“Parris Goebel is the modern Pablo Picasso,” declared one X user after the first weekend of Coachella—or as some called it, “Gag-chella.”

For those who witnessed Lady Gaga bring Mayhem to life in Coachella Valley—whether in person or through TikTok clips—it was a triumphant return to form: a career-spanning, campy, and artful spectacle. When Gaga shed her enormous blood-red hooped skirt and the dancing for Judas began, the performance transcended into another dimension.

The raw, primal energy of the show was anchored by choreography from Parris Goebel, the visionary artist, dancer, and creative powerhouse. The set featured frenetic, sensual body rolls for the new track Garden of Eden, a deadly chess battle for Poker Face, exorcism-like dance breakdowns, a tumble through a grave, and a horror-film-inspired surgery sequence—along with fresh takes on classics like the ethereal Paparazzi and the euphoric Born This Way.

“The category is… dance or die,” Gaga declared onstage.

Photo: Getty Images

“My heart is full of gratitude to be able to create with a powerhouse woman who knows no boundaries and believes in real, authentic art,” Goebel wrote on Instagram. “The little weird theater kid in me is so happy—I got to dream the craziest dreams and see them come to life. Thank you, @ladygaga, for inspiring me every single day, for being so kind and caring, for giving us all a safe space to run free, and most importantly, for trusting me not only to choreograph but to creative-direct this show with you! I am so grateful and so proud.”

The Parris Goebel school of dance is a masterclass in pop transformation. Her style is powerfully expressive, bending the body in ways that defy joints and skeletal norms. Moves that might typically read as sexy—a hip thrust, an unrestrained shake—are twisted into something startling and hypnotically strange. Born in South Auckland, New Zealand, Goebel blends Polynesian cultural movements and hip-hop into her signature style, drawing inspiration from Bob Fosse’s precision as much as the stage presence of Prince and Missy Elliott.

She started young. By 15, Goebel had already dropped out of school to focus on winning local dance competitions and teaching classes. In 2009, she founded Auckland’s Palace Dance Studio, which later produced the Royal Family crew—three-time World Hip Hop Dance Championship winners.

Photo: Getty Images

Her big break came at 19 when she choreographed Jennifer Lopez’s 2012 Dance Again World Tour. From there, she crafted the still-iconic, MTV VMA-nominated video for Justin Bieber’s Sorry and his Purpose world tour, along with Ciara’s Level Up, Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj’s Feelin’ Myself, and Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty shows.

History-making moments kept rolling in. In 2023, she choreographed a pregnant Rihanna and 280 dancers for the Super Bowl halftime show—the Work segment, where dancers crawled like prowling animals toward the singer, went viral. Then, in 2024, she created an electrifying sequence for Sweet Honey Buckin’ during Beyoncé’s Super Bowl performance, left Coachella spellbound with Doja Cat’s predator-like moves in Demons, and in June, oversaw the artistic direction and choreography for Vogue World: Paris.

Then came Lady Gaga’s visuals for Disease and Abracadabra, their violent, demonic energy instantly spawning TikTok trends and dance crew recreations. Many saw Gaga’s shift from her longtime choreographer Richy Jackson to Goebel as a brilliant move.

Goebel’s movement carries a raw, feminine strength—every snarl, dive, roll, or limb slicing through the air radiates power. It’s a visceral, soul-shaking style that leaves audiences electrified.The perfect blend of pop sensibility for today’s biggest stars—and with Coachella’s second weekend just around the corner, we get another chance to be blown away by Parris Goebel’s electrifying dance moves.