Columbia GS Student Kennedy Targosz Dances in Olivia Rodrigo’s “stupid song” Music Video
Columbia GS student and New York City Ballet dancer Kennedy Targosz shares what it was like performing alongside Olivia Rodrigo in the music video for the singer’s latest single, “stupid song.”
While between rehearsals at the New York City Ballet (NYCB), Columbia GS Kennedy Targosz was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. NYCB principal dancer Tiler Peck asked Targosz to dance in pop singer Olivia Rodrigo’s newest music video, “stupid song.” Targosz was beyond speechless. “I was so shocked I thought I was going to pass out,” she said. As a huge fan of Rodrigo, it was a challenge to contain her excitement; she thought she dreamt it all!
Rehearsals for the music video took place the day before the shoot. Peck taught Targosz and other New York City Ballet dancers the choreography for the video. The dancers worked with director Mitch Ryan and the rest of the creative team to rehearse each scene and bring the video’s vision to life. At the end of the rehearsal day, Rodrigo herself came in to join the dancers, watching the choreography and lip syncing to her new single.
On the video shoot day, Targosz said she truly enjoyed the time between takes, chatting and laughing with Rodrigo, who also happens to be her favorite artist. Rodrigo even sent each dancer a bouquet of flowers after the filming, thanking them for their time and wishing them luck in their NYCB performance that night.
Throughout the video, Targosz and her fellow dancers move through the streets of New York City and Central Park with graceful choreography and formations to accompany the song’s melodic piano. Yet for Targosz, the most memorable scenes weren't the traditional ballet moments—they were the chaotic moshing. “For the mosh pit scenes, Mitch [the director] played heavy metal music on a speaker to help us get in the zone,” she recalled. “We had so much fun jamming out and pushing each other around in our tutus and pointe shoes, we couldn’t stop laughing. It was also so much fun dancing in the sprinklers in Central Park!”
For Targosz, the experience was one she'll never forget. “I’m so grateful to Tiler, Mitch, and Olivia for making this dream come true. I’m also so thankful to Olivia for using real ballerinas!”
Now, every time she hears the song, she's reminded of the unforgettable experience behind it. “‘stupid song’ is definitely my favorite Olivia Rodrigo song,” she said. “And it probably will be forever.”