The way Mikey Madison thoroughly embodies the titular character in Sean Baker’s latest film Anora—effortlessly spinning around a pole and mindlessly performing lap dances while chewing on bubblegum—you would never know she had zero dance experience before starring in the film. To portray the 23-year-old sex worker from Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach neighborhood, Madison voraciously consumed whatever media she could, spent time visiting strip clubs, and trained with professional choreographer Kennady Schneider.
Schneider acted as Madison’s movement consultant on the film, working with the actress to define how Anora (or Ani, as she calls herself) would perform in the club and carry herself while interacting with clients. The two collaborated two days a week for three months before the film went into production, and they continued choreographing over Zoom when filming began.
