Spike Jonze previewed his upcoming dance performance show in the only way he knew how: by filming a short film live on the set of “The Tonight Show.”
Host Jimmy Fallon took a step back to let Jonze, along with stars Mia Wasikowska (“Crimson Peak”) and Lakeith Stanfield (“Atlanta”) take over the set for around four minutes.
The two actors in the performance, which sets up the couple’s relationship as it will be seen across “Changers, A Dance Story.” The story about relationships, as told through movement and dance, will be playing at the Ellen Stewart Theatre in New York City this week.
Jonze, known for quirky music videos with long tracking shots — like “Weapon of Choice” starring Christopher Walken — takes some of that energy to “The Tonight Show.” Stanfield and Wasikowska perform the choreography to music by Run the Jewels, depicting a coupling defined by a strange relationship to masculinity and independence.
It’s not a “dance” in the typical sense. It’s not made up of technically perfect form, but rather energetic movements that tell a complete story.
Jonze explained in a later interview with Fallon about how the show came to be.
“This was initially, it’s a fashion show,” he said. “So these are the Opening Ceremony clothes, but then we sort of, I decided to make this 40-minute dance narrative where there’s no dialogue and we wrote out this whole script and all the dialogue is communicated through their dance and through their movement.”
See what you think. Watch the full dance above.