"OK, here we go. Three, two, one, track," a female voice announces over the PA system in the Pearl. Spotlights sweep back and forth, stro
bes flash, and a silver-gray curtain parts. Spears stands to the side, in jeans and a white tank top that reads "James," hat tipped over her face. The song starts, but she turns her back during the opening line, "It's Britney, bitch," striking a pose of pure attitude.She's flanked by a few dancers, who at first seem asleep, crouched low, but come awake once Britney drops the "bitch" line. More come out as Britney sings, "Gimme more," until she's got more than a dozen onstage.
A half-dozen aerialists are also to join the action, later on, though
they weren't present at this stage in the rehearsal.With each
run-through, a choreographer gives Britney more steps to weave in as she gets more comfortable with the routine — and as she gets more comfortable, that white tank top edges up to expose even more midriff. Her dancers
get more suggestive, pulling and pushing and dragging each other across
the stage. But Britney remains dominant, treating one like a boy toy,
stepping over him, and tossing him aside when she's done with him. That part's easy — a move that takes a little longer to
learn is to fall into a column of her dancers, who push her back
standing up, like one of those trust exercises you do at camp.It could
just be a sexy dance move, or it could be symbolic for Brit: To get
back to the top of her game, she has to give a little too. And then, she turns her back to everyone once more for her closing line — "I just want more" — leaving everyone watching wanting more too.
