed the film “Climax.” This connection blossomed into a long-term working relationship.

When “The Idol” co-creators needed a choreographer for Jocelyn’s performances, The Weeknd, who also stars in the series, knew exactly who to call. McNeely was brought on board to craft the dances for “World Class Sinner / I’m a Freak” and “Dollhouse.”

Drawing inspiration from pop culture

McNeely drew inspiration from iconic dance and pop moments, such as Bob Fosse’s “Take Off With Us,” Paula Abdul’s “Cold Hearted Snake,” “Showgirls,” and Britney Spears’ “Slave 4 You.” These influences helped shape Jocelyn’s movements, pose, rhythm, and energy.

“She needed to push the boundaries beyond what she did before, becoming more daring, sexy, controversial, and confident,” McNeely said. “I wanted Jocelyn to feel like a timeless pop star, avoiding trendy TikTok dance moves to ensure her performance remains iconic for years to come.”

Crafting an untouchable icon

McNeely aimed to make Jocelyn an untouchable object of desire, someone everyone wanted to be with, be like, or know. The dancers played a crucial role in telling this story, creating a dynamic interplay of attraction and tension.

One of McNeely’s favorite moments involved the dancers surrounding Jocelyn, breathing and pulsing as a unit, vying for her attention with intense eye contact. “That created a lot of sexual tension, which was essential for the scene,” she noted.

Symbolism and narrative foreshadowing

Incorporating Jocelyn’s baggage into the choreography allowed McNeely to foreshadow the overall narrative and symbolism behind her character. The dance featured a push-pull dynamic and power play between Jocelyn and the dancers, reflecting her manipulation and being manipulated, a theme central to her character throughout the show.

Several lifts in the dance were designed to later appear painful during Jocelyn’s dramatic on-set breakdown while filming the music video for “Sinner.” These elements added layers of realism and depth to the performance.

Real-life experiences on set

McNeely’s real-life experiences on music video sets influenced the disastrous shoot for Jocelyn. “Sam [Levinson] asked me to list everything that’s ever gone wrong on a music video set, and it was a long list,” she recalled. Issues like uncomfortable shoes, restrictive costumes, and poor lighting often plague shoots, leading to last-minute modifications and challenges.

“Costumes hurting you, lights blinding you, or shooting the hardest scene at the end of the day when everyone’s exhausted are common problems,” McNeely explained. She always urges directors to shoot the most challenging scenes first to avoid these pitfalls.

Watch the full interview

To see how many alternate versions of the dance Lily-Rose Depp had to shoot for the show, watch the full interview here.

For more insights into the world of cinema and TV series, explore our other articles and stay tuned for the latest updates and behind-the-scenes stories.