Parris Goebel
A choreographic visionary from New Zealand who reshaped global pop culture with her raw, powerful style, creating a dynasty in competitive hip-hop dance.
Born 1991 (age 35)·New Zealand dancer and choreographer·Birthday: October 29·Millennials
Biography
Parris Goebel didn't just enter the dance world; she reconfigured it from her garage in Auckland. A self-taught prodigy, she developed a signature style—'Polyswagg'—that fused Polynesian movement with fierce, feminine hip-hop, characterized by sharp isolations, explosive power, and intricate synchronization. At 17, she founded The Palace Dance Studio, which quickly became a talent factory. Her crew, The Royal Family, achieved the unthinkable, winning the World Hip Hop Dance Championship three consecutive times, a first in history. Goebel's genius translated seamlessly to the mainstream. She became the creative force behind some of the biggest pop spectacles of the 2010s, choreographing tours and videos for Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, and Rihanna, imprinting her muscular, precise aesthetic onto the global stage. More than a choreographer, she is a director and entrepreneur, building an empire that insists on the artistic and commercial power of dance from the Pacific.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Parris was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Parris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Parris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Choreographed Justin Bieber's 'Purpose' World Tour and the video for his hit single 'Sorry'.
- Led her dance crew The Royal Family to three consecutive World Hip Hop Dance Championship titles (2015, 2016, 2017).
- Directed and choreographed the cinematic dance film 'Loyal' for the New Zealand music group, The Sisterhood.
Did You Know?
She is of Samoan, Scottish, and Irish descent.
Goebel turned down a scholarship to a prestigious New Zealand ballet school to pursue hip-hop.
She made her directorial debut with the 2021 film 'Born to Dance', which she also choreographed and starred in.
“I don't believe in competition. I believe in creation.”
