Creating Beyoncé's internet-stopping Coachella performance required the utmost secrecy and lots of coordination, said the singer's longtime collaborator and creative director, JaQuel Knight. "It's so much work that goes into it, from working with all the different departments, it's lighting, it's wardrobe, it's choreography, it's content, it's secrets, and keeping it on the hush." said Knight in an interview Tuesday on Cheddar. "So much time prepping in our small black hole, it felt like I was giving birth Saturday night to a baby that we had been creating for a long time now." Knight, 28, has worked closely with Beyoncé for years: He led the team that put together her Coachella performance, which fans have dubbed Beychella, and he was the creative director and choreographer for her iconic 2008 ["Single Ladies"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m1EFMoRFvY) video. He also choreographed her two Super Bowl performances. He started out as a dancer before becoming a choreographer, and said that some of the artists with whom he works are more involved than others in different aspects of the performance. "You have artists that are more involved and it's like, 'OK what's next?' and 'how can we do this and this a little bit more?'" he said. "And then you have people that are like, 'great, let's do this.'" Knight was named one of [Forbes' 30 Under 30](https://www.forbes.com/profile/jaquel-knight/?list=30under30-music) and is the first choreographer to be included on the list. "Forbes was a big thing that I was going after this past year, just because it solidifies me not only as a creative, but as a businessman," said Knight. He is now hard at work on Beyoncé and Jay-Z's "On The Run II" tour, which is scheduled for the summer. For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/jaquel-knight-shares-behind-the-scenes-secrets-from-beyonces-coachella-performance).

Share:
More In Culture
The World of Working Dogs
Sheila Goffe, VP of Government Relations of the American Kennel Club, joins Cheddar Reveals to discuss the efficacy of police, military, and other working dogs, and how they're trained.
The World of Working Dogs; Importance of Service Dogs
On this episode of Cheddar Reveals, Sheila Goffe, VP of Government Relations of the American Kennel Club, discusses the efficacy of police, military, and other working dogs, and how they're trained. Paul Mundell, Executive Director of the American Service Dog Access Coalition, breaks down why emotional support, therapy, and service dogs are important; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Secrets of a Dog's Nose.'
Why Women Should Stop Saying Sorry; How to Close the Exhaustion Gap
On this episode of ChedHER; Amanda Carlson Phillips, Senior Vice President of Exos' performance team, breaks down how wellness programs can fight burnout; Deena LaMarque Piquion, Chief Marketing Officer at Xerox, explains why and how women should stop saying 'sorry' so often; Marylyn Harris, President of Harrland Healthcare Consulting, talks about how her experience in the military prepared her for a cybersecurity career, and how she's paving the way for women of color in the industry.
Innovation in Prosthetics; New Drug for Anti-Aging
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Atom Limbs CEO breaks down how the Atom Touch prosthetic is different from other prosthetics on the market; CEO & Chief Scientific Officer of MyMD explains how the MYMD-1 is on track to be the first FDA-approved drug to treat aging and age-related diseases; A look at Curiosity Stream's 'The Future of Warfare.'
The Psychology of Nostalgia; Nostalgia Driving Hollywood's Decisions
On this episode of Cheddar Reveals Clay Routledge, Professor of Business and author of "Nostalgia: A Psychological Resource", discusses the psychology of nostalgia: why we have it, and why it may be good for our mental health; Patrick Metzger, Writer and Technologist, breaks down how nostalgia has influenced pop culture, why it remains in a trend loop for every generation, and why that trend is likely never going to end; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'The Year That Rocked the World.'
State of Lactation Support in the U.S.; Perks of Having a Business Mentor
On this episode of ChedHER: CEO of The Lactation Network breaks down how they are expanding access to lactation support for families nationwide; CEO of Vanta explains the importance of a security team for startups; Midwest Divison Area Manager at JPMorgan Chase discusses the perks of having a business mentor.
Growing Activism Responds to School Book Bans
Activism is growing around the country in response to school boards banning books from shelves that focus on sexuality, gender, identity, or race. Jen Cousins, co-founder of The Florida Freedom to Read Project, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
Load More