You can’t turn on the radio without hearing the phrase “Where the hell is my husband?” Raye has taken over the world and we’re simply obsessed with her.
But did you know that one of the creatives behind Raye’s gorgeous image is an Irish woman. Maureen Moores is an Irish choreographer who swapped her nine to five to join Raye’s team. She tells VIP Magazine that she had given up dance before getting a message from the singer.
Maureen chats to us about her big move to London as a teenager, why a change of course isn’t failure and why you’re never too late to chase your dreams…
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Hey Maureen! You’re Raye’s choreographer…How did that happen?
So long story super short! [Laughs] I used to dance years and years ago. I was a hip hop dancer, kind of different to what I am choreography at the moment! When I did my Leaving Cert I moved to London to pursue my dream of being a dancer. It was great, it wasn’t great! I had all the highs and lows. Then I stopped dancing for about seven years. So when I did dance it was with a youth group. Raye was on of the youths at the time. We met really briefly because I was one of the dance leaders. Then fast forward another seven years, you won’t believe it, but I promise it’s true! I said to my best friend, Fadila, “I’m really feeling this itch to be creative again. I don’t know what it is.” Then the next day Raye messaged me. We hadn’t spoken in seven years. She wrote, “Hey do you still dance?” And I said, “No. But let’s talk.” I didn’t want to fake it. Then I did her music video Genesis and that’s it…
That is like a story from a movie!
It’s quite ridiculous! [Laughs]
Did you plan to make this your full time job?
When I did dance, I wanted it to be my job. I did the BRITS at the weekend and that was a dream of mine. Even to tour was a dream of mine as a dancer. I did some of it, but not much, to be completely honest. I just put it down. I don’t know if I gave up or if I thought I failed, if I’m being honest. I’m still revisiting that. The opportunity arose when I was ready. If I had done it years ago, I would have done it so I could prove myself. I would have been someone I wasn’t and being really insecure. This just came about when I was really secure in who I was. If I was right for the job, great, if someone else was better, that’s also fine. Dancing just came back into my life.
Everything always works out in the end!
It all does! I mean, if you had asked me two years ago, I would have said I don’t dance anymore. It’s just crazy.
So you grew up dancing…
I was obsessed! That’s what I wanted to do. Since around my Junior Cert I knew I wanted to go to London to do dance. So I stopped being great at school, which I regret now. I just wasn’t great with the work, so kids be better! I would dance any opportunity I got. I went to London and the real life of dance was harder. I really struggled with body issues and not feeling good enough. This was 10, 15 years ago. I just felt like I wasn’t skinny enough, I wasn’t tall enough, I just was never enough. So to be in this position now, where I get to help with casting dancer, it’s incredible. And all of Raye’s dancer are such a mix of shape, sizes, ethnicities, it’s amazing. I get to be part of that and to be able to create a safe space for dancers is really cool.
Talk to us about that aspect of the dance world…
It’s gotten so much better. It’s about talent and it’s about the person as well. We did a casting for the Where Is My Husband music video. It was nuts. It was honestly crazy! I flew into London and I was on the casting table. I was there watching people audition. I know how awful that feels. I was trying my best to make them feel comfortable. The casting director was also Irish and she was amazing. Obviously everyone is very talented who comes into the room. But without sounding too cheesy there were some people who just shone and their kindness shone through. I think that’s so important.
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You mentioned Where Is My Husband and that song is everywhere. What is it like to be a part of that?
It’s crazy. Seeing people do the dance that I made up on TikTok is amazing. It’s mental, it’s crazy, it’s surreal!
So when you set about creating dance moves do you plan to have a “TikTok” part in the hopes they go viral?
I think it’s important to have in the back of your mind. I don’t think it would be great if you didn’t. But I think for Raye specifically, she is about the art, in each music video and the show, everything is so thought about and so thought through. So it’s not a case of “Let’s make this viral dance”. It’s actually, “What do we want to say?” Everything is thought out and what feels good. But you have to think hopefully it does have a moment…but if it doesn’t, it doesn’t!
Raye just played two sold-out nights at the 3Arena. What is it like to see your moves up on stage?
I don’t know! I can’t explain! I have no words. It’s surreal…I’m just so proud and grateful to be a part of something so amazing. It’s just a part I play in the bigger picture. Everyone is so talented, so it’s just unbelievable and I’m so grateful.
What has been your pinch-me moment so far?
There’s been so many. But maybe getting to be in the 3Arena in Dublin. That’s been really amazing. It’s home. Seeing all the Irish people going in. It’s so fun. There’s been so many. It’s been a ridiculous time.
So when Raye reached out did you expect that it could all lead here?
I guess a part of you is like, “This could be…” But you also don’t want to think that because you want to protect yourself. I was at the point where I was like, “What will be will be.” So it felt really nice to do the music video and then nothing came out of that. But I took it as an encouragement. At the time, I was already thinking of quiting my job and focusing on social media. I remember saying to my friend at the time, “Even if I don’t get the video, anything could happen.” So that was enough encouragement for me. But I couldn’t have imagined that it would be quite like this.
One last question, what advice would you give younger Maureen?
I would say without being too cheesy that you’re loved and you’re enough and that you can do it. That’s what I would say to younger Maureen and what I would say to older Maureen, because this has helped me alot, just because I put something down, doesn’t mean I failed. I can still pick it back up and still be good at it. I held onto that for a little bit.