Although calling Beyonce Knowles a 'copycat,' Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker still respects the singer by saying, 'She sings and dances very well, and she has a good taste!'
- Oct 12, 2011
AceShowbiz - When similarities between Beyonce Knowles' "Countdown" music video and a work by a German dancer were first brought forward, it was clearly noted that the original choreographer, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, was not impressed with the references. To emphasize her feelings, Anne issued another statement to the Performance Club.
Anne said she was "extremely surprised" when finding out the unattributed homage from the internet. "When I saw the actual video, I was struck by the resemblance of Beyonce's clip not only with the movements from Rosas danst Rosas, but also with the costumes, the set and even the shots from the film by Thierry De Mey," she stated.
Saying that she didn't feel honored with it, the choreographer continued her statement, "Obviously, Beyonce, or the video clip director Adria Petty, plundered many bits of the integral scenes in the film, which the videoclip made by Studio Brussel by juxtaposing Beyonce's video and the Rosas danst Rosas film gives a taste of."
Regardless, Anne was not angry with Beyonce, saying, "I am glad that Rosas danst Rosas can perhaps reach a mass audience which such a dance performance could never achieve, despite its popularity in the dance world since 1980s." Still, she called the R&B diva a copycat, although not a worst one. "She sings and dances very well, and she has a good taste!" she gushed.
There were things that disappointed her though. "There are protocols and consequences to such actions, and I can't imagine she and her team are not aware of it," she said seemingly referring that Beyonce failed to credit her. "To conclude, this event didn't make me angry, on the contrary, it made me think a few things."
Beyonce herself never denied the similarities. Before the video was premiered, her "Countdown" co-director Adria Petty had, in fact, warned fans that there were a number of German modern-dance references in it. "Clearly, the ballet 'Rosas danst Rosas' was one of many references for my video 'Countdown'," Queen Bey said in her latest statement. "It was one of the inspirations used to bring the feel and look of the song to life."
The pregnant musician explained further, "I was also paying tribute to the film, 'Funny Face' with the legendary Audrey Hepburn. My biggest inspirations were the '60s, the '70s, Brigitte Bardot, Andy Warhol, Twiggy and Diana Ross." She added, "I've always been fascinated by the way contemporary art uses different elements and references to produce something unique."
