He’s the world’s hottest choreographer, the man who cooks up steamy videos and stage shows for giants of music. But does the Atlanta star ever think he goes too far? Quite the opposite …
This year’s Super Bowl was watched by more than 120 million people in the US, almost as many as watched the moon landings. And in the half-time show, right behind R&B superstar Usher, there was Sean Bankhead dancing. “It was a really overwhelming sensory experience,” says Bankhead. “It was hot, muggy, sweaty and it stunk like a football game.”
Bankhead, 35, officially hung up his dancing shoes a few years ago to focus on choreography for the likes of Missy Elliott, Normani, Katy Perry, FKA twigs, recent Grammy winner Victoria Monét and Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion (whose 2021 Grammy performance of WAP he masterminded) but he couldn’t turn down the chance to dance with Usher, one of his childhood heroes. “I messed up so many times. We performed on the actual grass and there were chunks missing. But it was a rush.”
It has been quite a year for Bankhead so far. As well as the Super Bowl, he choreographed Lil Nas X’s controversial J Christ video, and Canadian singer Tate McRae’s performance at the Brits. “I had a baaaaall at the Brits,” he says, in his Atlanta drawl. “The Brits are way more fun than American awards shows. I had no clue! There was a huge party and everyone was drunk as hell.”
