Creative Control

Choreographer and creative director JaQuel Knight has become to the go-to creative force behind major artists including Britney Spears, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, and yes, Beyoncé. For Knight, it's not just the big moves he obsesses over—it’s the right flick of the wrist, swing of the hair, or, in the case of the “Single Ladies” music video exact, and I mean EXACT, timing. In our conversation, Knight unpacks how his laser-focused attention to detail fuels his desire to never be complacent (even if that means hiding his own trophies), how he creates and cultivates his own opportunities, and the bigger reason why he’s going through the arduous task of copyrighting his dance moves.