Rihanna's Super Bowl choreographer Parris Goebel

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Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Choreographer Also Choreographed Jennifer Lopez’s Halftime Show

Rihanna recruited her longtime choreographer to help bring her Super Bowl halftime show to life. The choreographer also choreographed Jennifer Lopez's halftime show in 2020.

by Chris Malone

Published on February 26, 2023

2 min read

Rihanna worked with choreographer Parris Goebel for the Super Bowl halftime show

Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show marked the second time Samoan-New Zealand choreographer Parris Goebel got to put her own moves on the world’s biggest stage. Goebel has worked with Rihanna in the past for performances and her annual Savage X Fenty fashion show.

Goebel celebrated the accomplishment by posting photos of her with Rih on Instagram. “A little girl from Barbados and a little girl from New Zealand grew up into boss b****es and took over the Super Bowl half time show together,” Goebel wrote, according to the NZ Herald. “We far from home but we made it!!!! I love you 4L. Let’s do this sis.”

Parris Goebel also choreographed Jennifer Lopez’s Super Bowl halftime show

Goebel’s choreography for Rihanna’s halftime show wasn’t the first time she came up with dance moves for the Super Bowl. Back in 2020, Goebel worked with Jennifer Lopez and her team of dancers as they performed to some of J. Lo’s biggest hits, including “Jenny From the Block,” “Get Right,” and “Love Don’t Cost a Thing.”

While it marked a massive step in Goebel’s career, it wasn’t her first time ever working with J. Lo. “Jen gave me my first job in the industry when I was about 19 years old,” Goebel told The New York Times. “She was the first global artist to book me. I was still living in New Zealand at the time. She really nurtured me as an artist.”

“When she asked me to do the Super Bowl, it felt full circle to come back and collaborate on this huge moment for her and her career,” she continued. “I really wanted to put together a great show, because if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. There was a lot of emotional depth in this job for me.”

Goebel helped Lopez by recommending dancers she’s worked with to be a part of the halftime show. “It was a collaborative process. I basically sent Jen my dream team,” she said. “She was really passionate about having a lot of Latinos in it, so we kept looking so that she had her people and her team representing. That was really important to her. But she really trusts me, so anyone I put forward she’s cool with.”