Beyoncé is once again at the center of a controversy, this time over accusations of stealing choreography. Known for her iconic dance moves, the superstar is now facing claims that she appropriated one of her most famous routines — the booty shake.
The accusations come from the 1990s British boy band 911, who have boldly claimed that it was they who first introduced the move to Beyoncé. The band, which rose to fame in the late ’90s with hits like “Bodyshakin’,” appeared in the BBC documentary Boybands Forever, where they revealed that Beyoncé was quite taken with their dance moves during a performance with Destiny’s Child.
Spike Dawbarn, one of the members of 911, recalled the moment when Beyoncé asked them to show her how to perform the signature body-shaking move. “We did a TV show with Destiny’s Child, and when Beyoncé saw us performing ‘Bodyshakin,’ she was like, ‘Show us that move! Keep doing it,’” Dawbarn recalled. “So, when you watch Beyoncé’s videos doing the booty shake, I’m like, ‘Ah, she robbed it! We did it first!’”
911’s claim has stirred up a fresh wave of conversation around Beyoncé’s choreography, which has often been a topic of debate. This is not the first time the “Single Ladies” hitmaker has faced accusations of stealing choreography. In 2011, Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker accused Beyoncé of copying several of her dance moves for the music video of “Countdown.”
Despite these ongoing controversies, Beyoncé’s influence on the world of dance and pop culture remains undeniable. Whether it’s borrowing moves from others or creating her own iconic routines, she continues to be one of the most influential performers of her generation.
