![paula abdul straight up choreography paula abdul straight up choreography](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8pwZ_fOp91U/maxresdefault.jpg)
“I wanted to pay homage to a choreographer that very much influenced me, Bob Fosse. It was not an easy thing to accomplish, but it’s one of the things I’m most proud of.” There were lots of intensive rehearsals, and it was hardcore it was a lot of work. I worked with Nile Rodgers on the music and we came up with a drum loop. I created my own style of what I thought should be right for the movie, and John Landis loved it.
![paula abdul straight up choreography paula abdul straight up choreography](https://media.nbcsandiego.com/2019/09/Paula-Abdul-11.13.18-Tim-Fears-8.jpg)
“When you think about it, back then we didn’t have the Internet, so there was no research you could really do, other than going to the library. I said, ‘I know a lot!’ And he goes, ‘Hmm, I don’t think so, because I was expecting someone like Debbie Allen to come in.’ And I said, ‘I may be young, but I know what I’m doing.’ So he left me alone. I went in and he looked at me and said, ‘What are you, a teenager?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I am!’ He basically was telling me, ‘What do you know about African dancing?’ And this is my whole thing when becoming a choreographer: ‘I’ll just tell everyone yes, I know exactly what I’m doing, and then I’ll figure it out later.’ That’s basically what I did. John Landis, the director, wanted the person that choreographed Janet Jackson. “This was one of my moments of having to really prove myself, because I was still pretty new in my career as a choreographer. There was no room in this little old apartment, and I choreographed it with a mirror that I could see from my waist up. I shared an apartment with some Laker Girls and there was no floor-length mirror, so I did it in the bathroom. I choreographed ‘Nasty’ - this is the craziest thing - in a half hour. But I picked the best in the business, and everything came into place perfectly. “This video was nerve-wracking for her, because she had never danced with just all guys. You don’t hear ‘Nasty’ and go, ‘Oh, this is a dance jam.’ It was a very different kind of song, kind of like how ‘Straight Up’ was for me: This could define an artist completely, and I wanted to create something that would be signature moves but also define her as being in charge. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis wrote genius music, and Janet had a really important voice in it. I felt like I had a chance here to really create something big for her.
![paula abdul straight up choreography paula abdul straight up choreography](https://thetylt.com/attachments/29b0cff8965babee897181755c8ba1ecdd2c49f6/store/fill/2293/1529/f66bb1deb02c78390184131a4605dace1343e82db9f179781434c60a3b93/janetpaula-grid.jpg)
When I was introduced to Janet, I was told by A&M Records that Control was going to be an important album for her, and when I started hearing demos, I was really, really excited to work with her. “I’m very grateful, because this was really the big start to my career. Come dance down memory lane, as she dishes about what happened onstage and behind the scenes.
![paula abdul straight up choreography paula abdul straight up choreography](https://www.firstforwomen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/paula-abdul-voltaren.jpg)
To celebrate Abdul’s return to the stage, Yahoo Entertainment asked her to pick her favorite routines from her amazing, three-decade-plus career. After her humble start as a Laker Girl, she went on to win multiple Emmys and MTV Video Music Awards for her choreography, and her routines for film, television, and music videos (for herself, Jackson, and other artists) have become iconic.
#Paula abdul straight up choreography tv
While Abdul’s own post-’80s career revival moment came as a reality TV judge on American Idol, her true entertainment legacy lies in dance. Additionally, the pop star who put Abdul’s groundbreaking choreography on the map, Janet Jackson, is having a revival moment. Last month, the “Crazy Cool” singer’s seven-times-platinum debut album, Forever Your Girl, celebrated its 30th anniversary, and this week, tickets went on sale for Straight Up! Paula, the 56-year-old entertainer’s first concert tour in 25 years. This a nostalgic time for Paula Abdul fans. (Photo: Time Life Pictures/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) Paula Abdul winning an Emmy for her choreography.