Hip-hop dancer Parris Goebel, who has worked with top hip-hop music artists and is starring in the upcoming movie Step Up 5. 6 December 2013 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Dean Purcell NZH 08Aug
Hip-hop dancer Parris Goebel, who has worked with top hip-hop music artists and is starring in the upcoming movie Step Up 5. 6 December 2013 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Dean Purcell NZH 08Aug
Kiwi hip-hop choreographer to the stars Parris Goebel is hosting a dance class to raise funds for her sister after her nephew tragically passed away.
Her 15-month-old nephew Amarni Collins died in hospital on September 2, three days after being admitted with a heart problem.
Goebel announced on social media tonight that she would host two classes tomorrow, September 15, at The Palace Dance Studio on Station Rd, Penrose. She posted that the first class she'll teach the dance to Justin Bieber's hit Sorry and the second class is advanced.
"Come and dance with me in memory of my darling nephew. All donations will go to help my sister and her family through this tough time. Let's come together for a good cause."
Amarni is the son of Goebel's sister, Kendal, and her husband Sean Collins.
Parris Goebel is dedicating two dance classes to her 15-month-old nephew Armani. Photo / Doug Sherring
Goebel, and her father and manager, Brett, learned the shattering news after landing at Los Angeles International Airport en route from New York to London on September 4.
The pair had attended the MTV Video Music Awards in New York on August 28. "The plane landed and we turned on our phones and all of these messages appeared. It was pretty messy," Brett Goebel told the Herald on Sunday.
"We walked out of one terminal and headed over to the Air New Zealand terminal as quick as we could and got on the next plane home."
Boxing Alley in Parnell, Auckland, put on a special fundraising event in honour of Amarni. Amarni's father is a trainer at the gym. Photos of the event showed dozens of people - adults and children - participating in various boxing and training activities.
Parris Goebel, who has worked with chart-toppers Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Nicki Minaj, revealed the tragedy on social media yesterday, writing: "My fingers are numb, my heart beat is slow.
"Today I feel pain, all over my soul. It's hard to believe my munchkin is gone.
"But your song I will sing as I try carry on. You are needed in heaven, so fly away, I will be missing your kisses every day."
Amarni died in the same week Brett Goebel welcomed his 11th grandchild into the world.
He described Amarni as a "beautiful little boy, he was really happy all of the time".
"He is a bundle of joy and a blessing. We are shattered - but the thing that is getting us through is that we know we will see him again.
"The outpouring of love and support from all corners of the earth has been incredible. The support we are receiving is massive."
Amarni will be farewelled on Tuesday.
"We will make sure we have a beautiful farewell and make sure we honour him with our lives going forward," Brett Goebel said.
Parris Goebel was nominated for three awards at the MTV Video Music Awards, including for her work on Bieber's video for his single, Sorry. However, she did not win any awards at the lavish ceremony, which featured some of the biggest names in the music industry.
