Immortal Dancer Feels Blessed To Be Part Of the Show

(۲۲-۶-۲۰۱۲) Leo Moctezuma is one of the dancers in the cast of Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour. He has toured with big acts such as Pink, Britney Spears and Ricky Martin in the past. However, the Immortal Tour fulfilled one of his dreams - although a key part of this dream passed away much too soon in ۲۰۰۹. "I feel very blessed to be part of this show. As a kid, it was always my dream to dance with Michael Jackson and so this feels like an honor. I'm dancing his dance and to his music. It's cool to sort of touch people the way he did." Being a fan of Michael Jackson he had always tried to copy his idol's moves but in his new job he learned his self-taught moves, while close, weren't accurate enough to get in this show: "Being a fan and a dancer, I used to learn all those the moves. I kinda knew them, but during rehearsal, I learned that wasn't the case! Everyone has their own version, but it felt better to learn the proper way. We're doing the version. Plus, we're learning from the best of the best." Those "best" include an impressive roster of choreographers, among them Rich and Tone Talauega (Michael Jackson, Madonna), Jamal Sims (Footloose remake) and most notably Travis Payne, who worked with Michael Jackson on his Dangerous Tour and on 'This Is It.' Putting on one of the trademark MJ costumes was a magical experience for Moctezuma: "As one of the fanatics, I get to dress up in some of that gear. That part is like the comic relief of the show. But putting on that gangster outfit for the 'Smooth Criminal' bit was cool. I have moments during the show where he's so present. His spirit and voice is so overwhelming that I forget he's gone." Additionally, touring with the Immortal show has inspired Leo to spread a message that was so important to Michael Jackson - healing to the world. "He was about loving and respecting yourself and being weird but in a good way. He was kind of like how Lady Gaga is now. I realize that in the community, those personal struggles are tough, but he was thinking out of the box and making amazing work. I think that's how the community works." Source: MJFC / Dallas Voice