Can we talk about that dance sequence in Single All the Way? When the film’s romantic lead, Peter (Michael Urie), does an entire choreographed routine with his two precocious nieces to “My Only Wish (This Year)” by Britney Spears, it immediately became one of our favorite parts of the movie. Funny and heartwarming, it’s simultaneously an ode to family, holiday fun and low-key holiday pop icon Britney Spears.

 In fact, having the chance to celebrate Spears was something that was front of mind for the film’s writer, Chad Hodge.

 “I’m a huge Britney fan, but also I wanted [this moment] to be something that was really special for these three people,” Hodge tells us when we ask why he chose this song, rather than, say, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” “They love this Britney Christmas song, and it’s their thing. Whereas if it was Mariah, it’s a little more obvious.”

 Of course, Hodge might have had another reason to go for Spears as well: “I don’t even want to guess how much Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’ would cost, but it would be a lot,” he says, laughing. “Not that Britney was cheap! But Mariah? That would be in another stratosphere.”

 The unpolished appeal of this dance is reflected in the way that it’s clear Peter has been doing this routine with his nieces over the years: They know the moves by heart. It’s a familiar scene for anyone who used to stage elaborate performances with their own relatives at family gatherings — including Hodge.

 “​​I’m the oldest of five kids, and every year — well, probably more than once a year — I would make my little brothers and sisters do plays in the basement,” he says. “And they hated it. Every minute of it. But I would always teach them dances and make them learn choreography and, like, do full-scale productions...  Like, we did a full-scale production of Cats. We did a Debbie Gibson musical revue.”

 The film’s choreographer, Ellenore Scott, brought that same homespun approach when it came time to craft the moves. “I felt like I was a kid again, making a dance that wasn’t all about being flashy or perfect,” she tells us. “The dance was supposed to [evoke] that feeling you had when you were a kid and put on a concert for your family during the holidays.”

 What this also means is that Scott drew inspiration from Spears herself, incorporating the “heartbeat” move from her “Oops!... I Did it Again” video into the scene. “I rewatched many of her iconic music videos for inspiration, but also wanted the dance to look like something children [or] teens choreographed,” Scott says. “I also wanted it just to look like the characters were having fun and reminiscing about the holidays.”

Netflix’s ‘Single All the Way’: The Britney Spears Dance

 Inspired to learn this dance for yourself? And make all your relatives perform it with you? If so, Scott has some tips for you.

 “The best way to re-create the dance at home would be to first learn the lyrics, because that will help cue some of the dance moves, for sure,” she explains. “The No. 1 trick is to go back and try to remember the beginning of the dance even when you’re learning the ending. Reviewing the dance a few times as you’re learning it is what I do as a professional dancer and choreographer, so I recommend that for everyone. I also love singing the song while I’m dancing it — it really does help.”