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Parris Goebel, after her investiture as MNZM, for services to dance, at Government House, Wellington, on 9 July 2020. Photo by New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General-

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Parris Goebel

Parris Renee Goebel, known professionally as Parris, is a New Zealand choreographer, singer, director, dancer and actress. She has worked with mainstream artists such as Rihanna and Normani and has choreographed music videos, shows, films and movies.

She is the crown jewel of The Palace Dance Studio in New Zealand. The costumes worn by her dancers are unique. The fabric, pattern, and silhouettes she uses are different from other dance crews and studios.

Learn more about Parris Goebel in these top 10 intriguing facts.

1. Goebel Started Her Career When She Was 10

Goebel is of three descent, Samoan, Scottish and Chinese. From a young age, she was interested in dance and began hip-hop lessons when she was ten.

At age 15, Goebel started the dance group ReQuest with four friends. The group began by practicing at Goebel鈥檚 aunt’s garage and later at her father鈥檚 warehouse.

After a year of working together, they went to the Monster of Hip Hop Dance Convention in the United States, and Goebel was selected to dance in the finale performance of the convention.

After the convention, Goebel left Auckland Girls鈥� Grammar School to concentrate on her dancing.

2. Goebel Choreographed for Justin Bieber’s Song 鈥淪orry鈥�

Photograph of Parris Goebel. Photo sourced from

One of Goebel’s notable successful works was her work choreographing the music video for Justin Bieber鈥檚 2015 song 鈥渟orry.鈥� As of January 2020, the song was the 8th most viewed video on YouTube, with more than 3 billion views.

The 鈥渟orry鈥� song video won the Video of the Year award at the 2016 American Music awards. Goebel went on to choreograph and direct all thirteen of Justin Biebers purpose: The Movement videos. As of January 2020, these videos totaled over 5.3 billion views.

3. Goebel Choreographing Style is Known as Polyswagg

She is popularly known for her particular style called polyswagg. Goebel describes that her style is based on breathing, hearing and living the music, being passionate while dancing and transmitting feelings.

Goebel also draws on music inspiration from the Dancehall style. Her routine includes the element, most probably in the Royal Family鈥檚 World Hip Hop Dance Championship performances.

4. Goebel has Choreographed for Many Artist

She has worked with many artists, including Ariana Grande, Ciara, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson, Little Mix, Rihanna, Taeyang, and Big Bang, among many others.

In 2012, she Worked on Jennifer Lopez鈥檚 world tour and performed with her on the American Idol season 11 finale. In 2015, DeeWunn鈥檚 鈥淢ek It Bunx Up鈥� choreography went viral and attained millions of views on YouTube.

In 2015, Goebel was the leading choreographer for New Zeeland鈥檚 first hip hop feature film, Born to Dance. In 2020, Goebel choreographed Jennifer Lopez鈥檚 Super Bowl halftime show.

5. She is the Founder of ReQuest

On set of SamV Music video – “I Just Wanna Love U” featuring choreography by Parris Goebel and ReQuest Dance Crew. Photo by Bjvee-

Goebel and her four friends started the dance group ReQuest in 2007. The dance crew is based out of The Palace Dance Studio in Penrose and is one of six crews alongside The Royal Family, Kingsmen, Sorority, Duchesses and Bubblegum.

The group has competed in many dances competition and taken big home wins. The ReQuest was placed first at the 2009 World Supremacy Battlegrounds (Varsity division) in Melbourne and was crowned the champions of the 2012 Body Rock Dance Competition in San Diego.

6. Goebel is the Founder of The Palace Dance Studio

At the age of 17, Goebel opened the Palace Dance Studio. The studio has produced groups such as Sorority, Bubblegum, ReQuest and The Royal Family. The latter has won the World Hip Hop Dance Championship three times in a row, becoming the first group in history to achieve it.

The studio is where dancers learn from some leading choreographers in New Zealand. It is a Hip Hop Dance Studio catering to all ages and all levels of Hip Hop Dance, providing pathways for dancers to have a career.

At the studio, one can learn, create, grow, collaborate and rehearse. The Palace Dance Studio promotes a supportive, alcohol-free, smoke-free, no-swearing and friendly environment.

7. Goebel Has Also Ventured into Music

Photograph of Parris Goebel. Photo sourced from

On August 8, 2016, Goebel released her first music video to the song 鈥淔riday,鈥� which was featured on her EP Vicious. Also, in August 2016, Goebel released a music video for 鈥淣asty,鈥� also featured on the EP.

In December 2016, Goebel released the EP Vicious. The EP featured artists, including Jamaican Dancehall star DeeWunn.

8. Goebel Has Published Her Autobiography 鈥淵oung Queen鈥�

In March 2018, she published her autobiography Young Queen, sharing her extraordinary story of going from a high-school drop-out to an award-winning dancer, video director and choreographer.

Goebel had opened up about the mental health issues that were an obstacle in her life throughout her teenage years when she was bullied and struggled to fit in. At 19, she got her big breakthrough choreographing for Jennifer Lopez.

In her autobiography, Goebel reveals the fears, challenges, and obstacles she鈥檚 faced on her journey. She gives readers and fans a backstage look into her life and the lessons she has learned with photos on tour and set. The Young Queen is an inspiring read for anyone with a dream.

9. Goebel Directed Murder on the Dance Floor Film

She directed Murder on the Dance Floor, an adaption of her acclaimed street dance-based production. The movie marked her feature film directorial debut.

10. Goebel Has Amassed Many Honors and Awards

In 2006, Goebel was awarded the inaugural Special Recognition Award at the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards. In 2009 she was awarded the Street Dance New Zealand Choreographer of the Year and Dancer of the Year awards.

She was named Female Choreographer of the Year at the World of Dance Awards in Los Angeles in 2014. In 2015, Goebel was presented with the Top Variety Artist Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc and the Young Leader category of the New Zealand Women of Influence Awards.

Goebel was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for service to dance in the 2020 New Year Honors. In 2022 Goebel received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for her work on Amazon Prime Video鈥檚 Savage X Fenty: Vol.3 by Rihanna.