Kelila Ritchie
Words by Kelila Ritchie
“Renaissance.” The word we keep seeing, thanks to Beyoncé. The tour that single handedly brought silver and chrome back to life. The album that gave birth to a completely different understanding of what love and unity could look like. This was an album created to get the people moving after such a stagnant point in all of our lives during COVID. The impact of this tour left concert goers feeling more than liberated, unique, one of one, number one. For those who could not make it (or if you’re like me and went to a show and wanted to relive that moment), “Renaissance: The Film” gives you the show, flaws and all, so you can also experience the art that is a Beyoncé concert.
Queen Bey is one of those artists people love to hate. She knows this as well. In “Heated,” a hit song off of her newest album, she addresses this saying, “Monday I’m overrated, Tuesday on my d***.” Beyoncé is someone who is very private about her life which makes her seem like a machine of sorts to the world. Inhuman. This film made Beyoncé relatable. It spoke to her motherly side, her childhood, her just being human. She opens the film with a monologue showing extensive gratitude to not only her fans but to her journey. This set the tone for the entire film, might I say. A real tear jerker. We see the thousands of fans outside her show, queer bodies being proud of who they are and flaunting their different styles and just everyone being so excited to be a part of something so special.
“Renaissance: The Film” gives audiences a first look into Beyoncé’s brain and the process she had to go through while creating an entirely different world for her fans: four years of work that we didn’t even know she was putting in, literally.
“‘Renaissance’ gave me a new respect for Beyoncé,” wrote a reviewer from Rotten Tomatoes.
This is a very real thing for many people who have seen the film. Let’s get into the why.
The film is beyond fascinating, for starters. Beyoncé herself stated that her goal was to create a safe space for everyone to just be who they are and that is exactly what she did. She ranges from cool, calm and collected to screaming in the microphone to laughing and just feeling every emotion and encourages the crowd to do the same. Just have fun, whatever that means to them at that moment. Beyoncé has entered the era of simply not caring what people think after being a “serial people pleaser.” She has nothing to prove, and this is very apparent throughout the film in how she carries herself and how she performs. She channels the energy that she receives from the sold-out crowd and uses it to her advantage every time. Seeing it on film is completely inspiring because she gives the same energy (and then some) right back to her audience. It is a constant flow of energy.
Throughout the film, Beyoncé highlights the issues she has run into while putting the tour together from lighting and camera angles to her pregame wellness shots accompanied by a sandwich (so wish I had the recipe because it looked delicious, but I digress). She walks us through her recovery from knee surgery and how she struggled with bronchitis as a result of smoke inhalation throughout the tour. This stopped nothing.
A huge change seen in “Renaissance” was Beyoncé’s focus on using her God-given instrument that is her voice versus her dancing which is something we saw a lot of on past tours. She took it easy at first because, really, who is rehearsing and performing for three hours after knee surgery? Nonetheless, this allowed the audience a chance to really appreciate amazing singing. The mic was on, honey! Beyoncé also turns 42 in the film which is celebrated with the one and only, Diana Ross. Iconic. Beyoncé emphasizes her appreciation for the legends who have “opened the doors for her.” It’s just all so real.
The editing of the film alone is enough to garner an entirely different perspective of Beyoncé and her team. It showed their dedication to creating a film that gives you everything. The transitions during the shows, showcasing different costumes are literally seamless. The use of black and white scenes made the film feel more personal. It is a real treat.
Most important, Beyoncé made sure to highlight her team: from stage hands to dancers. I had the amazing opportunity to interview the most enticing dancer in my opinion, Aahkilah Cornelius, who is Jacksonville raised, one of our own! It is beyond inspiring having had one Jaxson on the Renaissance World Tour, so imagine having two: Amari Marshall, one of Beyoncé’s dance captains, is also from Jacksonville. And neither is quiet about this and rep their city any chance they get!
Cornelius knew who she was at a young age. It seems as if she was born with a burning passion for dance.
“Let’s see how far I can take this,” she said, referring to her realizing dance was what she wanted to do.
“Taking the steps once I figured out my passion, it didn’t feel like a press. When you are actually aligned with your purpose, your dreams are so much more attainable,” Cornelius said.
Cornelius’ childhood was full of dancing around the house but also flipping around the house. She spent a lot of her childhood enrolled in gymnastics, which she shows off so gracefully in her ballroom routine on the Renaissance tour.
“I always loved floor. Floor routines are where I really shine. The flipping, and the dance routines were always my favorite event,” she said.“Quitting gymnastics was a very pivotal point for me. Even though I was excelling in gymnastics, I had to make a choice. I knew dance would be a better path for me, and it was more aligned with my passion.”
That passion and trusting her gut has landed her in amazing places. Cornelius has been in multiple music videos, commercials and movies alongside some of the biggest stars.
It is more than inspiring seeing someone from Jacksonville doing such huge things. For me, seeing Aahkilah dance in some of the biggest stadiums in the world was surreal. It’s one of those moments that makes you want to dream big, and it proves you can do anything you put your mind and heart to. The representation of it all was just so beautiful, not to mention seeing so many Black women in one film being a part of something so huge and monumental. In her film, Beyoncé says she has never seen so many women as stage crew in her career. That’s not only really surprising but is something that should be celebrated.
“Renaissance” was such a liberating album. The tour allowed Beyoncé’s fans to have a party with her, to join her in celebrating us. This was a tour that showcased and emphasized ballroom dancing and paid homage to the LGBTQ+ community. The world will not forget this moment!
Renaissance, we are the visuals baby!
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