Let’s Move! Flash Workout initiative by Beyoncé Knowles is a part of a larger Let's Move! campaign to end childhood obesity in the United States. The campaign was started by First Lady Michelle Obama. The Let's Move! Initiative has the goal of "solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation so that children born today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight".
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Background and composition
In April 2011, Beyoncé Knowles joined forces with US First Lady Michelle Obama and the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation to help boost her campaign against child obesity. Knowles reworked "Get Me Bodied" and renamed it "Move Your Body" for the Let’s Move! Flash Workout initiative. A Spanish version was also created. The lyrics were switched to fit the cause.
The new lyrics include the line: "Don't just stand there on the wall, everybody just move your body, move your body, move your body." The song is a step-by-step flash dance-style workout that combines hip hop, Latin and dancehall moves with traditional exercise. On April 9, 2011, an instructional video featuring a group of teenagers dancing to "Move Your Body" was released online. After a few days, Knowles has said that she "would record her own version of the exercise routine" to show kids how it is done by shooting a new music video featuring a series of fun workouts to accompany the track. On April 26, 2011, Knowles released a video of her own version of the exercise routine. Concerning the campaign, Knowles expressed herself:
"I am excited to be part of this effort that addresses a public health crisis. First Lady Michelle Obama deserves credit for tackling this issue directly, and I applaud the NAB Education Foundation for trying to make a positive difference in the lives of our schoolchildren."
"Move Your Body"
Knowles reworked her original "Get Me Bodied" (2007) into what has been described as a "kid-friendlier" track titled "Move Your Body" in 2011. Choreography was created by Frank Gatson, who additionally created the choreography for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)".
On April 9, 2011, an instructional video featuring a group of teenagers dancing to "Move Your Body" was released online. After a few days, Knowles has said that she "would record her own version of the exercise routine" to show kids how it is done by shooting a new music video featuring a series of fun workouts to accompany the track. On April 26, 2011, Knowles released a video directed by Melina Matsoukas for "Move Your Body". In the video, students join Knowles to perform choreography by Frank Gatson. In the choreography, Knowles and the students "mix salsa, dancehall, and the running man." The music video for "Move Your Body" takes place as a four-minute long flash mob. The video begins during lunch hour at what looks like a junior high cafeteria. Everything is status quo until Knowles, wearing short shorts and green knee-high socks, enters the cafeteria doors to begin the song. After Knowles' entry, all the kids jump to their feet, following along as Knowles leads the group through all kinds of dances.
The instructional video was distributed to participating schools across the country on May 3, 2011, during a 'dance-in'. Knowles was at P.S. 161 middle school in Harlem on that particular date. She taught students the moves from her "Move Your Body" video. Knowles appeared in the gym much to the delight of her young fans, who danced alongside her and took photos. Lauretta Charlton of Black Entertainment Television (BET) gave the video a positive review stating that "It's impossible to watch without wanting to, well, move your body." Nicole James of MTV Buzzworthy showed great interest in the video and its message, stating that Knowles gets kids heart pumping, "in more ways than one". Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club added that "if anything can help curb the nation's childhood obesity problem, it is the galvanizing power of Beyoncé Knowles dancing", and further praised how "[the] bunch of cute kids [were] doing the Running Man and The Dougie in the cafeteria with Beyoncé."