Taylor Swift’s Choreographer Defends Her Dancing, Says She Was “Overthinking” Before the Eras Tour — “We Worked Hard to Perfect It”
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Moore also served as the choreographer for Swift’s music video “The Fate of Ophelia.”
Choreographer Mandy Moore Reveals How She Helped Taylor Swift Find Confidence in Her Dancing for the Eras Tour
Choreographer Mandy Moore is sharing how she helped Taylor Swift step into her own rhythm for the Eras Tour.
Moore — who also choreographed Swift’s recent music video for “The Fate of Ophelia” — told The New York Times that part of her role was helping the pop superstar, 35, feel more comfortable expressing herself through movement.
“She’d been criticized for her dancing for a long time, so it was really in her head,” Moore explained. “We focused on how she naturally moved — the gestures and flow that were already there — and built from that. Then we fine-tuned it: ‘That shoulder looks a little off,’ or, ‘Let’s straighten your knee here.’”
The 49-year-old choreographer, known for her Emmy-winning work on La La Land, praised Swift’s strong work ethic and creative clarity.
“She’s incredibly dedicated,” Moore said. “Whatever I threw at her, she picked up quickly. And she’s so specific about what she wants — which I love, because having that direction helps me create. When it’s just ‘do whatever you want,’ it can feel chaotic.”
Swift previously told TIME in 2023 that she began working with Moore after being introduced by actress Emma Stone, who had collaborated with Moore on La La Land. The singer said she underwent three months of dance rehearsals ahead of the Eras Tour, aiming to feel confident and relaxed onstage.
“I wanted to be so over-rehearsed that I could just have fun with the crowd and not lose focus,” Swift explained, adding, “Learning choreography has never been my strongest suit.”
Swift has long been open about the criticism she’s faced for her dance moves. In an older social media video, she recalled the online mockery she received after dancing at award shows like the Grammys.
“People said, ‘Taylor Swift looks awkward when she dances,’” she said. “So I handled it by writing ‘Shake It Off.’ From the moment I wrote it, I knew I wanted the music video to be full of awkward, silly dancing — just me being me.”
She added that she’s learned to take the criticism in stride: “You have to laugh at yourself sometimes. But if something hurts your feelings, that’s valid too. Yeah, I dance awkwardly — and I’m having more fun than you.”
This month, Swift announced two upcoming Disney+ projects. The six-part docuseries The End of an Era, premiering in December, will explore the creation, influence, and cultural impact of the Eras Tour. She’ll also release Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour – The Final Show on Dec. 12, capturing her last tour performance in Vancouver, filmed on Dec. 8, 2024.