Today at 8pm Māori Television will exclusively launch the brand new series The Palace online.
The Palace series, which is named after a well-known dance studio in south Auckland, details the blood, sweat, tears and many hours that go into being the very best as the ambitious dancers prepare for the 2015 World Hip Hop Dance Championships.
At just 23, studio founder Parris Goebel is one of the most in-demand choreographers on the planet and says the series is a great chance for people to see how much hard work goes into her crews’ successes. There are plenty of achievements to note.
The Palace dancers have taken out gold at three previous world champs alongside Parris.
Parris has also worked with stars like Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez and Janet Jackson and recently choreographed and directed a number of videos for Justin Bieber’s new album with one being viewed more than 125 million times.
The series introduces viewers to four talented Māori dancers and their families, including loveable Tokoroa-born brothers Mikey and Joseph Metuakore, who are defying the odds to achieve their hip hop dreams and teenage sisters Ruthy and Kaea Pearce, who left behind their Northland lives for a chance to learn under Parris.
Earlier this year, dancer Michael Metuakore and his brother featured in the film “Born to Dance” before Michael was handpicked to be a dancer for Jennifer Lopez.
We spoke to Michael about the progress he’s made in his professional dancing career in the interview below.
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Kaea and Ruthy Pearce have had no shortage of success either, with the pair both featuring in Justin Bieber's dance videos. Kaea was also in the New Zealand film “Born to Dance”.
You can read the article on Kaea Pearce here.
This month, dancers from The Palace dance studio will also open the American Music Awards with Jennifer Lopez.
The Palace launches exclusively online at maoritelevision.com at 8pm on November 19.