A Dance Guide to Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Epic Louvre Video

Let’s start with the obvious: Over the weekend, Beyoncé and Jay-Z released a joint album, Everything Is Love. Bey and Jay also dropped a video for the album’s lead track, which they filmed inside the actual Louvre museum in Paris (as one does, when one is a member of the Carter family). And the vid features not only thought-provoking commentary on the Western art tradition, but also some really incredible dancing.

So, who choreographed this epic? And who are the dancers bringing it to life in those already-iconic bodystockings?

(A quick warning before we continue: Yes, the song is called “Apes••t,” and yes, it includes explicit lyrics.)

First, let’s talk about the album cover, because it features two very familiar dancer faces: our friend Jasmine Harper, and bone breaker Nicholas “Slick” Stewart (both “So You Think You Can Dance” alums, for the record!).

Now, about that choreo. Beyoncé go-tos JaQuel Knight and Chris Grant were involved, as usual. But The Carters also brought in Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, who’s made works for Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (RIP, *sniff*) and Dutch National Ballet, and is now artistic director of the Royal Ballet of Flanders. And you can definitely see his more contemporary voice throughout the vid:

In addition to Harper and Stewart, the video features gorgeous dancers Dominique Loude, Ashley Seldon, Tacir Roberson, Dnay B, Bianca Brewton, and Quinetta Wilmington, all members of the On the Run II tour crew.

And unsurprisingly, the dance in “Apesh**t” has already inspired memes upon memes. Our favorite contribution comes from Houston Ballet soloist and eminent Beyoncé authority Harper Watters:

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