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Brian Friedman recalled working with Britney Spears for her “I’m a Slave 4 U” music video in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE
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The dancer and choreographer “was unstoppable” while working on the project
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“I’m a Slave 4 U” was released as the lead single for Spears’ third album, Britney, in 2001
Britney Spears was a force of nature while filming one of her most iconic music videos, according to its choreographer.
Brian Friedman, a dancer who choreographed the pop star’s “I’m a Slave 4 U” music video, recalled working with Spears for the iconic project in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE.
“Britney in 2001 was unstoppable,” Friedman, 49 —who helped choreograph and stage other popular Spears dance routines for songs such as “Toxic,” “Hold It Against Me,” “Breathe on Me,” “Overprotected” and “Till the World Ends” — said during the Dancers Against Cancer’s 2026 Industry Dance Awards in Los Angeles on Oct. 21.
“She was the best of the best. She was on top of the world, which is crazy to think that. She was 19 years old. She was just a baby at that time,” he added.
“I’m a Slave 4 U” was released as the lead single for Spears’ third album, Britney, in September 2001. Its accompanying music video was released at the same time.
Directed by Francis Lawrence, the music video marked a clear shift away from Spears’ previous sound — and look — and Friedman was accompanied in crafting his choreography with Wade Robson.
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Friedman told PEOPLE of Spears, “With me, she didn’t really choreograph, but she knew how to make things look her own. And I think the gift of a great choreographer is when you give choreography to an artist, you choreograph it for them, and you have them in mind. So when they do the work, it should look like them, and it shouldn’t look like they’re trying to be someone else.”
“I think Wade and I both always wanted everything to look like it was her improv or her freestyle,” he added.
Brian Friedman at Dancers Against Cancer’s 2026 Industry Dance Awards in Los Angeles on Oct. 21.
Credit: Alberto Rodriguez/Getty
Looking back at his involvement personally with the “I’m a Slave 4 U” music video as it celebrates its 25th anniversary, Friedmen recalled, “I was young as well. But in my mind, I was not young.”
“I started in the industry when I was very young, so in my mind, I was an old veteran at 23,” continued the dancer — who has also worked with Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Usher and Pink, among many others.
“I remember the process was easygoing. It flowed really fast. It wasn’t the way I choreograph now, which is methodically and I’m in my head and I second-guess everything,” added Friedman.
“It was that blind naivete that you have when you’re younger: healthy delusion where you think everything you do is going to be epic and you don’t second-guess things. And I think that was why it was so magical,” he further explained.
Read the original article on People
