ONLY hours before Michael Jackson died, Shannon Holtzapffel was dancing alongside the King of Pop. The Aussie dance star and former Gold Coaster was in full-scale rehearsals with Jackson in the US in the lead-up to his This Is It tour.
The 24-year-old was one of 10 principal dancers hand-picked for Jackson’s comeback performance and he had spent the past six weeks in the studio rehearsing alongside the late superstar.
Shannon has now been asked to stay on for the tribute tour that is being planned as its replacement.
While the tribute tour is yet to be officially confirmed, it is rumoured to feature the likes of artists Justin Timberlake and Beyonce and may show in locations outside London.
Shannon’s proud Gold Coast father Lee Holtzapffel, who celebrates his 50th birthday today, said his son had been devastated since Jackson’s death.
He said it was Shannon’s dream from a young age to dance with Jackson.
“It’s really sad what’s happened. It’s been pretty tough on him,” he said yesterday, sharing photos of his son at his Pacific Pines home.
“He was there the day before. He was with him every day and the last day before he died he was with him — they did a full rehearsal.
“The day he passed away they were rehearsing and waiting for him to come.”
Lee said Shannon and the other dancers had gone to Jackson’s favourite Chinese restaurant on the weekend in memory of the star.
“We talk to him on the internet and the other day he couldn’t talk — he just lost it,” said Lee. “Yesterday (Sunday) he was with Michael Jackson’s family.”
Shannon was the only Australian dancer chosen to be a part of the principal cast.
He turned down dancing with US singer Britney Spears on her Circus tour because he had commitments to Channel 10’s So You Think You Can Dance series and the Happy Feet movie sequel.
Shannon, co-choreographer of Project Moda, one of Australia’s most respected dance companies, only heard about Jackson’s dance auditions two days beforehand and took the next available flight from Sydney to Los Angeles.
Lee said the pair had become quite close over the past few weeks, with Shannon’s Twitter page reading, ‘Just got hugged by the one and only’.
“He hugged Shannon and asked him certain things,” said Lee. “He said one day he was walking out of the studio and Michael called him back to ask him what he thought about the dances.
“Shannon was the No. 1 dancer in Australia for three years and he was just amazed every time he was with Michael how he would create new steps on the spot that Shannon had never seen.
“Shannon said he’s a lovely guy. One day he came in with his kids and he said he was a very loving father, very respectable to his children. He said he’s very soft spoken.”
Lee said the dancers had been doing a full rehearsal for Thriller and the news came as a shock to all involved.
“That’s why it’s a big shock, what’s happened,” he said. “Even the day before he passed away they were doing the full rehearsals.
“Shannon’s really disappointed but he’s also happy because he still had the opportunity to spend the last six weeks with Michael.
“At least he was able to spend that time with him.”
Lee said the details on the tribute tour were all a bit ‘hush hush’.
“They’re still talking about it,” he said.
“They want to keep some of the dances that they were doing with Michael.”
While details on Jackson’s funeral are yet to be announced, Lee said his son and the other dancers would be attend the memorial.
Read more about Shannon Holtzapffel
Article Written By: Stephanie Bedo
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/06/30/93621_gold-coast-feature.html
