*When CBS’s hit daytime drama “Beyond the Gates” tackles the tradition of the cotillion in a special multi-episode arc airing May 19 and 20, it will be with the guidance of one of Hollywood’s most accomplished choreographers.
Jamaica Craft – known for her work on Justin Bieber’s “Baby” music video and her collaborations with artists like Usher and Ciara – brought her signature artistry to the young women of Fairmont Crest as they prepare for one of the most meaningful rites of passage in the Black community.
For Craft, the assignment began with personal research. “I was never a part of cotillion, but I had a couple of friends who were honored to be a part of it,” she said. “So I did my research and was like, okay, tell me before we get to dance, what did you do to prepare for it? What is the meaning behind all these different moments?”
What she discovered went far beyond steps and formations. “It was history of culture, it’s etiquette, it’s Black excellence… which is what we were expressing, but just overall excellence for the coming-of-age of going into your next steps as an adult,” Craft explained. Her first moves were reaching out to fellow choreographers and friends who had personally experienced cotillion firsthand.
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Her research also broadened her perspective in unexpected ways. “I started doing my research on all styles, and it was different cotillions and different ethnicities that do cotillion,” she said. “I knew about the Black community, but now it broadened me… cotillion is for many different ethnicities.” With that discovery, Craft was intentional about creating something universal. “I wanted to make sure that I infused where everyone could kind of see themselves in this particular moment.”
Set in an affluent African American gated community just outside Washington, D.C., “Beyond the Gates” centers on the powerful Dupree family and the layered world of Black wealth, legacy, and community. The cotillion arc fits naturally into the show’s DNA – a world where tradition, prestige, and generational pride run deep.
“Mrs. Dupree, she was part of Cotillion. She corrected us on certain things, which was great. It was just a learning lesson for all of us,” said Craft.
Watch Exclusive Clip From Cotillion Scene Below:
Classic waltz elements are woven throughout the choreography, but Craft was clear that audiences should expect something more. “We definitely had to learn the four steps of this waltz scene – so you will definitely see that, but then we’re going to put a twist on it,” she said. She also drew inspiration from conversations about the deeply personal father-daughter component of the tradition.
“You imagine the cotillion when you’re prepping for it, you’re prepping for it for months,” she noted. “The daddy and daughter dance – those moments – I was talking to friends, I was like, what was it like with your father, learning or that moment? And it was one of the most enriching moments.”
Bringing the choreography from rehearsal to the set came with its own set of challenges – specifically, the wardrobe. “The lining underneath the ladies’ dresses – that’s what took us for a turn,” Craft recalled. “We had all these incredible turns and going in between each other and stuff like that, then when we put on the wardrobe, it was like, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh, uh, okay.”
From tangled hems to heels catching on fabric, the adjustments were constant. “It was a lot of adjustments on set, but everyone handled it,” she said. “The wardrobe department and the actors and dancers did an amazing job of making it work on the day and still executing at a high level.”
For many viewers, this storyline will be their very first window into what a cotillion actually is – and Craft is deeply aware of that responsibility. “Just like all the episodes on ‘Beyond the Gates,’ I’m going to speak Black community in particular – it’s the Black excellence and the tradition,” she said. “Because sometimes I feel like our tradition is not shown a lot on TV. So it will be great for them to see all different aspects of our cultural traditions.”
Craft also made clear this moment is bigger than one show. “This is something that I’ve been wanting … because it is really hard and it’s a cultural dance and it has some intricateness that is so detailed and great.” She added, “Now you’ll be able to see that inside of this moment, and you’ll see the moment of parents and their children and leading them to the next stage in life.”
Watch our conversation with Jamaica Craft via the clip below.
“Beyond the Gates” airs weekdays (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; 1:00-2:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+.
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