While so many of us dream of scoring tickets to concerts by the likes of Coldplay, Jennifer Lopez and Six60, Auckland talent Eden Coleman is regularly up on stage with the music stars themselves.
One of New Zealand’s hottest up-and-coming dancers and choreographers, the 23-year-old is poised to head to Los Angeles to pursue yet more “thrilling” opportunities.
But first, she’s enjoying a hiatus back home after a five-month tour through China with Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, who’s known as the “Queen of C-Pop” (Chinese pop), followed by a shorter stint on Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour.
Hobnobbing with celebs is nothing new for the diminutive 162cm-tall dancer. People often refer to her as a “pocket rocket” and she’s been making slick moves since the age of three.
When asked who else she’s danced with, she rattles off the names of J.Lo and Colombian chart sensation Karol G. Plus, top Korean girl groups Twice, Katseye and Le Sserafim.
But it’s the “so sweet” blokes of Kiwi rockers Six60 who will always hold a special place in Eden’s heart as some of the more prominent artists she danced with after leaving Rangitoto College, captivating 50,000 fans on a super-sized stadium stage.
“I loved them for years. It was a dream to dance and choreograph for them – just so epic,” she grins. “They’re so easy to work with and supportive.”
Eden also performed with Rita Ora at half-time on the opening day of the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup at Eden Park, which had 1.2 million viewers captivated. She says, “Rita was stunning, just lovely and obviously a natural performer.”
Ask the bubbly dancer for a career highlight and headlining Coachella in 2023 with K-pop girl band Blackpink gets an excited mention. There were 125,000 people in the audience and an “astounding” 250 million online viewers.
Eden beams, “We trained in Korea for a couple of weeks. Then, we flew to Las Vegas and continued to rehearse there on a stage replica. There were 12-hour days sometimes. For that kind of job, you need your mind, body and soul to be checked in and focused. Then you need to be able to sustain that. It’s a crazy, exciting, hectic job, but how cool it is that you can become tired doing something you love?”
She explains that her healthy lifestyle helps her maintain her energy and focus, adding, “Being on stage is the biggest serotonin boost I can imagine. My body is tingly with nerves and excitement when I’m about to go on stage. I feel energy from the crowd and it’s the most epic feeling. It’s what I work so hard for.”
When not performing, Eden takes classes from inspiring choreographers. She’s honing her craft across various genres, such as hip-hop, jazz, commercial, contemporary and freestyle. She teaches dance and judges competitions, too.
Beyond the stage, she’s also an influencer, which has seen her become an ambassador for high-profile Kiwi festivals such as Rhythm & Vines, Bay Dreams, Juicy Fest and One Love, as well as collaborate with brands like Samsung and New Balance. Her recent TikToks, posted under @edencolemann, have scored more than 25 million views.
Clearly a young Kiwi who’s killing it in her chosen field, Eden always figured dancing would shape her career. She proved herself right early on, representing Aotearoa at the World Hip Hop Championships in the US while still at school.
She confesses she pinches herself daily that she’s living her dreams. “The fact I’m leading this exciting life is insane. When I think of what I’ve managed already… I can’t wait to see what’s next. My favourite thing is to tour with international artists who perform music I love and listen to already. It’s just been so amazing.”
Eden can’t talk about which big names she’s collaborating with in California, but she admits there are exciting touring opportunities. She feels thrilled to be working with acclaimed choreographer Nicole Kirkland on the online dance platform Kitty Kompound.
Eden sees Los Angeles as the natural next step in advancing her career. As soon as she gets the required visa, this Kiwi talent is set to soar alongside a whole bunch of bright stars!
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