Choreographer Details How Harry Styles Embraced Dance After Years of Avoidance
The acclaimed choreographer behind Harry Styles' electrifying Aperture music video and BRIT Awards performance has opened up about pushing the global superstar "out of his comfort zone" with the high-energy routine. Ryan Heffington, who gained fame for choreographing Sia's iconic 2014 Chandelier video, praised the 32-year-old singer's dedication and bravery in taking on the challenging dance sequence after years of deliberately avoiding choreographed performances.
From Boy Band Reluctance to Viral Dance Sensation
During his tenure with One Direction, the group consciously steered clear of synchronized dancing to distance themselves from traditional boy band formulas. The quintet, including Styles, frequently expressed that they saw choreographed routines as inauthentic and preferred to focus on vocals and natural stage presence instead.
"We just kind of came out and said, 'We can't dance. We're a bit lazy. We're just normal lads'," the late Liam Payne told Glamour magazine in 2013. Former member Zayn Malik echoed this sentiment, stating they wanted to be "five dudes in a band" rather than follow established boy band patterns.
Styles himself emphasized authenticity at the time, noting that "when you're playing a part, eventually it goes wrong" and advocating for being genuine from the beginning.
The Viral BRIT Awards Comeback
Harry Styles delighted fans worldwide last week when he opened the BRIT Awards with a spectacular performance of Aperture, marking his long-awaited return to the stage after nearly three years away. The high-octane routine featured a full troupe of dancers and immediately captivated audiences.
The dazzling performance quickly went viral, accumulating an impressive 3.8 million views on YouTube as viewers celebrated the pop star's seemingly effortless and polished movements. The routine represented a significant departure from Styles' previous performance style and demonstrated his artistic evolution.
Behind the Scenes with Ryan Heffington
In an exclusive interview with The Times, Heffington revealed intimate details about collaborating with Styles on both the music video choreography and its adaptation for the BRIT Awards. The choreographer emphasized that the routine was fundamentally "about Harry moving out of his comfort zone" and exploring new artistic territory.
Heffington described Styles as "a kind human and a really hard worker" who showed remarkable dedication throughout the process. Notably, the singer declined to use a stunt double for the music video, insisting on performing all elements himself because "he wanted to do it all."
The choreographer explained his creative approach: "My idea was to physicalise the music. He would sing a word and the melody of that word was expressed through the body. He loved it."
Intense Rehearsals and Professional Dedication
Despite having only a couple of days to prepare for the BRIT Awards performance, Heffington revealed that Styles arrived having already learned most of the routine and worked tirelessly to perfect it. "He never wanted a break, he just wanted to learn it and do the best he could," the choreographer recalled.
Heffington added with admiration: "The dancers at the Brits were huffing, puffing and sweating… Harry just nailed it."
Reflecting on the overwhelmingly positive viral reaction to Styles' performance, Heffington noted the courage required for established artists to experiment publicly. "Harry's incredible. It's hard to learn in the public eye; expectations are so high for them to be the best dancer, the best singer… We've seen numerous cases of people trying things and getting slammed," he observed.
The choreographer concluded: "But I think he's older and more confident and grounded now."
New Album Release and Critical Acclaim
Styles' artistic evolution continues with the recent release of his fourth studio album, Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally (known as KISSCO to fans). The album dropped on Friday to widespread critical praise, with many reviewers celebrating his most adventurous work to date.
The Independent's review particularly highlighted that Styles has created "music that actually sounds like him," while other critics have described the album as his "most playful, bold and experimental to date." The collection explores themes of relationships, adulthood, and the loss of innocence through a vulnerable lens.
Musically, the album incorporates disco and rock elements with influences ranging from LCD Sound System to Prince-style funk and The Durutti Column. The tracklist includes:
- Aperture
- American Girls
- Ready, Steady, Go!
- Are You Listening Yet?
- Taste Back
- The Waiting Game
- Season 2 Weight Loss
- Coming Up Roses
- Pop
- Dance No More
- Paint by Numbers
- Carla's Song
This artistic period represents a significant milestone for Styles as he continues to redefine his public persona and push creative boundaries, moving confidently beyond the constraints of his boy band origins into more complex and personally expressive territory.
