How Taylor Swift Dealt With ‘Bad Rap’ About Her Dancing

Taylor Swift has never been one to shy away from self-improvement, even when it comes to a lifelong insecurity.

For years, the singer felt self-conscious about her less-than-perfect dancing skills, which earned her a bit of a “bad rap” from fans and critics alike.

However, according to Taylor Swift’s choreographer, the superstar has since put in the work to elevate her performance using a special technique suited to her.

Despite being one of the biggest singers in the world, with multiple record-breaking achievements, Taylor Swift has still faced her fair share of insecurities.

One of the most persistent is reported to be her onstage moves, which had given her a “bad rap” for years.

But instead of letting the criticism define her, Swift sought to take control of the narrative by hiring an expert who used a special technique, while she herself also put in the work to bring about a noticeable improvement.

“She’d gotten a bad rap for a long time about her dancing, so she was really in her head,” said Swift’s choreographer Mandy Moore, per the New York Times.

The dancer added, “We shifted the focus to how movement was already manifesting in her body — the way she naturally wanted to move. And then we fine-tuned that: ‘OK, that looks a little weird with your shoulders,’ or, ‘Let’s straighten your knee here.'”

Swift has previously admitted that choreography was never her “strong suit” and that working with Moore “completely changed” how she viewed and connected with dancing.

“[She] somehow got into my brain and figured out exactly how I would think about things,” Swift said about Moore in a 2023 interview with Time.

The duo worked together on Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour, which spanned more than 100 shows across the globe over several months.

Now, following the tour’s massive success, Moore has nothing but praise for the Grammy winner for the effort she put into upgrading her dancing abilities.

“I really admire Taylor’s tenacity. She works so hard,” she told the New York Times.

“Whatever I was putting down, she was picking up. And she’s very clear about what she wants, which I love. I find I can’t create unless I have some parameters. The ‘do whatever you want’ thing, for me, it just feels like chaos.”

In addition to honing her dance skills, Swift also devoted significant time to getting into peak physical and vocal shape to ensure she could deliver her best throughout the tour.

“I knew this tour was harder than anything I’d ever done before by a long shot,” the singer told Time. “I finally, for the very first time, physically prepared correctly.”

The entire preparation lasted six months and included a rigorous routine that saw the singer running on the treadmill every day while performing the Eras setlist out loud.

“Fast for fast songs, and a jog or a fast walk for slow songs,” Swift told the publication about the routine at the time.

“I wanted to get it in my bones. I wanted to be so over-rehearsed that I could be silly with the fans, and not lose my train of thought,” the singer added.

With nearly a year having gone by since the tour ended, fans who are still reminiscing about the moments will now get to have two new projects to enjoy.

Swift recently announced that the project titled “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: The End of an Era” will debut on Disney+ on December 12.

The series  will intimately follow Swift’s life “as her tour made headlines and thrilled fans around the world” and showcase “performers, family members, and friends.”

A teaser trailer for the documentary has already been released, with the singer noting that the project was made to “remember every moment leading up to the culmination of the most important and intense chapter of our lives.”

On the same day as the series debut, Swift will also release a concert film, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: The Final Show.”

The concert film will offer fans a look at The Tortured Poets Department material, which was added to the tour after the “Cruel Summer” hitmaker released the album.