Esteemed choreographer Luam went to social media on Thursday to vent her frustration with MTV’s VMA Awards, particularly the best choreography category. Luam said the VMAs are recognizing artists and songs in the category, but failing to recognize the choreographers behind the dances.
“MTV has released its nominations for VMA categories and one of them is best choreography,” Luam said in the Instagram video. “As choreographers and dancers and performance artists, we are so looking to this moment of recognition of our moment and the spotlight in the sun for the world to see us in our true art form. But guess what? All the choreographers’ names are omitted from the nominations.”
Luam, however, decided to make her own list to honor the choreographers. In her list, Luam named Sean Bankhead, Fullout Cortland, Yoann Bourgeois, Zoï Tatopoulos and Son Sung Deuk.
“As individuals, we are so rarely seen,” Luam said. “We are giving our blood, sweat and tears in its visceral realness to our artists, to the dancer, to the music, to this song to create something special, raw and new. To the choreographers that have been nominated, they have beyond done their jobs. They have their artists, and their record labels as well, on the map.”
While she can’t explain the VMAs’ decision to omit the names of the choreographers, Luam said, “The reality is that we have been erased.”
“The individuals who have created the movements and the dance and the lifeblood of expression have been erased,” she said. “Can you imagine how it must feel to be recognized and invisible at the same time?”
The MTV website lists the names of the artists and songs nominated for best choreography. The nominees are BTS (“Permission to Dance”), Doja Cat (“Woman”), FKA twigs featuring The Weeknd (“Tears in the Club”), Harry Styles (“As It Was”), Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow (“Industry Baby”) and Normani featuring Cardi B (“Wild Side.”)
The VMAs will air on MTV on Aug. 28.
