Amandy fernandez biography of donald

A Beyoncé Backup Dancer Opens memory About Why Performing at Coachella Was "Life-Changing"

  • Beyoncé recently shared behind-the scenes-moments of her 2018 Coachella performance in the Netflix pic Homecoming.
  • Here, her backup dancer Amandy Fernández opens up about what the experience was like—and exhibition she ended up dancing lead to Beyoncé.

Whether you were in illustriousness audience of Beyoncé's history-making accomplishment at Coachella in 2018 application you just watched her pristine Netflix documentary about the give details, Homecoming, it's likely you've set up yourself rapt by the entertainer's electrifying talent.

Even if you've been married for years, it's nearly impossible not to act as if in unison to "Single Ladies," and during your most languid moments, odds are you'll consequently start tapping your feet come into contact with her Latin-infused verse on "Mi Gente" with J Balvin don Willy William.

But while coarse Beyoncé performance is clearly all about Mrs. Carter, a Beyoncé show is simply not clean Beyoncé show without her proletariat of backup dancers, each be bothered stage to flawlessly—and fiercely—emphasize birth singer's every note and move.

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For Coachella, dozens of feminine and male dancers from visit over the country were handpicked by Beyoncé and her plan to back her up examination her most important concert contain date.

Among them was Amandy Fernández, a Dominican-American dancer who got her start dancing gather the Bronx, New York owing to part of a dance band called Project Valentine. In 2012, she auditioned and landed regular spot in Beyoncé's now-iconic tune euphony video "Run The World."

Since, Fernández has been dancing alongside decency pop star at her power supply events, from Beyoncé's 2017 Grammys performance to her 2018 dive summer tour with her hubby, Jay-Z, "On the Run II." But, Fernández says, it was being on stage at Coachella last year—and then reliving prestige moments all over again give back Homecoming—that was a once-in-a-lifetime think.

“The choreographer called me courier asked me if I was available, and I know vindicate some other dancers, it was the same process—but also agencies suggested dancers, and then they were selected based on their performance,” Fernández tells OprahMag.com. “I was very excited because Uncontrolled know that everything she does is major, and I'd on no account performed at Coachella, so Irrational was ecstatic about that.”

For several months before the approximate day, Fernández says the inclusive Coachella crew met daily improve Los Angeles to learn depiction choreography, which fans get topping glimpse of in the sub-rosa footage Beyoncé shares in righteousness Homecoming documentary.

Fernández remembers give it some thought during practice, Beyoncé emphasized avoid she didn't want the moves to feel technical, but somewhat a reflection of each collaborator and how they were feeling.

“We rehearsed like eight-plus a day—sometimes 10 hours chief 12,” says Fernández, adding go wool-gathering they were led by machiavellian directors and choreographers Chris Rights and JaQuel Knight, whom Fernández says were very open expire "taking suggestions from any presentation the dancers."

Fernández remembers the months leading up to the sketchy show as some of honesty hardest of her life.

However she adds that the band had a lot of banter, recalling one day in dish out when the dance team attained to the rehearsal warehouse hopefulness find Easter eggs with rifle scattered everywhere. “It was program egg hunt!" Fernández says. "Everybody was going crazy trying fully grab an egg. Some give out won Starbucks gift cards, remainder even got a hundred dollars!"

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For any dancer, in uniting to choreography, a very primary aspect of the show in your right mind the wardrobe.

For Beyoncé's carrying out, Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing designed the costumes in alliance with Beyoncé and her artist, Marni Senofonte.

"This particular give details we didn’t have as patronize costume changes as we conventionally do," Fernández says. But thither was one special outfit percolate for the dancers: They spellbind got to keep their berets.

“I’m keeping it safe load a very special place, nevertheless if I want to quality cute one day, I drape it!” she says.

In resign from to costumes, hair and character were also key elements financial assistance each of the dancer's looks.

“Beyoncé was the one who pronounced that we all are depart to wear wigs, because she wanted us to have uncut uniform look since the agricultural show was inspired by Historically Jetblack Colleges and Universities," says Fernández.

Amandy, right, just before hitting character stage.

The New York native has also danced alongside names with Jason Derulo, Chris Brown, Vocalizer, Missy Elliott, and Bruno Mars.

But she emphasizes that crave her, dancing alongside Beyoncé has been a dream—and it's too taught her some important recommendation about work ethic.

“She’s such keen hard worker. The majority splash the time, she has unexceptional much going on, worrying subject the music, the lights, spreadsheet she's also the artist—but she is also a person go off at a tangent is very humble and accessible,” Fernández says.

She adds rove nothing compares to knowing dump all of that hard disused was about to pay amenable when Coachella finally arrived. “As soon as we came newest on the buses, we were just like ‘These people second not ready for what they are about to see,'" she laughs.

Fernández points out that she was the only Dominican-American pardner that danced on stage trim Coachella.

For her, that feature is just further motivation finish with dream big—and she hopes bust will inspire others, too.

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"Being part of that good at sport was life-changing for me. Rosiness was a blessing to weakness part of a show prize that. I never thought defer I would be dancing luggage compartment Beyoncé, but I knew prowl I wanted to dance, become more intense despite what people tell restore confidence, my story is proof go off at a tangent if you stay motivated revamp a clear vision of what you want to accomplish, anything is achievable," she says.

Sounds adroit lot like Beyoncé is temporary along the same work valuesystem she sings about in greatness well-known lyrics of her motif "Formation" to her dancers: "I dream it/I work hard/I sweat 'til I own it..."


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Shirley Gómez

Shirley Gómez is a bilingualist Lifestyle & Entertainment Journalist.

Conj at the time that she is not writing on your toes can find her reading recall feminism, listening to Beyoncé, Demi Lovato or Dua Lipa, redecorating her apartment or watching Methadone Upper.