Dutch dancer Timor Steffens was one of the dancers on Michael Jacksons announced This Is It Tour. He worked with Michael, and learned from Michael. Because there are many negative stories about Michael, he wanted to share his story, which is very positive. He spoke to RTL Boulevard on July 15 about his experience.
Reporter: Timor Steffens experienced the final days of Michael Jackson. He’s back in Holland and he’s allowed to speak for the first time. What was it like to work with him?
Steffens : What’s it like? You’re standing next to The Legend everyday during rehearsals… It’s not normal to stand there next to him. Words cannot describe that feeling.
Reporter: Was he someone you could get contact with, or did he keep his distance?
Steffens: Michael as a person is… I can tell you what I experienced… He is a very modest, shy and pure man. When you see him on stage, hitting the moves and doing his thing, you think ‘wow.’ That’s all very spectacular. But face to face he’s a sweet and soft man. Very easy to talk to, down to earth but also a very, very shy person.
Reporter: After that moment (being selected), you were with him every day for three months?
Steffens: In the beginning, we worked only with the choreographer and the dancers. We rehearsed a lot to get everything right. We wanted to know every single step before we got to work with him. The choreographer told us that once you are on stage with him you forget everything.
Reporter: And that was true?
Steffens: Yes it was very true! The moment you stand next to him in a routine and he makes a move, it’s like ‘wow!’
Reporter: Historical footage(shows video of Michael Jackson on stage June 24, 2009 at the Staples Center rehearsal). You seem to get emotional. Does it make you realize what you experienced?
Steffens: Everyday there is a moment I think about what happened, what I experienced. That is a beautiful moment. Many people are sending me mail and messages saying, ‘It’s a shame you dream didn’t come true.’ But my dream did come true. I shared a stage with him. I learned a lot from him. About dancing, about life experiences…everything.
Reporter: What I think is interesting to know, he was 50. I did see the images of the concert. Are you allowed to say anything about his condition during rehearsals? I always admire the man, and so do the people close to me. Was it ‘the old’ Michael, or was there perhaps something going on?
Steffens: It was like they said, once you are on stage with him you forget everything. When you stand next to him, his energy, it is as if he is glowing. I really mean it. If he dances… What I want to say is, he’s 50, but he dances like he is one of us, like he is 20 or 18.
Reporter: That must mean his death came as a total surprise to you.
Steffens: You don’t expect it. To me it seemed like he was in top shape, ready to kick some ass.
Reporter: Was he able to do 50 concerts?
Steffens: I am 100% certain he could do it.
Reporter: You are not a detective, but with all the theories out there, what do you think happened? Do you think something went wrong because it was so unexpected?
Steffens: I really did not pay any attention to all of that.
Reporter: But you did notice if he was looking forward to it, or he didn’t want to do it?
Steffens: He was looking forward to it. Every time he came he was smiling, enthusiastic. He would always say how happy he was with the dancers, the band and the singers. He said, ‘Wow this is going to be so good!’ He was enthusiastic. He really wanted it. You could see that.
Reporter: You were at the memorial. What was it like behind the scenes? What was the atmosphere there?
Steffens: Very emotional, and there were also a lot of famous people there, Usher, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson…
Reporter: And you were standing there between them.
Steffens: Yes, but the thing about that was we were all there for the same reason. We all lost someone who was a big inspiration for us. That was all we were talking about when we were backstage with each other.
Reporter: Maybe you can tell us what you were feeling like while you were standing there? (plays clip from Memorial of Jennifer Hudson)
Steffens: It was strange because normally I would stand next to him, which was great. But this was his memorial. His family was sitting on the front row. Other artists were looking at us. There was a lot of pressure. You want to show your emotions, how much you cared about him, what he meant to you. It’s hard to stand there.
Reporter: The whole world watched. What was your favorite part?
Steffens: There were several parts that really moved me. Stevie Wonder’s performance hit me. That was very emotional for me. But also the part from Al Sharpton. That was about everything that Michael has fought for all those years. It makes you realize how special that man is: Michael Jackson.
Reporter: What are your plans? I saw you on So You Think You Can Dance. Everyone was enthusiastic and said he’s going to America.
Steffens: My goal is to inspire other people like Michael did with me. I want to grow. And I’m showing my life experience with dancing on YouTube, on Timordance. And you can follow me on twitter Timordance. At the end of July I am going back to the US to do a few things. To develop myself more. To extend my network. You will hear from me.
Reporter: I want to go back with you to the stage that you were rehearsing on. Take us back to a moment that you will always remember. A moment where you talked with him about a dance move for example.
Steffens: I have something else that was funny. Come and smell what I’m wearing. It’s the fragrance. The first time I met him he did, and I’m doing it like him… He hugs you and pats you on the back… And at that moment you don’t know what happens. I can feel Michael Jackson. I can smell Michael Jackson. That smell, if you walk in the hallway and no one is there to see, you can smell his presence. And then on stage, he was coming, but I didn’t know that, and I said ‘I smell Michael Jackson.’ I turned around and he was there. He was very shy that I said that. The next day he was wearing a different cologne. A beautiful moment. He is also very humorous. He loves to laugh, and he enjoys life.
Reporter: You talk in present tense all the time.
Steffens: What do you mean?
Reporter: Not in the past, like he’s not dead.
Steffens: But he isn’t dead…Not for me. Michael lives in all of us. I can feel him, in the life experience I now have. I can feel he’s still there for me.
Source: MJFC / RTL
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