Palace Dance Studio Hits The Global Stage
Penrose dance studio, The Palace, has had its fair share of successes, which doesn't come as a surprise when it's run by Hip-Hop sensation Parris Goebel and her father, Brett Goebel.
Parris earned worldwide acclaim when she was booked to choreograph moves for Jennifer Lopez' world tour in 2012. Three years on Parris is still going strong with quite a repertoire up her sleeve, including working on films like Step Up and the New Zealand up and coming, Born to Dance. She also helped choreograph Cirque du Soleil's tribute to Michael Jackson, One. When she's not globetrotting and rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous she's back at Palace Dance Studio teaching.
It was revealed last week that Parris has been signed to choreograph and tour with Grammy Award-winning pop icon, Janet Jackson. The Unbreakable World Tour kicks off in Vancouver on 31 August.
Alex Carson, another Palace resident, has also been signed to join Jackson's dance troupe. The 23-year-old dancer, along with ten other Palace based dancers, were invited to audition for the troupe in Los Angeles. After callbacks Alex soon learned that she was successful in securing a role in the tour.
Alex, who is originally from Canberra, says "It's definitely a dream come true, I'm a huge Janet Jackson fan - I grew up listening to all her music."
But it doesn't stop there for The Palace. Earlier in the year Lance Savali, who was based at The Palace for three years, toured with Chris Brown and is now in rehearsals in New York for Madonna's world tour. New Zealand has been put on Madonna's tour list for early next year and Lance says that he's very much looking forward to coming home to perform.
The Palace Dance Studio is on an upward trajectory and can only go higher. "It's definitely great to see pathways opening up after all the hard work the dancers have put in," says Brett Goebel.