Did you know? Jay-Z inspired part of Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies’ dance

Choreographer Frank Gatson reveals Jay-Z’s unexpected influence on Beyoncé’s viral “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” dance.

This week, veteran choreographer Frank Gatson revealed a fun fact that even the Bey Hive wouldn’t have guessed. In 2008, Beyoncé went viral for her hit song “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” But beyond the catchy tune, fans quickly fell in love with the music video’s choreography, which features the iconic hand gesture that became a universal symbol to “put a ring on it.” 

However, Gatson, who choreographed the hit music video, says Jay-Z is to thank for the popular hand gesture. In a recent appearance on the “Dance Dish” podcast, the choreographer revealed that it was Beyoncé’s husband who invented that move. 

“Even this here, right […] I didn’t make this up,” Gatson explained while mimicking the gesture. “I didn’t make this up. Who made it up? Jay-Z. One day, we’re sitting just like this. We were talking about what women do when they say, ‘Put a ring on it.’ And he said, ‘They do this,’ and then he did like that [motion].” 

 Just as the choreographer is not shy to credit Jay-Z for the popular hand motion, Gatson explained that Bob Fosse’s choreography strongly inspired the music video’s choreography in a 1960s project titled “Mexican Breakfast,” starring Gwen Verdon. 

“That’s where Single Ladies is from…that’s the reference that we used,” he shared. “ I showed it to Beyoncé years before ‘Single Ladies’ and she remembered it.” 

“Thievery is flattery.”

Frank Gatson, who choreographed Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” music video, addresses claims that Beyoncé stole the dance moves and reveals Jay-Z came up with the song’s famous “put a ring on it” hand gesture.

(🎥 DANCE DISH/YouTube)
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