Choreographers Luis Camacho and Jose Gutierez spoke to TV Insider about the 1990 VMA performance of “Vogue” in 2015: Gutierez: At first, we were going to do another song, ’cause people were already sick of us doing this. We had already vogued all year. It was between “Keep it Together” and something else. Camacho: The idea [for the “Vogue” performance] came about during a game of charades. During the last days of the tour, we were in the South of France, in Nice, and one of the charades was Dangerous Liaisons. I was sitting next to her, and Madonna goes, “You know, that’s very ‘Vogue.’ ” Gutierez: For the choreography, I was trying to basically keep the same stuff that was in the chorus section [of the video]. Everyone remembers those counts of eight from the chorus. Voguing is very arrogant and very aristocratic with all this attitude, so I think the theme and the costumes made us emulate it even more. Camacho: The only thing that had us a little nervous were the fans the women [dancers] had. At one point in the choreography, they flipped the fans in the air, and they’re supposed to catch them. At almost every rehearsal, somebody would drop the fan. Gutierez: Janet Jackson’s dancers also were performing that night, and there was always this Janet and Madonna competition throughout the years. Janet opened the show with “Black Cat” and we were closing the show, so we got to see them go on first. We were so amped because we were like, “Oh my God, they sucked! They were so bad!” We were like, “Oh, it’s in the bag!” Camacho: We were also up for an award that night for best choreography. Gutierez: I really wanted to win, but I knew that we weren’t going to. Madonna told us, “Don’t get your hopes up, because it’s very political in these awards ceremonies. They’re not going to give it to two young kids from the Lower East Side.” I was like, “You don’t know that!” Camacho: By the time we went to perform, we [hadn’t won]. Standing offstage, Jose and I felt like, “We are about to show you why we should have gotten that award.” We always did a prayer circle before we went on stage. Madonna was like, “Let’s go out there and give it to them! Let’s serve it up, ladies and gentlemen!” Gutierez: You can see our energy. It’s that moment when the curtain goes up and we are there, and everyone in the crowd just rises to their feet. I was jumping out of my skin. Camacho: And no one dropped a fan! After they all caught it, we all clapped and breathed a sigh of relief. It was a nail-biter. Gutierez: Talking about it now is like reliving those moments of being on stage-it gives you this rush of wanting to be the best and wanting to leave such an impression. It’s crazy because 25 years later, people still remember. I still get recognized on the street from this job that I did 25 years ago, and it feels so good. SOURCE: TV INSIDER • GREGORY E MILLER • AUGUST 19 2015
Absolutely love Vincent Patterson’s work and choreography, I really wish that Madonna had worked more with him… It’s never too late to hook up with him again and do something iconic
The flip they do with the fans is one of the riskiest things I have ever seen at such a high profile event. I thought they might have been weighted in some way to make the flip predictable but they look super delicate now seeing them up close which makes the whole thing even more impressive.
ICONIC … VINCENT !!! …. Your a icon…, many moons ago in 1992 we spoke on the phone via my uncle Ron Rios who you were friends with… we planned to meet up to talk about me becoming a dancer in LA.. we never did meet but it’s good to see your face since we only spoke in the phone….
The fans were definitely not tied to their hand. For most of the performance they held the fans with their right hand, but at one point the briefly switch and hold the fan in their left hand.
When you think Madonna is super creative only to realize the whole concept was not even her idea. I think Madonna's biggest talent may be working with talented people
Madonna's innately creative and talented. She's a Leo. It's in their DNA. As an artist, I've worked with Leos and they're consistent to come up with great ideas first. I work well with them being polar opposites in the zodiac spectrum. So trust me, she deserves all the credit she can get.
In her Madonna Tone of Voice™️, "Well, what do you wanna do?"
Choreographers Luis Camacho and Jose Gutierez spoke to TV Insider about the 1990 VMA performance of “Vogue” in 2015:
Gutierez: At first, we were going to do another song, ’cause people were already sick of us doing this. We had already vogued all year. It was between “Keep it Together” and something else.
Camacho: The idea [for the “Vogue” performance] came about during a game of charades. During the last days of the tour, we were in the South of France, in Nice, and one of the charades was Dangerous Liaisons. I was sitting next to her, and Madonna goes, “You know, that’s very ‘Vogue.’ ”
Gutierez: For the choreography, I was trying to basically keep the same stuff that was in the chorus section [of the video]. Everyone remembers those counts of eight from the chorus. Voguing is very arrogant and very aristocratic with all this attitude, so I think the theme and the costumes made us emulate it even more.
Camacho: The only thing that had us a little nervous were the fans the women [dancers] had. At one point in the choreography, they flipped the fans in the air, and they’re supposed to catch them. At almost every rehearsal, somebody would drop the fan.
Gutierez: Janet Jackson’s dancers also were performing that night, and there was always this Janet and Madonna competition throughout the years. Janet opened the show with “Black Cat” and we were closing the show, so we got to see them go on first. We were so amped because we were like, “Oh my God, they sucked! They were so bad!” We were like, “Oh, it’s in the bag!”
Camacho: We were also up for an award that night for best choreography.
Gutierez: I really wanted to win, but I knew that we weren’t going to. Madonna told us, “Don’t get your hopes up, because it’s very political in these awards ceremonies. They’re not going to give it to two young kids from the Lower East Side.” I was like, “You don’t know that!”
Camacho: By the time we went to perform, we [hadn’t won]. Standing offstage, Jose and I felt like, “We are about to show you why we should have gotten that award.” We always did a prayer circle before we went on stage. Madonna was like, “Let’s go out there and give it to them! Let’s serve it up, ladies and gentlemen!”
Gutierez: You can see our energy. It’s that moment when the curtain goes up and we are there, and everyone in the crowd just rises to their feet. I was jumping out of my skin.
Camacho: And no one dropped a fan! After they all caught it, we all clapped and breathed a sigh of relief. It was a nail-biter.
Gutierez: Talking about it now is like reliving those moments of being on stage-it gives you this rush of wanting to be the best and wanting to leave such an impression. It’s crazy because 25 years later, people still remember. I still get recognized on the street from this job that I did 25 years ago, and it feels so good.
SOURCE: TV INSIDER • GREGORY E MILLER • AUGUST 19 2015
Thank you for sharing! Some differences in the exact orgin of the song? Interesting, very interesting.
Wow, this performance is so iconic yet I could never find much behind-the-scenes info about it. Thanks for that!
Absolutely love Vincent Patterson’s work and choreography, I really wish that Madonna had worked more with him… It’s never too late to hook up with him again and do something iconic
The flip they do with the fans is one of the riskiest things I have ever seen at such a high profile event. I thought they might have been weighted in some way to make the flip predictable but they look super delicate now seeing them up close which makes the whole thing even more impressive.
Vincent Patterson's work stand the test of time.
This performance made me a Madonna Loyal fan since 1996, this info is Amazing !!!!
This was absolutely brilliant!!!
Now this is content! Loved it.
Queen Madonna history always fascinates me.
Love your work Vincent. Truly Madonnas best.
ICONIC … VINCENT !!! …. Your a icon…, many moons ago in 1992 we spoke on the phone via my uncle Ron Rios who you were friends with… we planned to meet up to talk about me becoming a dancer in LA.. we never did meet but it’s good to see your face since we only spoke in the phone….
Interestingly enough, she ended up doing the androgyny number 3 years later at the VMAs for Bye Bye Baby.
Yes!! More!
Love this guys work with MJ and Madonna
Wonderful the Queen 👑
Vincent paterson is a genious
Vos chores nous ont inspires vous etes talentueux , ❤
Waoooo AMAZING 👏BRAVO ICONIC.
Iconic
This is how you DEAL with a diva 👏👏👏
Omg skirts
Failed to mention that Dangerous Liasons was inspiration and the fans were tied to hand so didn’t drop when they threw them
if they were tied , how did they flip them ?
The fans were definitely not tied to their hand. For most of the performance they held the fans with their right hand, but at one point the briefly switch and hold the fan in their left hand.
Stop spreading misinformation.
When you think Madonna is super creative only to realize the whole concept was not even her idea. I think Madonna's biggest talent may be working with talented people
it is well known that M has always worked with the best of the best
That's the secret to success: be smart enough to surround yourself how can do what you can't do.
I swear by it.
Good on her. She’s an artist & appreciates great minds + great concepts 💯👏🏾
Madonna's innately creative and talented. She's a Leo. It's in their DNA. As an artist, I've worked with Leos and they're consistent to come up with great ideas first. I work well with them being polar opposites in the zodiac spectrum. So trust me, she deserves all the credit she can get.
That goes with Beyonce, Britney. You name it. So, your point it pointless.