Before social media and self-tapes, before everything was filmed and posted⦠there were ROOMS. Rooms for creating moves and rooms for auditioning.
With the Michael coming out this Friday, my mind has been going back to my NYC days.
Iāll be honest, because of the controversy surrounding Michael Jackson, Iāve sometimes found it difficult to share these experiences. But this moment, for me and for the dancers, is about something much bigger than the show itself.
In 2001, I had the opportunity to be part of the casting and rehearsal process for the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration at
@thegarden . I was hired to dance and choreograph, and what I witnessed was a level of pressure, focus, and excellence unlike anything else.
But this story isnāt just about me. Itās about the dancers
Itās about 25 incredible dancers (TAGGED IN THIS POST) who proved to their families, their friends, and the dance community that if you commit to your training, stay disciplined, fight through the hard moments, trust the process, and never give up on your dream, you can earn your place in the room and have your moment on that stage.
Itās also a story about two boys raised in Michigan, living a simple life, believing there was something greater out there for them. They took a chance, moved then met in New York City, both with a common dream, and those dreams led to the opportunity of a lifetime.
The audition room at SIR Studios was filled with thousands of dancers from around the world, all chasing one moment. Only 25 moved on.
When I spoke with
@dancemagazine for a feature during rehearsals, I knew I didnāt want the story to just be about working on this special. These dancers deserved to be seen. They deserved to be remembered.
The dancers who booked that job werenāt just talented, and they werenāt just dancing. They were contributing to something iconic.
Iām grateful to have witnessed it, and grateful to have been part of a moment that demanded the highest level from all of us.
#MichaelJacksons30thAnniversarySpecial #MichaelJacksonDancer #theDreammaker #BehindTheScenes
Footage: opening number wanna be startin something with
@myaplanet9 @usher @whitneyhouston