Parris Goebel is a name synonymous with innovative dance, having revolutionized the way choreography shapes pop culture. From her viral discovery on YouTube by Jennifer Lopez to working with global superstars like Rihanna, Beyoncé, and now, Lady Gaga, Goebel’s work continues to push boundaries. But her latest collaboration with Mastercard and Lady Gaga for the “Abracadabra” music video is particularly special. It’s not just a dance; it’s an invitation to fans to become part of the creative magic.
In this campaign, Mastercard and Gaga invite fans to step into a world of Mayhem—Gaga’s much-anticipated album—through dance. Fans are encouraged to recreate the choreography from “Abracadabra” for a chance to win exclusive, Priceless Experiences that go beyond the typical concert or meet-and-greet. As Goebel explains, “collaborating with Lady Gaga on the Abracadabra music video, I knew that we were working on something special, bringing a dance to fans that would inspire them to move the same way it inspires me.” She explains, “Now, thanks to the partnership with Mastercard, dance becomes a way to bring our community even closer to Lady Gaga, with an opportunity to experience the creative magic that sparks when dance and music inspire a movement.”
In an exclusive interview with Goebel, we dive deep into her journey as a choreographer, how she crafts movements that resonate on a global scale, and how the partnership with Mastercard is bringing dance and music to the forefront in a way that celebrates the passion of fans everywhere.
You’ve built an incredible career as a dancer, choreographer, director, and creative force. Do you remember when you got your first big break?
Parris Goebel: Of course I do. I’ll never forget it. My first big break was when I was 19, and JLo [Jennifer Lopez] discovered me on YouTube. That just changed my life, and it gave me an opportunity to go from New Zealand to LA, which is the heart of the entertainment industry, and make all my dreams come true. I’m forever grateful.
From Lady Gaga and Rihanna to Beyonce and Doja Cat, and so many more, you’ve worked with some of the most iconic artists of our time. What has been your approach to collaborating with other creatives who have so much talent, creative vision, and a standard of excellence?
Parris Goebel: I think it’s just understanding my role and what I bring to their world and their artistry. At the end of the day, my goal is to elevate artists and help them shine the brightest light that they can on the world. Firstly, I feel honored that artists trust me to let them into their world and be a part of their vision. I take that very seriously, and I try to build trust with them so that I can push and take them places like they’ve never been within their work. Once I gain that trust and synergy, it comes down to collaboration as artists. I’m an artist, and I see the world in a certain way. They’re artists as well, and they see the world in a certain way.
How does it feel for these to open themselves up completely to you and place that trust in you?
Parris Goebel: I mean, it’s a great feeling. The people I’ve worked with are people that I’ve looked up to growing up. There’s not a day I don’t take for granted. I’m from the other side of the world so for me to be here in LA, working with the most influential artists in the world and doing things at such a high level—the chances of me doing this and being here are really slim. I never lose sight of that. I feel grateful, honoured, and in my purpose, like this is what I was born to do.
How would you describe your approach and perspective on dance?
Parris Goebel: [My style] is a beautiful blend of masculine and feminine energy. It’s really aggressive; I kind of obsess over certain things. I love it when things are clean and synchronized. I’m a perfectionist and love working with large groups of dancers.
There are things that I obsess and gravitate towards that make my style a bit more recognizable to people. But I would hate to put it into words because it limits what I do and what I’m known for. I’m evolving. Even think what I did with [Lady] Gaga was against what I usually do. It is a bit left to what people have known me for, a bit more jazz and funk.
Speaking of Lady Gaga, you most recently collaborated with her on her album, Mayhem, choreographing the music videos for Disease and Abracadabra. When these opportunities come across your desk, so to speak, what’s the first thing that you do and where does your creative process go from there?
Parris Goebel: First, I ask myself, does this excite me? Is my heart being drawn to this, and if it’s a yes, we start the collaborative process. At this point in my career, I’m only working with people who I really want to work with and am a fan of. That’s a really exciting place to be and I think when Gaga’s team approached me, I couldn’t believe it. It was a dream come true for me. I didn’t know if this day was going to come. I’ve been doing this for a while now and have worked with everyone. Gaga was the last one [I hadn’t worked with.]
With Gaga, even though it’s been a short time, we have created such a special bond. It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced, and she trusts me so much. She really lets me do my thing. At the same time, this is her world, you know? So it’s kind of easy to bring things to life because she has such a strong DNA, from her music to her styling to what she’s done for pop culture. So, that makes my job much easier.
What that allows me to do is see how I can take it to the next level and bring out different sides of it that maybe people have never seen, even if it’s in the choreography or the aesthetic.
Through Mastercard, fans, or Little Monsters, as they say, have the opportunity to recreate your choreography. It’s incredible how fast people have been able to turn around the creative vision inspired by that video. What excites you most about seeing fans interpret your work like that?
Parris Goebel: Oh my goodness, it’s really the coolest feeling. With Abracadabra, it was all about community and bringing us all together no matter what you look like, your walk of life, or where you’re from. Everyone belongs in Club Mayhem. You’re all welcome here.
Seeing the world take the choreography into their own hands and do it with their friends, art studios, siblings, or by themselves and filming it in full costume—it makes me feel like they understood what we were trying to say, It makes me emotional when I watch the videos and that people would take time out of their day to learn the steps that we worked so hard on. It’s really special.
How do you hope the partnership with Mastercard will bring fans closer to their passion for dance or music?
Parris Goebel: I think just giving them the opportunity to be in the same room as me and Gaga. Some of them dream of that, but they don’t think it could ever happen. Mastercard giving this opportunity to make that dream come true is really awesome. I wish I had that opportunity when I was younger. It gives them an opportunity to be a part of our world and literally experience it for themselves. That’s what we dreamed of when we created Abracadabra; creating a community, a safe space, and a party where everyone can have the best time of their lives.
For those who dream of being in a position like yours one day, what’s one piece of advice that you would share with them?
Parris Goebel: There’s no textbook on how to make it as a choreographer or creative but I think something that really helped me was just creating my own lane, creating my own vocabulary of what dance meant to me. I think there was something quite unique, but also really innocent, about living on the other side of the world and not knowing what was cool and what people were doing here.
On social media, you’re constantly being fed information. As a choreographer, if you can step away and isolate yourself, just listen to your own creative compass. What is cool to you? What is fresh to you and how do you interpret music by creating your own language? That’s what worked for me. If you do that and you never give up, someone, some where, some day is going to recognize and see you.
How do you think your definition of success has changed from when you first started out to where you are now?
Parris Goebel: Success is different for everyone. For me, to be able to have a house that I like, to hang my art on my wall, to be able to chill with my dogs and listen to jazz—that is success to me over the big accolades because it means I’ve worked hard to create a safe space for myself. I think, as artists, if you can create a space where you can be yourself freely, that’s really the key to creating more art. Success is just being able to create a space where I can dream and keep dreaming.
How do you think you have evolved along that journey?
Parris Goebel: I still work hard, if not harder. It’s one thing to make it to the top, but it’s even harder to stay there. I constantly try to outwork myself in different ways and prove to myself that I’m doing the best that I can. But, I think at some point you realize, this is what you were born to do and is where you should be. There’s a level of confidence that I’ve gained in the past few years that I don’t think I would have had in my first big job with JLo. That just couldn’t have happened. I feel like I belong and am aligned in what I’m doing.
Aside from this project with Lady Gaga, what have been some other big “pinch-me” moments for you in your career?
Parris Goebel: The Super Bowl with Rihanna was pretty cool. That was pretty big for me.
What would you say excites you the most about the road ahead?
Parris Goebel: What excites me the most is knowing that I’m only getting started. I’m still only giving a small percentage of the ideas that live in my mind. I have so much more to share and so much more to do even though I’ve been doing it professionally for longer than 10 years. I think I’m an incredible director and once I start directing dance films, that’s going be a whole new level for me. I’m also DJing now and taking up space in that world. I’m just a true Renaissance woman. I feel like I can do anything I put my mind to.
What kind of words would you have to share with other individuals about taking up space as a person of colour or as a woman?
Parris Goebel: I’m just a walking testimony of it. If I can go all the way from New Zealand to here and work my way to the top, I really believe anyone can. I don’t think it matters where you’re from or what you have, what you don’t have. I think it’s just about having a dream, never giving up, and doing whatever it takes to get there. You have to be hungry, you have to be a savage when it comes to your dreams—whatever it takes. I think that’s kind of missing these days. People are a little bit lazy, but I believe you can do anything that you want no matter what your circumstances are if you create your own lane, sacrifice what you need to, and put in the hours to master your craft.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
