Teaches Creativity in Choreography from the Top

PARRIS GOEBEL

TEACHES CREATIVITY IN CHOREOGRAPHY FROM THE TOP

routines and her distinctive choreography style. One of her videos—an PARRIS, expressive piece set to the song “I’d Rather Go Blind” by 1960s soul diva Etta James—even caught the eye of ’ Jennifer Lopez, who called and asked JE TAIME a then-20-year-old Parris to choreograph an upcoming world tour for All hail Parris Goebel, queen of the Palace Dance her. Parris saw her shot and took it. Studio, social media sensation, and pop music’s “After that, it was so surreal: Artist most sought-after choreographer after artist kept calling,” Goebel told DanceSpirit. She went on to choreograph live shows for Janet Jackson, t last count, the music didn’t take. It wasn’t until she joined Pitbull, Ariana Grande, and Enrique video for Justin Bieber’s her first hip-hop studio, at the age of Iglesias, and she shot videos with boppy 2015 hit “Sorry” 13, that everything clicked. “I knew stars like SZA and Nicki Minaj. A had more than 3.3 billion that it was something that I wanted to Parris and her various crews (see views on YouTube. It’s do for the rest of my life,” she says. page 9) have redefined the look and the most popular clip from the site’s most popular solo musician. And Bieber isn’t even in it. What the video does have is Parris Goebel, who was responsible for its “IT’S ABOUT LOOKING AT YOURSELF AND concept, choreography, and direc- tion (three skills she applied to the THINKING, ‘WHAT MAKES ME UNIQUE? videos for every other song off Bie- WHAT MAKES ME DIFFERENT TO EVERYONE ber’s 2015 album, Purpose). By then, Parris had emerged as pop music’s ELSE IN THIS INDUSTRY?’ ” most reliable behind-the-scenes powerhouse, a visionary choreographer and dancer whose fierce style and routines have been seen in sold- Dance consumed Parris’s movement of pop music, on stage out arenas, buzzworthy awards show thoughts. By 15, she was discontent and on camera, around the world. performances, and viral videos. The and struggling in school. Encouraged Her moves have backed massive “Sorry” video only confirmed what by her father, Parris decided to roll cultural moments, from Rihanna’s the industry already knew: Whatev- the dice: She dropped out to focus on innovative Savage x FENTY fashion er Parris touches turns to gold—or dancing, and she started by forming shows (available on Amazon Prime) double platinum. an all-female hip-hop crew called to J.Lo’s 2020 Super Bowl halftime Her backstory is just as remark- ReQuest with four friends. In 2009, performance with Shakira. She’s able. Parris grew up in Auckland, they qualified for the World Hip Hop also scored an Emmy nomination, New Zealand, a Samoan kid ob- competition for the first time and left published an autobiography, fronted sessed with dance and perfor- with a gold medal under their belts. a MAC beauty campaign, and been mance. She would entertain family ReQuest’s success propelled Parris tapped to direct her first feature (and visitors) by forcing them to sit and her father to open the Palace film, Murder on the Dance Floor—all through routine after routine. “I knew Dance Studio, an Auckland-based before her 30th birthday. “Whatever at a really young age that this is what hip-hop company, that same year. you’re curious about,” she says, “dive I was born to do,” she says. Parris was only 17 years old. into it, understand it, then rip it apart. But when her parents enrolled her With the help of YouTube, Parris Dance changes the world. You can in a classical dance class, the lessons was able to document her crew’s change the world.”

BY THE NUMBERS

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHOREOGRAPHY For as long as humans have walked, they’ve busted a move—which means dance has a long and storied history. Here’s a quick overview of one of our oldest pastimes

The age of the cave paintings at the Bhimbetka rock shelters in India, which feature the oldest-known depiction of dance.

The year Martha Graham, the godmother of The median hourly modern dance, wage for choreogra- was born. phers in the U.S.

The first time a formal choreography credit was listed in a program billing: George Bal- anchine, for the Broadway show On Your Toes. (Billings previously read "dances staged by.")

3 The decade that break- dancing, the earliest form of hip-hop, became a way for several rival gangs in the The decade when the word choreography first appeared in an American English dictionary, Bronx to settle originating from the Greek words χορεία (circular dance) and γραφή (writing). disputes.

The year Thoinot Arbeau, a French cleric and writer, published Or- The number of people who performed “Hard Knock Life” chésographie. This meticulously The year from the musical Annie in order to set a 2013 Guinness detailed instruction book now choreographer World Record for the largest song and dance routine. serves as a major historical record Bob Fosse was Was it serendipity or stellar planning that resulted in the for 16th-century dances. born. Fosse group’s size coinciding with what are likely the four most took what was common numbers in dance? We may never know. perceived as a flaw—his slouch—and made it his en- The number of people who follow tire style, which Parris on Instagram.* completely changed how Parris saw dance. Fosse went on to cre- The year Raoul-Auger Feuillet, a French dancing master ate smashes and choreographer, published Chorégraphie ou l’art de like Damn Yan- décrire la danse. The landmark text uses written symbols, kees, Chicago, otherwise known as dance notation, as a way to describe Pippin, and various movements. Cabaret.

The number of gold medals Parris’s The number of YouTube views for dance crews have won at the World Justin Bieber’s 2015 hit “Sorry.”* Hip Hop Dance Championship.

*As of this publication 4 CENTER STAGE

Pearl Primus

WOMEN A New Yorker by way of of Rivers” by Langston Trinidad, Pearl Primus Hughes, and she devel- studied under Martha oped a piece based on Graham and other nota- “Strange Fruit,” the famed OF THE ble modern dance teach- Lewis Allen poem about ers of the era. In 1946, she a lynching. Extensive founded her own dance studies in Central and company, staging perfor- West Africa and the Ca- HOUR mances that incorporated ribbean helped earn her a Parris is part of a long lineage traditional African move- doctorate from New York of female choreographers. ments. Her work often University in 1978, and Get to know some of her most commented on racial she taught at numerous prolific predecessors injustice: Primus’s Broad- universities later in her way debut was a choreo- life. She was bestowed a graphed performance National Medal of the Arts

set to “The Negro Speaks in 1991. ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES BARON/HULTON

5 Katherine Dunham

Katherine Dunham has been called “the matri- arch and queen moth- er of Black dance” by Debbie scholars. The Chicago Allen Martha native began dancing as a Pina Graham teenager and studied the Bausch In 1964, Texas-raised anthropology of dance Debbie Allen became One of the most influen- in college; during that After studying ballet the first Black dancer tial choreographers in time, she did extensive as a child, Pina Bausch admitted to the Houston history and an avant- fieldwork in Jamaica and entered the realm of Foundation for Ballet. She garde icon of contempo- trained in ballet. She later modern dance when went on to work on Broad- rary dance, Martha Gra- entered into the perfor- she moved to New York way and eventually star in ham aimed to “reveal the mance space, and in the in 1958 to attend the the NBC series Fame, for inner man” through her early 1930s, she formed Juilliard School. She rose which she won a Golden routines. Born in Pitts- Ballets Nègres—one of to prominence during Globe for Best Actress burgh and raised in Santa the earliest Black ballet the 1970s, becoming a in a Musical or Comedy Barbara, she founded her companies in Ameri- leading exponent of the Television Series (the first own company in 1926, ca—which went on to German style Tanztheater Black woman to do so). at the age of 34, in New garner acclaim in the U.S. (“dance theater”). As an Allen won a pair of Emmys York. Her teaching style, and abroad. She also ran artistic director for the for her work on the show, the Graham Technique, the Katherine Dunham Wuppertal Opera ballet, too, and was nominated is now a cornerstone of Dance Company, the only her ambitious, esoter- more than a dozen times American modern dance; self-supported Black ic, and multi-sensory during her run as cho- for 70 years, she used it dance troupe of its time, choreographed pieces— reographer of the Acad- to create artistic motion and choreographed more which combined music, emy Awards televised that spanned the breadth than 90 individual dances, dialogue, and elaborate ceremony. Under Pres- of the culture. In 1976, blending traditions from set designs—became ident George W. Bush, she became the first ballet, Caribbean, and known worldwide. Allen acted as a Cultural choreographer to receive modern dance. Dunham Intrigued? Check out Ambassador of Dance, the Presidential Medal performed on Broadway, Pina (2011), director Wim and since 2001, she’s run of Freedom, and she was in Hollywood, and all over Wenders’s Oscar-nom- the Debbie Allen Dance named “Dancer of the the globe. She received inated documentary, Academy, a nonprofit that Century” by TIME maga- numerous awards before which traces Bausch’s expands access to dance

LEFT TO RIGHT: BARBARA MORGAN/GETTY IMAGES; GEORGE KARGER/PIX INC./THE LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION VIA GETTY IMAGES; BINDER/ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES; JOHN P. KELLY/GETTY IMAGES KELLY/GETTY VIA GETTY BARBARA MORGAN/GETTY COLLECTION LIFE IMAGES BINDER/ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY KARGER/PIX INC./THE GEORGE IMAGES; JOHN P. IMAGES; IMAGES; RIGHT: LEFT TO zine in 1998. her death in 2006. creative evolution. and theater for children.

6 11 DEGREES OF SEPARATION

4 THE OFFICIAL PARRIS GOEBEL ...JANET JACKSON, the Queen of Pop herself. MATRIX Jackson also hand- A guide to the players in her selected Parris to go on ever-expanding universe the road with her for the Unbreakable World Tour in 2015. Before it kicked off, Jackson accepted the inaugural Ultimate Icon trophy at the BET Awards, where she was honored with a tribute starring… 1 3

...RIHANNA, who en- START HERE 2 dorsed Parris (Rih called P “a badass bitch”) and tapped her to choreo- Parris got her big graph the innovative break choreographing Savage x FENTY fashion JENNIFER LOPEZ’s world shows. Those buzzy run- ...SHAKIRA, whose tour in 2012. The pair way routines caught the music video for “Can’t teamed up again for the eye of the British Fashion Remember to Forget You” 11 2020 Super Bowl half- Council, which nominat- surpassed 1 billion views time show (three grueling ed Rihanna for the Urban on YouTube, thanks to a months of preparation; Luxe Award. She won, ...SAM SMITH, the British cameo from... Parris likened it to “build- and she was presented crooner who showed off ing a house”), which also the trophy by… some seriously dreamy featured... moves in the video for “How Do You Sleep?” The routine was choreographed by—you guessed it—PARRIS.

7 ...NICKI MINAJ, another of Parris’s repeat collaborators. ...ARIANA GRANDE, Parris choreographed the Pinkprint tour in 2015 as well who headlined Coachella as Minaj’s tropical-inspired routine for the 2016 American in 2019. In the middle of her 5 Music Awards, where she performed the tune “Side to set, Grande brought out... Side” alongside…

6 7 ...JASON DERULO AND CIARA. Ciara hit Parris up to choreograph her 2018 comeback 5 single, “Level Up” (“I wanna do a music video where I dance from top to bottom,” Ciara said). So she flew to New Zealand to work with the ReQuest dance crew. As for Derulo, he’d worked with Parris the year before: She choreographed his video for “Swalla,” which starred…

10 8

...LITTLE MIX, the British girl group that worked with Parris on its video for “Touch” as well ...JUSTIN BIEBER to perform “Sorry.” That song’s as live performances. music video, released in 2015, remains one of the most- Little Mix was a featured ...ED SHEERAN, viewed clips in YouTube history, thanks in no small part guest on the BBC’s The who originally penned to Parris’s hypnotic routine and ReQuest’s ’80s- and Big Night In, which raised his anthem “Shape of ’90s-inspired outfits. Parris is responsible for the moves more than £27 million You” for… in plenty of the Biebs’s other videos, too, including “What (nearly $35 million) for Do You Mean?”—the lyrics for which were written by… COVID-19 charities and was hosted by…

8 CLIQUE TRACK

SQUAD GOALS Meet the dance crews that bring Parris’s jaw-dropping routines to life

f you’ve seen Parris’s vid- decade to when Parris dropped out Hip Hop Championship rules, eos or performances (and, of school and cofounded the Palace MegaCrews must have at least 10 I statistically speaking, you Dance Studio. “Early on, we were and no more than 40 dancers, with probably have), then you doing a lot of tomboy things,” Parris the Royal Family being on the larger know she’s often backed by one of says. “We were dressing as guys side. The extended Royal Family her crews. She and her dancers have and putting caps on. And everyone dominated the WHH MegaCrew appeared with Jennifer Lopez at the was like, ‘Whoa, who are these girls division honors three years running Super Bowl halftime show, support- that can move like guys?’ ” In 2009, (2011 to 2013); numerous television ed heavy hitters like Rihanna on ReQuest competed at the World Hip appearances, a sold-out tour, and a stage, and rocked out in music vid- Hop Dance Championship in Las slew of viral videos followed (their eos for Justin Bieber, Jason Derulo, Vegas, sweeping the Varsity division 2018 guest performance at WHH and Ciara. At the time of this writing, (ages 13 to 17) and then nabbing has racked up more than 107 million the Palace Dance Studio is home to gold in the Adult division (ages 18 views and counting on YouTube). four award-winning crews (ReQuest, and older) the next year. Today, the @officialroyalfami- the Royal Family, Sorority, and Bub- Once the Palace was up and lydancecrew Instagram account blegum). But two of them—ReQuest running, the need for more crews has more than 1 million followers, and the Royal Family—have reached began to emerge, leading Parris to with @officialrequestdancecrew on a level of superstardom that most start several others for dancers of the rise at 245,000-plus followers. crews can only dream of. all ages. One of those is the coed And while all of Parris’s crews have ReQuest was Parris’s first crew, a MegaCrew, known as the Royal made waves, ReQuest and RFC have troupe that dates back more than a Family. According to official World proved to be her crown jewels.

9 critical acclaim for Tangerine, Smartphone his feature film about a trans- Film School gender sex worker in Florida when it debuted at Sundance. The professional He made the whole thing using equipment you three iPhone 5s. have right in your Shooting on a smartphone pocket can make camerawork feel more accessible—you don’t need Hollywood chops to pull Seoul Train Parris films all her rehearsals off (and share) your vision. The to see how a routine will even- best part? If you execute well Parris’s sphere of tually appear on a stage or the with the equipment you have, influence is truly global screen. She says you don’t need you can still get noticed. Parris anything special to do the same: admits that she was an amateur Parris has collaborated extensively “An easy way of doing that is when Justin Bieber called and with the hottest Korean idol (a.k.a. just grabbing your iPhone and asked her to direct the “Sorry” K-pop) acts in South Korea, estab- exploring all different angles.” music video—she didn’t know lishing herself as a premier chore- She’s not alone. In recent about camera tricks or special ographer on two continents. At first years, an increasing number of effects, or even the extent to blush, it might seem like an odd professional filmmakers have which editors could manipulate marriage. But this is a match made ditched the Panovision in favor her footage after the shoot in entertainment heaven. of smartphones. Oscar winner wrapped. So don’t sweat it if Consider the ways K-pop aligns Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s you don’t have a film school with Parris’s ethos: Singular and Eleven, Magic Mike) shot his diploma, much less the “right” eclectic, the genre borrows el- psychological thriller Unsane camera. Just throw your phone ements from hip-hop, R&B, Ca- on an iPhone 7 Plus. Same goes on the charger, then greet the ribbean dancehall, Europop, and for Détour, the whimsical short challenge head-on. The result American Top 40 to create a whole by fellow Oscar winner Michel might not end up at a film festi- that’s greater (and distinct from) the Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of val, but you’ll add another skill sum of its parts. It’s also eminently the Spotless Mind). In 2015, to your repertoire—and get a shareable on social media, leaning director Sean Baker received fresh perspective. on visual grandeur to transcend the boundaries of language and loca- tion. Sound like anyone you know? Parris choreographed the semi- nal “Bang Bang Bang” dance for boy band sensation BigBang as well as the video for “Ringa Linga,” the solo hit from BigBang member Taeyang. She’s also collaborated with best- selling girl groups 2NE1 and Black- pink as well as viral “Gangnam Style” legend PSY, his protégés iKON, and Billboard Award winners 4Minute. Looking to get acquainted with Parris’s K-pop oeuvre? Start with the video for English-language banger “Hello Bitches” from CL, the break- out star of 2NE1. It’s a fierce feast for

BIGBANG: CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAGES; ILLUSTRATIONS: SARAH DAVIDSON ILLUSTRATIONS: IMAGES; CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY BIGBANG: the eyes—meaning it’s pure Parris.

10 MAKING MOVES

11 HUSTLE it should be shot and then work really closely with the director, because all those things matter. It might look great from a certain angle, but if AND they shoot it a different way, it could actually look bad or messy. Some- times people aren’t open to listening to your—artistic expertise, shall we FLOW say? So when you come across people like that, try to stay on top of how Parris gets candid about switching up her they’re going to shoot it and adjust routines at the last second, her favorite to whatever the camera angle is. dance movies, and her artistic legacy Do you ever think about using your formations to express different things? Is there any sort of deeper meaning to the shapes you create? Formations are usually the last thing You’ve said, “When I create, I try moment that they went on stage. I do, so I would say the movement to let the music inspire me.” How And then there were a few things I itself probably has the deepest many times do you choreograph changed the day before. So yeah, meaning. But everything I do is the same section of music? that was hectic. intentional. For example, if you’re It’s definitely a process because putting people shoulder-to-shoul- I’m a perfectionist, so I’ll keep When you think about creating der to suggest a certain connection going until I’m happy. Which is movements, how does the stage or intimacy, there’s obviously a deep kind of never. I’ll usually workshop play a part in your choreography? intention with that. for maybe two hours—it’ll just be The stage is my playground, so I feel me and the ReQuest girls. I’ll free- like I keep playing and trying things What do you look for in dancers style, we’ll create an energy. I’ll end until it looks right. Depending on when you’re casting them for a job? up with something that I’m vibing, this space that you’re working with, I’m usually not looking for the most and that’s my base. And then I work there are different formations that talented dancers—I’m looking for off that, but I’m constantly tweaking will look effective and powerful. For the hungriest dancers. Who’s hungry and improving the movement and the Savage x FENTY show I just did, to be a part of something great and creating several versions. Then I’ll each set was so different, so the special? You can see in people’s film it and watch it, like, a million formations were extremely different eyes. So I look for that spark and times, because what feels right isn’t from each other. It’s trial and error—I that hunger and that hustle, be- always what looks the most effec- keep trying things until that forma- cause I know that they’re going to tive on screen. And then I’ll just tion looks like it lives in that space. work just as hard as me to bring the keep changing things. I’m infamous vision to life. If you don’t have danc- for changing things all the way up It’s one thing to choreograph for a ers like that in the room, it makes to the last second. live audience, where people only it so hard to achieve what’s in your see a formation from the front. mind. So I try to look for those quali- What’s the craziest routine you How do you think about choreog- ties, and usually it’s a feeling. Energy changed at the last second? raphy and formations when it’s doesn’t lie. So I think just feeling the The Super Bowl show. going to be shot from a variety of energy and trusting my gut. camera angles? Say whaaaat! What did you I’m super hands-on with all of that Any tips and tricks for the casting change? stuff. If I’m not directing the video, I process? I was cleaning all the way up to the will film the routine in the way I think Only you know your vision. What

12 kind of dancers do you see in your that when people watch it—maybe head? What do they look like? What even on the tenth time they watch do they feel like? Maybe they all it—they’ll pick up on something look really similar. Maybe they look new. Art is about constantly discov- really eccentric. Maybe they’re all a ering what the artist is trying to say, certain height. There are so many because when you put your art out details about your vision that only there, you’re not really given the op- you would know. Confidently know portunity to explain it. So everything exactly what you want, then when from the choreography to the styling you go to cast, it makes it easy. Be- is your opportunity to say what you cause then it’s like, boom, it’s her, it’s want to say, and then it’s up to peo- him, it’s both. It’s about you and what ple to discover your message. you’re looking for. You mentioned your work for Let’s talk a little bit about fashion. Rihanna’s Savage x FENTY shows. Is it true that the clothes in the What’s alluring to you about cho- “Sorry” video all came out of your reographing routines for unortho- closet? dox dance outlets like that? I mean, like, 90 percent of them, yes.

That’s incredible. What role does fashion or costuming play in your choreography? How important is “ART IS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE YOU DON’T it to your art and your vision? HAVE TO BE GOOD AT IT TO EXPRESS Styling is essential. The colors people are wearing, the textures, YOURSELF. I COULD BE BAD AT PAINTING, maybe even the era of the inspira- BUT I COULD PAINT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL tion—all of that can make or break BECAUSE THAT’S MY EXPRESSION.” the visuals. So I’m very hands-on when it comes to the styling. Most of the time I pretty much grab and style myself. Style is another great way to express what’s in your mind, Those are my favorite projects to do: women crying watching it because along with the movement, the set projects that challenge me, proj- they finally feel free to go out and design, the lighting—all of those ects that align with my beliefs as a wear a bikini or buy lingerie for the things combine to create the vision woman and the things that I stand first time, that’s what life’s about. that’s in your head. So I very much for. The Savage shows are probably And it makes me feel truly within my care about styling, even down to the my favorite projects that I’ve done purpose. color of someone’s nails. in my whole career purely because they made such a huge dent in the If you could choreograph a video Do you have any favorite visual stereotypes that people are con- or a tour for any performer, dead moments from a specific job? forming to in the fashion world and or alive, who would it be? In the “Yummy” video, I got one of in the world in general. That’s what Prince. He’s probably my favorite the girls to suck on a red lollipop so I’m about—free expression, body artist of all time. I think he’s a genius. that when she licked her thumb, her positivity, loving yourself. To be He came onto the scene unapolo- tongue was bright red. There are so able to create a show that stands getically, and some people got it and many details that you can obsess for those things feels like, This is some people didn’t. And I love that. over, and I love obsessing over what I was born to do. It’s so much He was a true artist, from the way those little things, because I know bigger than dance. When you have he created music to his visuals to

13 The Dos and Don’ts of Finding Your Magic According to Parris, the first step of any creation involves looking within and finding your magic. But how do you tap into that mystical artistic force? Here are her tips for harnessing the juice

DO research every aspect of your industry, so you know where your curiosities lie. Re- search can also give you a sense of what’s already out there—and help you figure out how you want to change the game.

DON’T consider the qualities that are unique to you to be “flaws.” The things that make you unique are the same things that will make your art unique. the way he dressed. I just feel like he impacting future generations of and I would be crazy together. dancers? DO tap into those unique traits I try not to think too deeply about and transform them into your The Prince x Parris World Tour all of that because it overwhelms superpower. For Parris, that would be incredible. me. It’s kind of selfish, but I hope means leaning into her curves It would be insane. to live on forever through my art. and her tomboyish attire. That’s what drives me to create If you had to choose, what would things that I will be proud of. DON’T compare yourself you say are your top three with others. Everyone has guilty-pleasure dance movies? That’s not selfish. strengths; focus on yours. One of my favorites of all time is It sounds selfish because it’s about definitely West Side Story. I know me. But I hope it inspires other peo- DO compete with yourself. it’s more of a musical, but the dance ple to create and be a free spirit. It Parris says, “I’m always trying to was so incredible that it doesn’t seems like the whole world is caught outdo myself. I’m never looking matter. I love Save the Last Dance up in what other people think. Art is left or right. I’m just looking as well. And then I’m going to say beautiful because you don’t have to at me in the mirror.” Chicago. be good at it to express yourself. I could be bad at painting, but I could DON’T let outside noise drown Choreography and dance have paint something beautiful because out your inner creative spirit. been around for eons, and both that’s my expression. It’s from my “If you can find that trust with will be around for eons to come. soul. And I hope that my art inspires that creative person within you,” How do you envision your art people to do the same. Parris says, “there’s no doubt.”