‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Sinners’ and more: Oscars choreographer Mandy Moore breaks down the show

Mandy Moore, the choreographic force behind some of entertainment’s most memorable moments, delivered another round of spectacular performances at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. Moore’s vision was clear from the start: “to come out big again” while ensuring each performance celebrated not just the nominated songs but the films they represented.

The award show featured two standout musical numbers that showcased Moore’s distinctive approach to choreography and creative direction. The first was “Golden” from the animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami—the voices behind the fictional girl group HUNTR/X.

“It’s a huge song. ‘Golden’ is huge,” Moore explained in an interview with The Associated Press before the ceremony. Her vision for the performance was ambitious, combining traditional Korean culture with modern pop elements. “There are two pieces to the performance: The first piece is a celebration of traditional Korean culture. And there is traditional drumming and singing and folk dance. It then transitions into obviously the more kind of modern pop world of the ‘Golden’ performance.”

Moore’s commitment to cultural authenticity led her to collaborate with DaEun Jung, an associate professor from the University of California at Riverside. Jung served as a Korean consultant, bringing expertise in “not only the dance styles, but the wardrobe and the music and the singing,” Moore said. Jung’s involvement was “integral to the whole process of creating the prologue,” and she also participated in the performance as a dancer.

Because “KPop Demon Hunters” is an animated film, Moore felt liberated in her creative approach. “There’s kind of no rules,” she noted, while still emphasizing the importance of honoring the filmmaker’s tone. “In no way did they feel that we needed to create a live action performance of this song, to try and do it like the animation. Because you can’t.”

Moore was careful not to misrepresent the performance as a K-pop concert. “I am not a K-pop choreographer,” she acknowledged. Instead, she focused on “creating visuals” that captured the essence of the song. Nevertheless, the performance incorporated golden light sticks—a nod to K-pop concert culture—which audience members enthusiastically waved throughout the number.

One of Moore’s inspired additions was the use of gold flags in the choreography. “The way the flags move through the space feels, visually, like I hear the song,” she explained. Her goal was to create “event television” with something “epic in nature and scale that it really transcends just somebody singing and dancing.”

The second major performance of the evening featured “I Lied to You” from the film “Sinners,” performed by Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq. For this number, Moore took a step back, allowing the film’s head choreographer, Aakomon “AJ” Jones, to lead the creative process. “I’m simply here as a support to Aakomon,” Moore said.

The result was a near-recreation of the iconic dance sequence from the film, bringing together an impressive ensemble that included Misty Copeland, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey, and Alice Smith. Moore described it as “exactly what you would want from a ‘Sinners’ performance on the Oscars.”

Moore’s choreographic portfolio includes some of the most talked-about performances in recent years, from Taylor Swift’s record-breaking “Eras Tour” to Ryan Gosling’s memorable “I’m Just Ken” performance at the 2024 Oscars, and the energetic “Wicked”-themed opening number from the previous year’s ceremony.

What sets Moore’s work apart is her dedication to storytelling through movement. “The throughline for both performances is that they start with storytelling, first,” she emphasized. “It’s story involved with dance. It’s not simply dance steps.”

This philosophy continues to distinguish Moore’s work in an industry where spectacle often overshadows substance, cementing her reputation as one of entertainment’s most thoughtful and innovative choreographers.