Britney Spears has hired Madonna's former choreographer R.J. Durell to make sure her much-hyped MTV Video Music Awards performance is a real showstopper.

The Toxic singer is rumoured to be opening the VMAs on September 9, and now online reports suggest she's taking her performance very seriously.

A source close to Durell tells website 24Sizzler.com, "He is co-choreographing her performance for the VMAs with Nick Flores, who worked with her as a dancer before."

The insider reveals Spears and Durell have been working together for "a couple of weeks".

Durell, who has danced in movies like Rush Hour 3 and Austin Powers In Goldmember, choreographed three numbers on Madonna's Confessions tour.

-Britney Spears Pictures
-Madonna Pictures

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)