If you’ve been scrolling on social media these last few weeks, then you probably came across some folks doing Drea Kelly’s dance routine over Beyoncé’s latest hit song, “II Hands II Heaven” from the album “Cowboy Carter.” While it’s clear many are enjoying it, Drea Kelly, is now sharing how she feels about being at the center of a viral dance trend.
Drea Kelly, known for her passion for dance and her extensive experience in the industry being the ex-wife of jailed R&B singer R. Kelly, was pleasantly surprised by the sudden surge of interest in her choreography. Reflecting on the trend, she expressed her amazement at how Beyoncé’s music has breathed new life into her two-year-old dance routine. “I was like hold on now, Beyoncé’s internet is on to something. And it has taken a life of its own,” she shared with USA TODAY.
She went on to explain that the original choreography to that routine was set to Muddy Waters’ “I Just Want to Make Love to You,” but the fusion of her moves with Beyoncé’s music has moved fans across social media platforms… and she’s here for it! “I do burlesque. So that original choreography is to Muddy Waters, ‘I Just Want to Make Love to You’ and somebody put Beyoncé’s music on it. And the next thing I know…they put her music over one of my classes, they put her music over one of my videos. And in Chicago, there’s a dance called the Percolator. So this move that everybody sees me doing is actually an old school, house-music dance, and it fits perfectly,” she told the outlet.
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Embracing the unexpected spotlight, Drea hopes that her experience is proof that with patience and consistency other creatives can find new audiences and appreciation over time. She also encouraged individuals to believe in the enduring power of their artistry, regardless of age or perceived limitations.
“I want this to be a testament to people. Your gifts will make a way for you. And I don’t care what anybody thinks. Don’t think you’re too old. Don’t think your content is too old. Something that you put on your page years ago, somebody can discover and it has a new life,” she said.
More On “Cowboy Carter”:
Beyonce officially dropped her new album on March 29th. After making history with her songs 16 Carriages and Texas Hold Em, ahead of its release, she penned a sweet message to her fans for supporting her every step of the way. She said at the time,
“This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…..and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”
She added, “I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you. My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant.”