The Shards, Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel, incorporated a dance competition episode that departed from the source material. The installment, titled “Murder on the Dance Floor,” drew inspiration from 1980s cable television shows like Dance Party USA, which aired during the 1986-1992 period.
Murphy enlisted Derek Hough, a Dancing With the Stars professional, and Tessandra Chavez, an Emmy-winning choreographer, to prepare the cast and create dance sequences for the episode. The pair worked on choreography for the central “Super Freak” sequence and oversaw training for an ensemble that included Igby Rigney, Homer Gere, Kaia Gerber, Hayes Warner, Graham Campbell, and Daniel Day. The choreographers also developed a solo dance number for Gere in the preceding episode titled “Robert’s Party.”
According to interviews, the creative process involved significant preparation with the cast members. Chavez described initial resistance from some performers, who were apprehensive about participating in the dance sequences. Through collaborative work and informal jamming sessions, the choreographers helped actors develop comfort and confidence with movement. Gere’s participation in a private dance session to music including “Funkytown” proved particularly transformative, according to accounts, resulting in an uninhibited performance that was subsequently incorporated into the final routine.
The episode’s murder plot emerged as a central narrative device, with the competition serving as the backdrop for interpersonal conflict. The storyline featured Gerber’s character winning the dance-off, which created tension with a friend character portrayed by Warner. This dance-focused episode represented an original contribution by Murphy rather than material sourced from Ellis’ book.
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