A decade after the original “River” class video went viral to the tune of almost 50 million views, the song and choreography return in new form. To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of that moment, Bishop Briggs re-recorded “River”, and brought together Galen Hooks and Tim Milgram for a new dance video at TMilly Studio, featuring a new generation of dancers. We spoke with Bishop and Galen about the legacy of the original piece, the story behind the anniversary project, and what it was like reimagining “River” a decade later.
Bishop Briggs
Q: Your music blends raw emotional intensity with bold vocal power. When you look back on your early years, what moments or influences first sparked your connection to music and performance?
Bishop: I’ve always loved Motown music (Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, etc) and that soul has always been a consistent part of music to me. Growing up in Japan I found myself practically living at the karaoke bars after school. I learnt “The Greatest Love Of All” by Whitney Houston and proceeded to sing it 200,000 times at any moment I could.
Q: Many fans say your music feels like a lifeline during difficult times. How do your personal experiences shape the emotional tone you bring to your music?
Bishop: Thank you for saying that. I hope that it’s a lifeline as it has been for me. I lost my sister unexpectedly and that shaped the way I look at grief, loss and creating music.
Q: “River” is such a powerful song that has made a huge impact on listeners. How do you reflect on the impact that River had on
Bishop: It’s a song that has lived many different lives as we all do. I think I’ll always hold onto the fact that I felt so authentically myself when I wrote it and no matter what changes happen in life I always keep that sentiment close to my heart.
Q: What was your initial reaction when you first watched the dance video to River that Galen choreographed and Tim filmed 10 years ago?
Bishop: It was so exciting to see so much passion and drive feel so palpable coming through the screen. I was pinching myself then and still feel incredibly grateful today.
Q: It was a dream for these young dancers to be able to perform in this video with you, and you definitely left a huge impact on them. How did you feel when you wrapped the shoot?
Bishop: It was a dream for me to have them there with me. I remember walking into rehearsal with tears in my eyes when I saw them running the routine. What a talented group.
Q: If you could create a collaborative project that blends music, movement, and visual storytelling, what would you imagine it looking like?
Bishop: What we have right now for this River (10 years later) is my dream. Dream team, dream visuals, dream music. I still can’t believe it will be out in the world for people to see.
Galen Hooks
Q: Your choreography for “River” became one of your most widely shared pieces, reaching tens of millions of viewers. What was it about this choreography that resonated so well with people?
Galen: I think it’s hard to really know what makes something resonate, but what I hear from people is that when they watched the video, they thought, “I want to feel that”. The choreography looked powerful, but sexy in a different way, and a lot of people, particularly women, saw the possibility of feeling that in themselves. It also came at a time when dance content was really starting to explode online, and the combination of Bishop’s powerful vocals and a heels routine that was “different” struck a chord.
Q: You first created this choreography 10 years ago, and it has continued to take on new life. How do you relate to it today?
Galen: I really love teaching it to this day. It’s a great teaching tool for me to use to get students to practice many elements, from stillness to musicality to cleanliness to facial expression. Watching students’ different renditions is very fun- you can understand a person’s entire persona from how they interpret the routine. So my main relation to it is as a teaching tool that reveals a lot about a dancer. I can assess everything about a dancer from watching them do “River”!
Q: How did this 10 year anniversary video come about?
Galen: Bishop reached out wanting to revisit “River” for the 10-year anniversary. She had this vision of reimagining it with a younger cast, which I thought was a really creative and fun choice. It was her idea to bring the choreography back in this new way and I was excited to bring in kids, many of whom had auditioned for me before or taken The Galen Hooks Method intensives.
Q: When you approach a new version of choreography you’ve created before, what aspects do you usually think through as you adapt it?
Galen: I think about who’s dancing it and what they bring to the table. The core of the choreography stays the same, but I’m always considering how to make it work for the specific dancers in front of me; their abilities, their energy, their interpretation. I also think about what feels right for this moment versus when it was originally created. It’s about honoring the original while letting it breathe and grow.
Q: How did Bishop’s involvement in the video itself influence your creative process?
Galen: Bishop’s energy and vision really shaped the whole project. She was the driving force behind making it happen, and her creative instincts – like choosing to work with younger dancers – gave the piece a completely different feel. Her passion for the song and the choreography after all these years was inspiring and definitely influenced how I approached teaching and staging it. She has a moshpit energy that I incorporated specifically because that’s her vibe.
Q: Working with a younger cast can offer fresh perspectives and unique challenges. Did you have to change anything due to the age of the dancers? What stood out to you about how they approached the movement?
Galen: Yes, I made some adjustments to keep it age-appropriate. Certain elements from the original, like the smoking and gun imagery, obviously didn’t feel right for dancers under 15, so I adapted those moments while keeping the intensity and intention intact. What stood out to me was their fearlessness and commitment. They brought this incredible raw energy to the movement; no self-consciousness, just pure intention. They attacked it with everything they had, and that’s exactly what “River” needs.
Q: You and Tim Milgram have collaborated for years, including on the original River video. What was your experience working with him on this?
Galen: Tim is a dream to work with. He’s professional, thoughtful, and detail-oriented. He’s extremely communicative, which makes the entire process so much easier. There’s a trust there that comes from years of collaboration; I know he’ll capture the work in a way that honors both the choreography and the dancers. He’s not just a videographer, he’s focused on the lighting, the atmosphere, the tiny details that he and I will notice that other people might overlook. And it’s amazing that now he has his own space where he can control all those elements.
Q: Did revisiting this choreography spark any new ideas or projects you’d like to explore in the future?
Galen: Absolutely. Seeing the piece through fresh eyes – both Bishop’s vision and the younger dancers’ interpretation – reminded me how powerful it can be to revisit and reimagine work. It’s energizing to see something you created continue to evolve and inspire new possibilities. I love revisiting pieces, either re-dancing them or re-choreographing them, to see how they live and breathe over time. And it was so nice to reconnect with Tim and make this full circle!
As the anniversary video reaches people, the collaboration between Galen Hooks, Bishop Briggs, and Tim Milgram highlights how a creative partnership can evolve over time. What began as a viral dance class video has grown into a full-circle moment, reconnecting the original creators while inspiring a new generation of performers.
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