Connect with us

Entertainment

BOSSIP Exclusive: From “P-Valley” To “Lovecraft Country,” Choreographer Jamaica Craft Is Making All The Right Moves

Jamaica Craft is the dynamic choreographer responsible for the stepwork on “P-Valley,” “Lovecraft Country” and “Step Up: Highwater”. She spoke with BOSSIP about how she came up with Topsy and Bopsy’s minstrel jig, blessing professional dancers…

There’s no “Lovecraft Country” without the CRAFT — specifically choreographer Jamaica Craft, who created both the minstrel jig that made Topsy and Bopsy so terrifying as well as the stunning steps that signified Montrose finding the freedom to live his truth.

Jamaica Craft

Source: Jamaica Craft / Courtesy

Craft spoke with BOSSIP about how she came up with Topsy and Bopsy’s frightful footwork, working with women showrunners on “Empire,” “P-Valley,” “Lovecraft Country” and “Step Up: Highwater” and finding greater purpose bringing more professional dancers into acting roles. Check out our Q & A below:

On Topsy & Bopsy’s Minstrel Jig:

When Misha Green worked on this particular episode, she started with, ‘I want you to create a minstrel jig.’ She showed me the character of Topsy and we went through “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” From that journey I just went into minstrel and then jig, and when I came back to pitch her the idea for Topsy, I was like, ‘Okay so, I’ve been researching minstrel jigs and I want to do something that’s modernized as well, but not lose the history. So we went through this journey of finding what this movement was.

There’s a Chicago style that’s coming through the choreography, mixed in with a Miami vibe, mixed in with just an actual minstrel jig and how the movement was at that time, so it’s a combination of things that I researched, mixed in with modern and old school. From even how to make them scary — the movement is exuding their character and their vibe. Misha was like, ‘Topsy is focused on getting Dee. She’s like, ‘By any means, I am there to get her. Bopsy, she’s there to get her too, but she’s a little more playful. She’s like, ‘Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God, when we get her, when we get her, when we get her, it’s gonna be so great! Oh my God Oh my God.’ And Topsy is like, ‘Yeah sis, I’m going straight to her, that’s all great. Yeah, uh huh, I’m going to keep going straight for her.’

Advertisement

So when you guys see the dancing, that’s what I was trying to exude out of this movement, but at the same time for people to go, ‘Oh my God!’ It’s a different way for a scary movement to happen. It’s not your typical same zombie kind of movement, arms straight out and walking stiff… It’s incredible dancing, it’s incredible feet work, it’s incredible high energy, it’s the back story to it all. Every time the movement always had to keep going forward and keep going toward Dee, and for you guys to keep going, ‘How did they do that?’ and for it not to be special effects. Every one of those steps, Topsy and Bopsy did.

On Helping Other Dancers Succeed In Film & TV

Another amazing thing that Misha Green offered in this particular episode, she was like, ‘I want to cast the role as dancers. I think dancers would do this role extreme justice.’ It’s such a pleasure, in my career, now maneuvering over to TV and film, pushing dancers and the dance community into that acting community even more. Not just being the double, which isn’t bad either, but being the actual — you’re on the call sheet as Topsy and Bopsy. This not only was that happening on “Lovecraft Country,” that was also happening with Katori Hall and “P-Valley.” She had the same kind of conversation with me. I also work on the show “Step Up: Highwater” that must moved over to Starz as well. We were on YouTube Red for two seasons and that showrunner as well, Holly Sorenson was like, ‘Jamaica, the majority of the roles are played by dancers.’ Which is amazing, so I was like, ‘Go head Lord use me as a vessel!’

On Completely Missing The Social Media Response To Topsy & Bopsy

I kind of separate from that so it doesn’t bog my soul to be creative. I love that the reaction has been incredible and people are getting the Easter eggs inside of the dance of Topsy and Bopsy, but I’m really disconnected because I want to stay connected to the creative. If I start letting those voices, good or bad, get into my head, it affects my gut, it affects when I get a project. I start seeing a movie or start hearing the music or start seeing the movement. I want to always keep my brain clean with that. Sometimes people are like, ‘You should watch it.’ But too much good can get you to going, ‘Oh you’re good,’ versus, ‘I don’t even know.’ I want to just keep giving you guys what’s inside me and even if you don’t get it, that still protects me. I was happy with what I gave you. I didn’t give you what I thought you wanted to see.

Advertisement

Sometimes we can give what we thought people wanted to see versus ‘this is cool’. Creativity to me is always about being a risk taker and not worrying about who likes or who hates. You first have to love it. You first have to be satisfied with it. Black Twitter, my friends will send me things, my family will send me things, and Topsy and Bopsy were a big pour down in my phone like, ‘Girl do you see these people talking about Topsy and Bopsy and how they’re scared but they can’t take their eyes off them at the same time?’ And they’re noticing the dance, they’re noticing the choreography. ‘It’s so cool that you didn’t get overlooked in this moment.’ They commented that they can like really get off. They’re like the new Thriller. I was like, do you know that I can be done with my career? I’ve been working for many years to get anywhere near Michael Jackson.

On The Misconception She Only Choreographed The Jig-A-Bobo Episode

People are like, ‘I know the show but I haven’t seen the dance, I can’t wait for your episode.’ I’m like, ‘Actually I did episode 1-10.’

View this post on Instagram

Advertisement

Metamorphosis.

A post shared by Lovecraft Country (@lovecrafthbo) on Sep 17, 2020 at 12:44pm PDT

On The Power Of The ‘Strange Case’ Episode

That episode was AMAZING and believe me, with the community I have worked with from drag queens, to transgender to the LGBT community all of that was to allow me to hire from within that community. It was really, really, really amazing. Even just the scene where Sammy is dancing toward Montrose in he apartment, it was one of my favorite.

On Which Of The ‘Lovecraft’ Actors Is The Most Naturally Talented

Advertisement

Courtney B. Vance. Actually Courtney AND Michael [K. Williams]. Mmmmhmmm, just super super natural.

Hit the flip for more from Jamaica Craft on her work on “P-Valley.”

Episodic Images from Starz hit show "P-Valley"

Source: Courtesy Starz Entertainment / Starz

On Preparing For “P-Valley”

“P-Valley” is a whole other animal. One of my dream jobs. I didn’t know “Lovecraft” was going to be such a dream, I was just happy to be working. That was time period and I knew that would push me. With P Valley I’ve always been inspired by exotic movement, from me just first starting to choreograph. The most infamous example is the “Yeah” video when I’m bent over moving, so me as a dancer, but I had gotten that from when I was in St. Louis. It was a certain dance but at the same time that’s what strippers did. From there I was intrigued.

Advertisement

I put pole dancing in Ciara’s “Get Up” video and people didn’t find that Easter egg. Movement where I was using exotic dancers in a video that was very kid friendly, but we infused that inside of there and it has been so on and so on.

Then God blessed me with the ‘Superfly’ movie with Director X a year before “P-Valley” and that was really where I researched actual pole dancers and stuff in Atlanta. I already frequented the clubs. because in Atlanta it’s not a faux pas, it’s cultural. Like I eat there a lot, so I was already comfortable, but I now wanted to know the ins and outs, so he gave me a scene with dancers and built it out. And from there I got the show “P-Valley,” so those same dancers, amongst other ones, I was able to hire them. Katori made them also have a role and they became like the core dancers and core actors for “P-Valley.” So when you see Peanut Butter and all the different dancers that are standing next to Mercedes and Miss Mississippi in the club, these are actual either ex or pre-existing dancers in the club that were working, that I started working with.

What I love about this show is that they show that it’s not easy what they do with them going up a pole, or you looking at them in a certain limelight, it’s that these women are bosses, these women are superheroes, these women are dealing with a whole lot coming to work and able to block you out. They’re dancing for THEMSELVES most of the time, vs. you and a lot of times people don’t get that. A lot of times when you’re dancing at home, you’re dancing for someone else, not even enjoying for yourself. The one biggest thing Katori told me she wanted to do was every time the audience to see the dancers from the perspective of the dancer, not the person watching. So the audience sees this is what the dancer sees when they’re dancing , this is what they feel, this is what they’re putting into it.

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: ‘atatags-26942-5fa5b5daa079f’, location: 120, formFactor: ‘001’, label: { text: ‘Advertisements’, }, creative: { reportAd: { text: ‘Report this ad’, }, privacySettings: { text: ‘Privacy settings’, } } }); });

Advertisement
Advertisement

Entertainment

Drew Carey, 66, Enjoys Lunch Date with 37-Year-Old OnlyFans Star Niki Skyler in L.A.

Drew Carey

Having survived one of the darkest chapters of his life, Drew Carey appears to be finding a little light again and perhaps even a second chance at love.

The 66-year-old Price Is Right presenter, comic, and TV legend has been seen dining with 37-year-old content creator and OnlyFans model Niki Skyler at the hot retro diner Swingers Diner in Los Angeles. The sighting, which happened on a leisurely Thursday afternoon, has fans and entertainment observers alike abuzz: Is Carey finally unsealing his heart, five years after the heartbreaking death of his ex-fiancée, Amie Harwick?

Casual and smiling, Carey appeared at ease in a simple gray tee and jeans. Skyler, who’s developed a steady online following over the past couple of years, caught eyes in a soft-pink crop top, matching skirt, and oversized sunglasses. They talked closely while digging into burgers and milkshakes, laughing at one point as they exchanged fries and stories. While representatives for both Carey and Skyler haven’t confirmed any romance, it’s evident that there’s at least some chemistry.

In February 2020, Carey’s life was upended by a tragedy he couldn’t have imagined: the murder of his ex-fiancée, Dr. Amie Harwick, a therapist and high-profile advocate for victims of domestic violence in her Los Angeles home. The suspect was an ex-boyfriend of Harwick’s, and her death sent ripples not just through Carey’s personal life but through the entertainment world and mental health communities as well. Carey and Harwick had amicably separated the previous year, but the couple remained good friends. In the days after her death, Carey spoke openly about the heartbreak on his SiriusXM show, calling Harwick a “beautiful, positive force,” and saying her death is “something I’ll never truly get over.”

Friends said Carey withdrew from public life in the period that followed. Though he went on to host The Price Is Right with grace and professionalism, he mostly avoided the Hollywood social circuit and kept his private life tightly sealed. This is why this recent public outing with Skyler, relaxed, candid, and intimate, feels like such a big deal.

Advertisement

For those who are not in the know, Niki Skyler is new to the internet scene. She is an online content creator currently on OnlyFans and linking subscribers through social media. A mash-up of influencer, entrepreneur, and artist, Skyler has honed a following that appreciates her headstrong, body-positive, no-holds-barred approach to life. A Midwestern native, Skyler relocated to Los Angeles in her late twenties to work in modeling and independent media. She has starred in music videos and lifestyle campaigns and has turned to podcasting, too. Although her OnlyFans work has generated headlines, Skyler says her mission is empowerment: “I want to control my narrative,” she told a fan in a recent Q&A on Instagram.

Skyler’s relationship to Carey isn’t quite clear, whether the two crossed paths through mutual friends, a shared project, or just by chance. But those who witnessed their lunch date saw an ease between them that implied something more than a casual get-together. “They were kind of into each other’s company,” one onlooker said. “It didn’t seem like a publicity stunt or anything. They were simply two people enjoying a very good time.” It’s not unusual for Hollywood notables to fall in love in surprising locations and combinations. But this new chapter feels particularly poignant for Carey, whose career has included decades of stand-up, successful sitcoms, and dominance on daytime TV.

Carey is famous for his self-deprecating wit and down-to-earth disposition and has never been known for his high-flying romances. His relationships were mostly kept out of the news before Harwick. And that’s why fans are cheering for him now, hoping this moment of connection, even if just friendship, means something healing. “Drew deserves happiness,” a longtime fan said on Reddit after lunch photos circulated. “Given everything he’s been through, seeing him smile with someone again is nice.” And smile he did throughout lunch, Carey appeared genuinely happy, leaning in as Skyler spoke excitedly, shooting the occasional gesture, and pushing her hair behind her ear. The men lingered for almost two hours before stepping out of the diner together, toward the front door, and Carey was polite as ever, waiting for his partner to walk through first.

However, any relationship or even friendly outing between a mainstream TV personality in his 60s and a 30-something digital personality will surely raise eyebrows. But the reception to Carey and Skyler’s outing has mainly been positive, even refreshingly open-minded. The age difference? “It’s Hollywood,” one fan shrugged. “They’re both adults, and quite frankly, who cares, if they’re happy?” Others mentioned the difference between Carey’s traditional showbiz background and Skyler’s new-media presence. Their partnership is in many ways a clash of eras — one formed by network TV and old-school comedy, the other forged in the digital world of subscriptions, self-branding, and immediate fan connection. “Maybe that’s what makes them work,” as another observer hypothesized. “They’ve both created their own path and achieved success outside the things you would assume. That’s pretty cool.”

So far, neither Carey nor Skyler has commented publicly on their lunch date, and there has been no indication whether this is the start of a romance, a potential new friendship, or even a collaboration in the pipeline. However their connection is, one thing is for sure, the moment is landing. In an era of celebrity couples whose relationships are so heavily marketed and repackaged that they increasingly resemble an exercise in brand management, this one feels deliciously unpretentious, a low-key lunch between two people, no frills, no rush, no glitz, sprinkled with just enough intrigue to make everyone’s ears perk up. And for Carey, in particular, the timing could not be more significant. “He has always seemed to be a genuine, kind person,” said a fan. “Seeing him smiling once more, even for an afternoon serves as a reminder that healing is possible.”

Advertisement

So, are Drew Carey and Niki Skyler falling for each other or just enjoying a pal? Number three: Underneath the lights and the cameras, the grief and the healing, the fame and the reinvention, there’s always room for joy, laughter, and perhaps even love. And who knows? For a man used to spending years judging whether others’ guesses were the correct price, maybe he’s finally found something rivals have no formula for calculating: the cost is priceless.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Is Rihanna Secretly Shooting a Music Video in Paris?

Rihanna

Shocking news has done the rounds as speculative reports of Rihanna filming for a music video in Paris. There hasn’t been an official announcement, but given the new reports, it sounds like the City of Light will likely be the setting for her next artistic project. ​

Rihanna has dropped hint after hint of her comeback to music. Fans report that she is also nearing the finish line with her ninth fully realized studio effort, an album that will signal a departure with its continuity and freshness. Rihanna, over the years, through interviews, has additionally mentioned that she does not wish to write something that does not reflect her growth and evolution as an Artist, and the new album will not be “commercial or radio digestible” and it’s where her Artistry needs to be. ​

Check out this article: Why Rihanna’s Return to Music in 2025 Is the Comeback of the Decade

Paris has long inspired artists, and Rihanna is no exception. The city has become a central hub for her fashion projects, and there are rumors she might have her next Fenty Puma fashion show at Paris Fashion Week. Considering her deep connections to the city and its vibrant artistic milieu, it would be understandable if she selected Paris as the location for a new music video. ​

There are no official confirmations, but for several reasons, it seems like they might be shooting a music video in Paris. Rihanna’s creative team has been said to have been working in secret in Los Angeles to prepare for the return. Reviewed only by you, the best of the best 😉 She has seen a parallel increase in her new dancing persona as a singer, cementing these worlds together, which could lead to a crazy visual music video in Paris. ​

Advertisement

Adding fuel to that speculation is the potential of a world tour in 2025, rumored to be for Rihanna. A new music video shot in Paris would be a strong advertisement for her, reigniting fans’ eagerness and priming her return to the stage. And at a time when she is expected to make a big splash including a £32million deal with Live Nation and headlining prime festival slots for Glastonbury, the release of a new music video is perfectly timmed alongside this anticipated resurrection. ​

While fans are still waiting for confirmation, the prospect of a Rihanna music video filming in Paris could join the growing plot twists in her return story. Whether or not this is a strategic way to intertwine her music and fashion pursuits or an extension of her artistic vision, we are excited by the notion of Rihanna taking over the streets of Paris for a new video. ​

What do you think? Rihanna is filming a secret music video worldwide? If you found this article interesting, comment and let us know your thoughts!

Continue Reading

Video Of The Week

Trending