Mandy Moore鈥檚 choreography for Ryan Gosling鈥檚 at last years鈥� stole the show. This year, she aimed to once again 鈥渕ake something that makes people feel,鈥� she told The Associated Press over the phone ahead of the Oscars.
The a-list choreographer whose credits include monumental had a real challenge for the 2025 Oscars. The original song nominees would not perform. But under her stewardship, the quality of the performances would not wane.
That was clear from the energetic opening: Ariana Grande launched into 鈥淭he Wizard of Oz鈥� classic 鈥淪omewhere Over the Rainbow,鈥� following a visual package celebrating the city of Los Angeles. She was followed by Cynthia Erivo nailing 鈥淗ome鈥� from 鈥淭he Wiz鈥� and the pair teaming up for a dynamic duet of 鈥淒efying Gravity.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 everything you want it to be. It's simple. It鈥檚 them. It鈥檚 their voices and it鈥檚 just them as artists, you know? And I will say, I just got out of the way," she laughs. 鈥淚 just told them where to stand on stage and do their thing.鈥�
There was a four-part tribute to James Bond, opening with and dancers, followed by serenade of 鈥淟ive and Let Die,鈥� Doja Cat's 鈥淒iamonds Are Forever,鈥� and RAYE's 鈥淪kyfall.鈥�
鈥淚t's such an incredible, cinematic performance,鈥� said Moore. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really using camera in a way that鈥檚 really fun and in line with, I think, something that would be in a great Bond film. You know, those films are so iconic. So, we had to do something pretty major.鈥�
In preparation, she said she rewatched every Bond film 鈥渢o find shapes and visuals and transitions that feel like a Bond film.鈥�
Later in the evening, Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah introduced a joyful tribute to featuring 32 dancers, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and Queen Latifah doing 鈥淓ase on Down the Road,鈥� from 鈥淭he Wiz." Jones supervised the adaptation of songs from the Broadway musical for the 1978 film starring Michael Jackson. Jones and Jackson met while working on the film, leading to one of of all time.
For Moore, the first question was, 鈥淎re we doing 鈥楾he Wiz鈥�?鈥� She quickly agreed that the tribute shouldn't feature talent 鈥減laying the characters,鈥� and instead focus on the larger-than-life music of Jones. 鈥淚 just wanted to make a visual representation of what I hear and feel in his music, when I listen to that. So, in order to do that, the music is big. It鈥檚 layered. There鈥檚 a lot going on with it."
The solution? Choreography that felt just as large. 鈥�32 dancers that fill the stage, plus the iconic Queen Latifah in the middle. And these beautiful, ten background vocalists that fill out the vocal parts,鈥� she said. "It鈥檚 huge.鈥�
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Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
