Kiwi dancer Kaea Pearce steps up to help singer Rihanna shine at VMAs

Whangarei dancer Kaea Pearce's (right) dream came true when she performed with Rihanna at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York this week. Photo / Courtesy of Kaea Pearce

One of Kaea Pearce's biggest dreams has come true as the Whangarei dancer shared the stage with Rihanna during her performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The 19-year-old was one of many dancers from world renowned choreographer Parris Goebel's Palace Dance Studio who performed with Rihanna in a string of performances at the awards held in at Madison Square Garden on Monday (NZ time).

The show was watched by millions around the globe.

When the Northern Advocate spoke to Ms Pearce last month, she said one of her goals was to dance with Rihanna.

She took to Instagram to express her excitement about her dream coming true after Monday's performance.

"If you know me this has always been one of my biggest dreams dancing along side this beyond talented woman [Rihanna] ... Can't wait to share the stage with my day one girls who have all worked so hard together to get here," she said.

It was not the first time Miss Pearce has shared the stage with a superstar.

Last November she got the chance to get face-to-face with Jennifer Lopez when she performed with the singer for the opening of the American Music Awards.

Miss Pearce also danced in Justin Bieber's Sorry music video, directed and choreographed by Ms Goebel, which has been viewed 1.7 billion times on YouTube.

The music video was also nominated in the new category for Breakthrough Long Form Video and the top award; Video of the Year at the MTV awards, but did not win.

Kaea Pearce (right) gets up close with J Lo during the opening of the American Music Awards last November.

On Instagram Miss Pearce thanked her mother, Ms Goebel and Ms Goebel's father, Brett Goebel, for their support.

"I wouldn't be here with out @parrisgoebel for giving me this amazing opportunity words can express how thankful I am Parris and to @bgpopa for always supporting us girls to live our dreams and too my mama @pearcemarian for always sticking with me and not giving up on me and for pushing me to be my best and now it's finally happening mum," (sic).

Miss Pearce and her family moved to Auckland from Whangarei to be close to The Palace Dance Studio when she successfully auditioned for one of the world's best hip-hop dance crews at age 12.