So, it’s no secret that I love Wade Robson. He is hands down, one of the most brilliant choreographers of our time. Even more amazing, he started as a kid. I don’t mean he started dancing as a kid. Lots of people do that. He started choreographing and teaching as a child. He had a dance school, he was professionally choreographing for some big name folks when he was the age where most people are on the playground. When people think of choreographers, they just think of the dance steps. However, Wade takes it multiple steps further. When he choreographs a piece, he also designs the lights and if it’s being filmed, he choreographs the camera work. Now that he’s married (to the stunning Amanda Robson nee Rodriguez), his wife designs the costumes and make-up. It creates magic on the stage. He’s clever, and talented, and had it all thrust on his shoulders as a child.
I’ve noticed since the dance above, his routines becoming fewer, then disappearing all together. It was chalked up to a talented man being booked for projects and unavailable for a reality television show. However, having seen nor heard from him for a couple of years (I don’t mean personally, I just mean on projects), I had to use the internets to see what big project must be brewing for him.
Sadly, the reason he has been missing from So You Think You Can Dance is much darker. I knew that he worked for Michael Jackson when he was a kid, dancing and choreographing. In fact, if you look closely, you’ll spot a nine-year-old Wade hip-hopping his heart out in the Black or White video. In 2005, apparently he testified in defense of Jackson when Jackson was on trial for molestation against another boy. However, in 2011 and 2012, Wade Robson suffered two nervous breakdowns. He began psychological treatment and what came to light was tragic. Wade had long remembered his time with Jackson on the Neverland Ranch. However, he thought that everything that happened on the ranch and all the nights spent with Jackson and the things that happened in bed were normal and consensual. He defended Jackson, not because he forgot, but because he thought that it was all perfectly okay. Clearly, his subconscious was hurting and it all came crashing down. Now, he is suing the Jackson estate. It’s a long shot, and while there is potentially a monetary settlement involved, he’s doing it out of principle rather than money.
Now, I know a lot of Michael Jackson fans are furious over this. I love Michael Jackson’s music and I think he was incredibly talented. I also think he had a tragic life, despite the money and fame. He was wildly talented as a child, and unfortunately that caused people to want to use and abuse him. Some of those people were his family. He never had a childhood, and lived a hard life, much of it for the benefit of others. Once he had success and independence, he tried very hard to recapture what he lost, and to gain happiness. I do feel sorry for him. It’s hard to say what really happened for all those years, but I think it’s tough to say that 24 boys made up allegations and that Jackson gave them millions of dollars for no reason. I doubt he meant to harm anyone, but clearly he had a lot of problems. Problems that money could not fix.
Whatever comes out of this, I hope Wade is able to have closure and that he will soon be able to share his talents and choreography with the world again soon.
xoxox