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Third time’s the charm, Aotearoa dance icon Parris Goebel is now an official Emmy winner after being nominated for three years in a row.
The world-renowned Samoan choreographer won Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming for her work in Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty fashion show.
The lingerie show was a pop-culture sensation that first premiered in 2019 on Amazon Prime Video. It’s an immersive fashion experience that defied eurocentric beauty standards normally seen in the fashion industry by showcasing the diversity of women’s bodies through inclusivity of size, sexuality and ethnicity.
Musician Rihanna enlisted Parris to bring her vision of the Savage x Fenty show to life.
After the premiere of their first volume, Rihanna posted a photo of her and Parris on Instagram and hailed her as a ‘god gifted genius’.
Parris has broken international barriers when it comes to her choreography work. From her Royal Family Dance Crew winning world titles to choreographing Justin Bieber’s hit single ‘Sorry’ with her own Kiwi dancers to being the person behind Jennifer Lopez’s historic Super Bowl Halftime show, Goebel just keeps on raising the bar.
Parris took to Instagram to celebrate the news, posting a photo of her holding the golden Emmy, saying she’s been practising her acceptance speech since she was a little girl.
“As I left the stage I burst into tears as I remembered how hard I worked and how much physical and emotional pain I had to push past to complete the show’s choreography. As you climb the mountain of your dreams, you will be greatly challenged…but your passion, strength and LOVE for what you do will override anything standing in your way. I am so honoured and I will continue to dedicate my life to this art form for as long as I live.”
Parris continues to be an example of Polynesian excellence on the world stage.
