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I havent been able to read a book in three weeks.
Maybe two and a half?
Five days a week (at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m.
ET on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m.
ET on weekends), choreographerRyan Heffingtonstarts a sort of revolution from his living room.
A lot of people can freestyle really well or they dance better when they have a cocktail.
Just to let go and forget for a moment.
Thats definitely what it does for me.
How many people were on the first live versus now?The first one was two weeks ago.
Last Tuesday, there were 500.
And now its 6,000.
I didnt really give much time or effort to my public account [before this].
I have a private one, as well, which is where I normally post.
But I had 5,000 followers and now I have 112,000.
I just read aNew YorkTimespieceabout you choreographing the new Christine and the Queens short film.
They described you as someone who manages to strip away artifice in everything he touches.
Do you think about doing that consciously when youre creating these routines?Absolutely.
Its not about aesthetics, so much.
Its about storytelling and feeling.
Were doing little stories.
Were doing a pretty pony.
Were doing the hot-pepper move.
Were doing bash Trump in the face punches.
These are all little vignettes of stories that were telling.
Its not about the way it looks.
Were just jumping around and doing grapevines for 45 minutes.
So its not rocket science, you know?
The arc of the whole class is very, very … articulated?
I think about every detail, like what song goes where and when.
We dont do that often enough.
I think its really powerful for people.
Thats where a lot of tears come.
We dont really engage like that a lot in our lives.
In my Sweat Spot class, I didnt do that.
It used to be just running off, being like, Ooh, that was so fun.
But theres so much that the person has created themselves, that its important to recognize that.
To be responsible for feeling good.
Ive created 40 routines in two weeks.
I take it seriously.
It looks really simple and fun, and it is.
Im really focused before and I pace around a little bit.
I still have a little butterflies when I teach, even though Ive been doing it for 20 years.
For me, its about people and their experience.
Its children, its parents, its people Zooming with people all over the world.
I usually sit in my hot tub for an hour and watch the bunnies and the birds.
Then I take a stab at FaceTime three or four people a day from all over the world.
How do you pick the songs youre going to use?
There are just certain songs that really allow people to feel.
I know theres a science behind it.
I havent researched it, but there are certain chords and vibrations that really connect to certain chakras.
People suggest songs all the time, but they dont always have that vibration that Ive curated.
Its so important to the process.
Okay, that was what I thought!Its just these chants that you develop when you could teach.
I dont know what the hell Im saying.
But yeah, whatever comes out, comes out.
I also try not to cuss too much because I know theres kids.
Thats my favorite move.I think thats the fun of it, too.
Its never heavy-handed, but I have feelings, too, and I have frustrations.
This is a question from my brother, whos doing your routines from Berlin.
He says, What is your phone resting on for the livestream?Great question.
Pays attention to details.
Love it.Its on a carpet that I bought at a flea market here in the desert.
Its by this Mexican artist.
Its signed in the back.
Its super-beautiful and it kind of grounds my phone from slipping and sliding around.
Tell me about your outfits.
The shorts are so good.Its funny.
I came out here and I didnt really pack, not thinking I would do this.
Im having a friend come up, so shes going to bring a lot more stuff.
But I throw parties out here.
Have you thought about that connection in regards to what youre doing right now?Definitely.
I feel like through these movements, were changing reality.
We can call it magic, alchemy, but its exactly what were doing.
Even if its just temporary, its exactly what were doing.
Were changing our vibration, our makeup.
Were shaking it all out and creating a new reality.
Theres been a lot.
My friend Margaret Qualley is taking a class now.
Christine and the Queens took it.
Emma Stone just told me yesterday she was taking a class.
Its so damn cool.
Everyones on the same level.
I think thats the most beautiful thing about dance: There are no boundaries.
If youre a celebrity, great.
If youre a mom, better.
If youre a human, were winning.
So now theyre feeling life again.
It helps her get through her shift.
I mean, its just un-fucking-believable.
There are pregnant people, there are amputees, there are deaf people taking my class.
I had this dream to make the world dance years ago.
I didnt know how it would happen.
For the rest of your life?Im going to choreograph and still work and make money.
But Im going to do this.
Im going to allow people to have fun.
I think in our culture, dance is not integrated.
Crazy drunk dancing, yes.
But it should be.
I was put here to do this and Im going to do it.
If I can make people happy and tune in to goodness for an hour, Ill do it.
