Cirque shows interest in ReQuest hip-hop crew

Parris Goebel is off to Canada soon, to Cirque du Soleil. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Kiwi dance group ReQuest has been shaking things up on the world stage.

After dancing alongside Jennifer Lopez in this year's American Idol finale, the all-girl hip hop crew from Auckland is now on the brink of even bigger things.

Group leader Parris Goebel, 20, said some of the girls had been approached by Cirque du Soleil.

"And I'm choreographing for Cirque, so I'll be off to live in Canada for two months this September."

The Cirque du Soleil contracts are two-year deals working on the company's new production on Michael Jackson's life and music. The show will premiere in Las Vegas in May.

Goebel said that even if some girls left, ReQuest would stay strong because "it's more than just a dance crew".

"For me, ReQuest is an opportunity. We've managed to turn ReQuest into a brand. So whoever falls into ReQuest kind of falls into those opportunities."

ReQuest is based at Goebel's Palace Dance Studio in Penrose, and features dancers from a variety of Kiwi cultures.

With the next World Hip Hop Championships at the end of the month and a spate of recent international jobs, the group has had little time to rest.

"We only just finished doing the music video for Jennifer Lopez's latest single I'm Going In which will be out in a couple of weeks," said Goebel.

ReQuest has also been touring Australia and Asia, doing performances and workshops for a fan base which she said was "overwhelming".

"Every time we go somewhere new we get so much support. We had no idea so many people knew about us."

Goebel puts this all down to "the power of YouTube".