Dancer-choreographer Laurieann Gibson has towed the line between provocative and offensive with longtime friend and client Lady GaGa since the bizarre pop star hit the scene a few years ago. But as Gibson now reveals, she almost walked away from co-directing Gaga’s latest “Judas” video due to its heavy religious themes.
“It went through several changes and late-night debates because at one point, there were two completely different views and I was like, ‘Listen, I don’t want lightning to strike me! I believe in the gospel and I’m not going there,” said Gibson in an interview with hollywoodreporter.com.
Gibson, who’s the creative director for Gaga, explains that working to create the envelope-pushing video was awe-inspiring and the soon-to-be released version of “Judas” is a happy medium between artistic expression and tasteful vision.
“… it was amazing because to have that conversation about salvation, peace and the search for the truth in a room of non-believers and believers, to me, that was saying God is active in a big way,” explained Gibson. “We don’t touch on things that we have no right touching upon, but the inspiration and the soul and idea that out of your oppression, your darkness, your Judas, you can come into the marvelous light …”
Gibson originally began working with Gaga before she signed with Interscope Records, acting as a mentor for the controversial singer.
“In the beginning, it was just me teaching her,” said Gibson. “I listened to the music and the lyrics, where she breathes and I showed her how to use the microphone, how to look out into the crowd, how to stay in the zone. These are things she had to learn, but she was so fearless.”
What do you think of Gibson’s work with Gaga and her comments on the “Judas” video?
–nicholas robinson
