Initially, I was mistaken about the song accompanying the captivating dance sequence in Netflix’s series, “The Perfect Couple.” It turns out the track, “Criminals,” is performed by none other than Meghan Trainor. My inability to locate it earlier stemmed from the fact it was unreleased until August 16th, debuting shortly before the show’s premiere as part of the deluxe edition of Trainor’s sixth album, Timeless.
But the question remained: why commence “The Perfect Couple” with such an elaborate dance routine, and what style of dance are they actually performing? Seeking answers, I reached out to Netflix, and their PR team kindly connected me with Susanne Bier, the series director and executive producer, to shed light on this intriguing opening.
Bier’s explanation is remarkably straightforward and perfectly logical in the context of the narrative.
“I thought it was really fun for those characters,” she explained.
According to Bier, the backstory she envisioned for this Perfect Couple Dance was that the entire wedding party had dedicated time in the days leading up to the rehearsal dinner to learn and practice the choreography, intending to perform it together as a group.
Perhaps this kind of coordinated dance is a tradition among affluent circles in Nantucket, a detail that remains outside my personal experience, having never attended a wedding at a Nantucket mansion. However, within the fictional world of the show, the perfect couple dance was meticulously crafted by the acclaimed choreographer Charm LaDonna specifically for “The Perfect Couple.”
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LaDonna elaborated on her creative process, “I wanted to create something that the entire cast could enjoy, like a dance you might spontaneously join in on at a party. It was exciting to design such a light and enjoyable moment set to Meghan’s song ‘Criminals,’ which is such a fantastic track for dancing. It felt like the perfect fit for The Perfect Couple.”
For Bier, this lighthearted dance sequence serves as an ideal introduction to the series, setting the tone for viewers right from the start.
“I wanted to signal to the audience, ‘Hey everyone, this is a murder mystery, and while it has a dark undercurrent, it’s fundamentally designed to be a lot of fun; please know that this isn’t going to be a chore to watch,’” she clarified. “It’s not intended to be a heavy, serious experience. It’s meant to be fun, light, and effervescent.”
The mystery surrounding the dance is now solved. Now, the only thing left to do is rewatch “The Perfect Couple” dance sequence on YouTube countless times.
