You know how it goes: a fantastic new song drops, and next thing you know, you can't go to a dance competition or scroll through Instagram without seeing a routine choreographed to it. Certain music has the power to speak to a lot of choreographers—often in completely different ways. Below are six recently released albums that have made a big impact on the dance community. Will they inspire your next piece of choreo?
1. "Grateful" - DJ Khaled
You've probably seen at least 10 different class videos choreographed to "Wild Thoughts," but this one is our personal favorite. The song is definitely having a moment, so much so that we wonder if it's the song of the summer—and it's just a matter of time before more songs off of the album become popular.
2. "American Teen" - Khalid
Khalid's lyrics are genuine and relatable, and his music has a unique vibe. Jake Kodish and Bryan Tanaka tapped into that with their smooth, storytelling choreography.
3. "Divide" - Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill" have been on everyone's playlists for a bit now, and the rest of his album does not disappoint. His diverse talents have inspired a lot of choreographers, including Matt Steffanina , Blake McGrath , Hamilton Evans , and our personal fave, Kyle Hanagami.
5. "24K Magic" - Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars' newest singles, "24K Magic" and "That's What I Like," became very popular super quickly. His music was clearly perfect for the stylings of Ian Eastwood & The Young Lions. (Refer back to their first "World of Dance" performance if you need additional proof.) But they're not the only ones inspired by Bruno Mars' musical artistry: Janelle Ginestra and Wildabeast , Kyle Hanagami , and Jake Kodish have all choreographed class combos to songs from "24K Magic."
5. "More Life" - Drake
Drake's chill, island vibe has never been more irresistible than it is on this album. And it's not just two great singles plus a bunch of filler: Many of the album's tracks have had widespread success. Candace Brown's choreography to "Madiba Riddim" shows that even its lesser-known songs have serious dance potential.