Media Release
31 July 2012

Rising star heads home to support local festival

Internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer-to-the-stars, Parris Goebel is Southside Arts Festival (SAF) Ambassador for 2012.

The festival (formerly the Manukau Festival of Arts) is a vibrant, month-long celebration, showcasing local talent and creative enterprise in fashion, music, art, theatre and dance.

Twenty year-old Goebel who grew up in Manurewa and Howick, in the heart of Southside, captures the essence of the festival.

"It's awesome to be representing Southside in 2012. The festival has opened so many doors for me in the past; it’s great to have the chance to give something back," says Goebel.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown says having Parris Goebel as SAF’s Ambassador is a major coup for the festival.

“Southside is into its second year and having the support of artists of Parris’ calibre is testament to the festival’s credibility,” says Brown. “We are delighted to have her star power onboard”. Parris is a great example of what talent, determination and sheer hard work can achieve from South Auckland roots”.
Brown says SAF highlights the artistic talent that resides in Auckland and aims to increase social cohesion, self-esteem and pride in the region.

"The Southside community is filled with raw talent. There's so much local creativity and this festival celebrates all of those performers and artists. It's uniquely South Auckland. You can't find it anywhere else in the world," he says.

Hip-hop dancer Parris Goebel is making waves overseas and was recently crowned female choreographer of 2012 at the World of Dance Awards.

The honour has put Goebel on the international stage, and saw her chosen by megastar Jennifer Lopez for her world tour this year. Goebel also choreographed and features in Lopez’s new single “Goin’ In”. In May, Goebel also performed as one of Lopez’s dancers on the final of American Idol, watched by 21.5 million viewers in the States.
"This has been such an amazing year, and just keeps getting better and better, busier and busier,” Goebel says.

This week the Samoan-New Zealander defends her dance crew ReQuest’s title at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships in Las Vegas.

Goebel and her ReQuest crew won the coveted champs in both 2010 and 2011.

"I can’t wait to be back in New Zealand, representing my roots in Auckland's Southside during the festival in October," she says.

Southside Arts Festival showcases more than 40 events and is on from October 12 to November 11 2012. The three cornerstone events of the festival are the Southside Gig, Cult Couture and the Mixer 2 Concert.

Ends

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