Paradizo @ NY Knicks Halftime Show
Performing for the Knicks halftime show was the biggest show I have ever done. Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena. 18,000 people. Wow, I thought doing America's Got Talent was hard, but this was different, about 40 times the audience. The history. The fact that I was going to be close to some of the basketball stars I watch on TV. Wow! Read the adventure below by Dave Paris...
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Zoë and I decided to do a scouting trip a week before our show. We saw the lights, got a feel for the crowd, saw the NY Knick dancers do their thing, and visualized what it would be like as best as we could.
DAVE & ZOE @
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
The day of the show, I was both nervous and excited. Our managing director Melissa Rodnon came with us backstage, and my older brother and nephew were watching from blue seats. When we did our tech rehearsal 2 hours before the game, and we did the routine without any problems, so we were confident. It was so fun to have some of the Knick players stopping to watch us.
The show went very well. Zoe fought through the pain in her hip and performed with fire. The crowd loved the big moves and the show. It was interesting to compare 18,000 Knick fans cheering to other venues we've been in.
It was a monumental achievement professionally and personally to have performed on the floor of Madison Square Garden. I'm very thankful!
- written by Dave Paris
The entertainment director also wanted us to perform to an upbeat pop song. We chose Right Round by Flo-rida. We choreographed a 3 minute version of the song that would be non stop action, with 20 seconds of hustle dancing in between our acrobatic dance style. Adding to the drama, Zoë strained a muscle in her hipflexer a week before the show, and so we weren't able to practice the act at all. We went to a masseuse and body workers, but the hip was healing slowly and would stiffen any time we practiced. The first time we would be able to run the act was going to be at tech rehearsal! We also didn't know if Zoë’s hip would interfere during the performance...
Backstage before the show was as exciting for me as the actual show. I was shoulder distance away from Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, as our locker room was next door to theirs. I was hanging out with Knick great Allan Houston watching a small TV in the runway. Eva Longaria was in the first row. It was amazing.
Another great moment was hearing our name being announced for the actual show during halftime. I heard the announcer's voice say the Knicks players name so many times, it was surreal to hear him announce "Paradizo Dance."
by Dave Paris
