By now you’ve hopefully binged Tim Burton’s Wednesday on Netflix. We can’t seem to get that haunting dance scene out of our heads! To prep for her role, Jenna Ortega not only learned to play the cello, but also channeled various people. Keep reading to learn just how she made the choreography for the iconic Wednesday dance sequence.
Beware: There might be spoilers in this article you don’t want spoiled!
Like any Tim Burton work, there is a refreshing twist on the new Addams Family adaptation along with touches of Burton throughout. In Episode four, “Woe What a Night,” Wednesday gives us a haunting performance at the Nevermore Academy’s Rave’N dance.
Ortega recently revealed while watching the dance scene with her fellow castmates,
“I actually felt really insecure about this. I choreographed that myself and I think it’s very obvious that I’m not a dancer or choreographer.”
— Jenna Ortega
The ‘Wednesday’ actress told Vulture she put the dance together herself only a few days before shooting the scene. She took inspiration from many things including the original Wednesday Addams.
Ortega shared,
“She does this side shuffle with her hands and with her feet. I think I did that at a certain part of the dance, as an homage to her.”
— Jenna Ortega
Jenna Ortega Reveals the Inspiration Behind the Dance Sequence
Jenna Ortega also revealed other inspirations behind the iconic dance sequence. Yes– This included ’80s goth-club dancing. She credits Siouxsie Sioux, Bob Fosse’s Rich Man’s Frug, Lisa Loring, Lene Lovich, and Denis Lavant. A few people noticed some similar moves done by the original Addams Family cast as well.
Ortega’s costars said the dance sequence came as a surprise to them as the script revealed very little. Hunter Doohan, who plays Wednesday’s dance partner, Tyler, said,
“In the script it was just ‘Wednesday dances and then Tyler kind of copies it.’ I kept asking what it was going to be and then Jenna showed up and just did that.”
We can imagine it makes for the best reactions on screen when things like this are kept secret. Director Tim Burton encouraged the authentic reaction in this scene. Hunter Doohan continued,
“I remember [saying], ‘Tim, all I can do is stand here, kind of gawking in amazement.’”
To which Burton replied,
“No, no, no. A lot of guys will relate to that.”
If you haven’t watched the new Netflix series, make sure to check it out. We are positive you’ll binge the entire eight episodes in one sitting.
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