Marvin Millora is an anomaly.
A back-up dancer on the Justin Bieber tour, Millora is one of the few people in the competitive and unforgiving dance business to be living his dream and getting paid for it.
“It’s amazing,” Millora said Saturday afternoon, just hours before he’ll take the stage with teen star Bieber at the Allentown Fair. “I tell everyone, no matter where you come from, you can make it. Just work hard and make smart decisions.”
Millora and fellow dancer Anthony “Kanec” Carr spent Saturday afternoon on Allentown’s south side, at the Sharon Plessl School of Dance, where they gave one-hour dance lessons to more than 40 eager students.
“It’s a real good experience for everyone. Though we live close to New York City, it’s not easy for parents to make time, so bringing someone here with their background is great, and parents really appreciate it” said Trisha Pongracz-Zehner, who along with her mom, Sharon Plessl-Pongracz, own the studio.
Millora, who went to Philadelphia‘s University of the Arts and has worked with pop stars Nick Cannon and Brittany Spears, said he was called in for a private audition for the Bieber tour and was selected not only for his ability, but for his maturity.
“The producers knew Justin was young and wanted someone to keep him grounded,” said Millora. “They didn’t want someone rambunctious.”
Millora said, despite the number of shows, he is still amazed at the number of screaming girls and celebrity appearances at the concerts.
Asked what fans might not know about Bieber, Millora said, “As big as he is, he’s still a regular kid. He likes going to the mall, playing video games and just hanging, but he also works hard.”
Inside the studio, Carr — hat turned backwards and dressed in a black flannel shirt — was leading a class of mostly young girls. He was teaching the students several short, 10-second routines.
He was also giving them some pointers about Saturday night’s concert.
“Are you going to the concert tonight?” asked Carr, who has danced with hip-hop star Missy Elliot and appeared in the movie “Hair Spray.”
The girl said, “Yes.”
“Make sure you wear that shirt. Justin always brings people on stage, and you get picked out if you have a cool shirt.
Outside the studio, mothers were trying to get a peek of the lesson through slits in the blinds.
Donna Litzenberger said her daughter, Morgan, was ecstatic when she learned who was teaching the class Saturday.
“She couldn’t sleep,” said Litzenberger. “That’s all she talked about all week.”
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