Pictures: Vince Trupsin
It’s like Kiwi dancer Michael Metuakore plucked himself from his old Tokoroa bedroom and inserted himself into his TV for a performance viewed by millions around the world – Jennifer Lopez’s 2020 Super Bowl half-time show. Tasked with handing the singer her cane during their Get Right routine, the 33-year-old had flashbacks to watching the song’s 2005 music video.
“Every time I’ve done the cane dance, it reminds me of being a kid in my bedroom watching that iconic choreography on my little 14-inch TV,” Michael tells Woman’s Day during an interview in Los Angeles. “I also watched Britney Spears, Michael Jackson and S Club 7 videos, and learned all their routines, thinking, ‘One day!’”
With few dance opportunities in Tokoroa, the Māori/Cook Islands performer didn’t realise such a dream was achievable, so immersed himself in rugby, league, swimming and boxing. But after finding joy in cultural performances, then talent quests, he quit sports for dancing.
Joining Fusion Dance Company, he soon discovered Kiwi choreographer Parris Goebel and successfully auditioned for her ground-breaking Auckland school.
“I’d just turned 21, just come out of the closet and moved to Auckland,” he recalls. “It was a big celebration, but also scary and challenging. It was a time of self-discovery. I was able to experience the gay nightlife in Auckland, whereas in Tokoroa, there’s none!”
Michael says dance helped him discover his sexuality through his teens. “It let me express how I was feeling. And I hadn’t been around enough people to realise I was gay, so when I was exposed to dancers who were comfortable within their sexualities, I realised it’s OK to be this way.”
After Parris encouraged Michael to audition for J.Lo’s Las Vegas residency, he flew to LA, arriving to hordes of hopefuls. Feeling overwhelmed, he relied on “Kiwi tunnel vision mentality” to focus. Parris’ dad Brett rocked up days later holding a sign congratulating him. “I fell to the floor in shock!”
Michael cried tears of joy on opening night.
“The fact I was from Tokoroa, worked hard and was good enough to be on stage with her was emotional,” he tells. “There was also pressure because I wanted to prove to myself that I deserved to be there and prove small-town people can make it as dancers overseas.”
Michael has since danced with Ariana Grande, Bebe Rexha and Nicki Minaj. He was working for Britney – whose I’m A Slave 4 U routine he learned as a kid – when she cancelled her Vegas residency.
“She’s the ultimate pop icon,” he enthuses. “She’s gone through changes, which showed in rehearsals, though. I had to let go of the Britney I grew up with.”
As for the Super Bowl, Michael felt exhausted and overwhelmed in the lead-up, yet his “mana took over” at showtime. “All the energy of my hard work up to that point kicked in. It was the best performance I’ve done.”
It was then back to Waking Up In Vegas as Michael joined Katy Perry’s residency. Woman’s Day was there when the popstar chatted to Michael’s New Zealand guests from the stage, before telling concertgoers, “Make some noise for the Kiwis!”
He says, “Katy’s my girl! She’s the first celebrity I’ve worked with who’s broken down or been vulnerable, yet when she hops on stage, this Katy Perry persona takes over. She showed me it’s OK to feel down or tired because we uplift each other on stage. She’s a sweetheart – and hilarious!”
Katy introduced Michael to transcendental meditation, which has helped him navigate the challenges of showbiz. Not knowing when his next job’s coming has caused tough times, especially in the early days when he couldn’t book gigs despite having J.Lo on his résumé.
His parents, Michael Metuakore and Lauren Bishop, and brother Joseph (who dances for Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil in Vegas) supported him as he questioned his American dreams. He also began surrounding himself with fellow immigrants who could relate to his struggles.
However, his ultimate therapy is exercise.
“I was raised in sports,. It’s an easy outlet and good distraction from, ‘What’s next?’ I’ve also fallen in love with CrossFit. That keeps me grounded because I’m with nurses, engineers and students.”
Such coping methods have been vital following the cancellation of J.Lo’s This Is Me… Live tour, which Michael was named dance captain for. He suspected something was up when she missed rehearsals, then arrived with her entire team.
“She explained she wanted to spend time with her family. It was my first time being dance captain, so it hurt not getting to fulfil that. The show was gonna be amazing. I’ve been looking at rehearsal footage reminiscing. I need to let it go, but it’s hard!”
With J.Lo’s tour cancelled, Michael recently danced for “super-sweet” Paris Hilton before starting rehearsals for an Italian gig with Katy. He hopes the superstar will help him cross touring Aotearoa off his bucket list and that his achievements inspire kids.
“I hope people from my island, other islands or New Zealand see that anything’s possible and they can make a living from dance, acting and singing,” he enthuses. “There is a lane for us!”
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