{"id":18326,"date":"2025-02-11T16:57:38","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T21:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/?p=18326"},"modified":"2025-12-17T20:03:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T01:03:23","slug":"elijah-fulgham-super-bowl-lix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/elijah-fulgham-super-bowl-lix\/","title":{"rendered":"Elijah Fulgham | Super Bowl LIX"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-18329\" src=\"https:\/\/dancemogul.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3115.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3115.jpeg 1440w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3115-768x960.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3115-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3115-450x563.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3115-20x25.jpeg 20w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3115-225x281.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3115-900x1125.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3115-1350x1688.jpeg 1350w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3115-77x96.jpeg 77w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3115-600x750.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ffff;\"><strong>Dance Mogul:<\/strong> <\/span>Can you describe the audition process for the Super Bowl Halftime Show? What was it like to be selected?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Eli<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>jah:<\/strong><\/span> I submitted my audition through a video link that was seeking local dancers for the show. Initially, in early January, I received news that I hadn\u2019t been chosen, so I moved on. However, just a week before the performance, I got an unexpected call inviting me to join. It was a mix of joy and nerves, knowing what an incredible opportunity this was. I had to make some significant sacrifices\u2014at first, I even declined the offer. But thanks to Jehovah\u2019s grace, a way opened up for me to participate.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ffff;\"><strong>Dance Mogul:<\/strong> <\/span>How did you prepare physically and mentally for this performance? Were there specific routines or practices that helped you?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Eli<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>jah: <\/strong><\/span>I had to quickly adjust and adapt to the situation, and I\u2019m grateful that my prior training had already prepared me physically, mentally, and spiritually for the challenge\u2014even with such short notice.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #00ffff;\">Dance Mogul<\/span>:<\/strong> What was the rehearsal schedule like leading up to the Super Bowl? How did you balance this with other commitments?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Eli<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>jah: <\/strong><\/span>Rehearsals were daily from the moment I landed\u2014literally, I got off the plane and went straight to rehearsals! It was non-stop until the day before the Super Bowl. I had to rearrange my work commitments overnight and drop several projects I had been working on just to ensure I could participate.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ffff;\"><strong>Dance Mogul:<\/strong><\/span> Kendrick Lamar\u2019s performance included significant political and cultural themes, such as dancers forming an American flag and Samuel L. Jackson portraying Uncle Sam. How were these themes communicated to the dance team, and what was your perspective on them?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Eli<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>jah: <\/strong><\/span>Charm La\u2019Donna united us and conveyed the essence of our performance, ensuring that our culture remained authentic throughout. When we stepped onto the stage, we did so with a powerful presence, embodying the spirit of \u201cWe Here.\u201d As a Black man among fellow Black men and women, proudly showcasing our national colors and heritage, it was truly inspiring to express our message to America through creativity and unity\u2014especially during Black History Month.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dance Mogul:<\/strong> The show featured guest appearances by SZA and Serena Williams. How did their involvement influence the dynamics of the performance?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DF8ptC0yIU2\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DF8ptC0yIU2\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by \u51ac\u7720\u4e2d (@x_glide)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Eli<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>jah: <\/strong><\/span>SZA and her team infused a touch of magic into an already stellar performance\u2014it was like the perfect cherry on top. And her live vocals? Just as stunning in person as they sound on the radio! Serena brought an incredible presence, her energy lighting up the whole room. Honestly, they both elevated the show in an unforgettable way.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ffff;\"><strong>Dance Mogul:<\/strong><\/span> Can you share any memorable moments or challenges from the rehearsals or the live performance?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Eli<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>jah: <\/strong><\/span>One of my most cherished memories will always be stepping onto the field on show day. As I walked out, the energy from the 75,000 fans enveloped me. I took a deep breath\u2014much like how The Rock does when he stands on the turnbuckle, soaking in the atmosphere. I felt tears welling up, but I was completely focused. That moment will be etched in my mind forever.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ffff;\"><strong>Dance Mogul:<\/strong><\/span> How did the creative team, including choreographer Charm La\u2019Donna, guide and influence your performance?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Eli<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>jah: <\/strong><\/span>Charm and Mike poured their hearts and souls into creating this show. Watching Charm\u2019s resilience and determination to make it unforgettable was truly inspiring. It pushed the entire team to rise to the occasion, matching her passion and commitment.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ffff;\"><strong>Dance Mogul:<\/strong> <\/span>The performance was designed to be both cinematic and theatrical. How did this vision affect your approach to performing?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-18327\" src=\"https:\/\/dancemogul.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-scaled.jpeg 1920w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-300x400.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-450x600.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-600x800.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-900x1200.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-20x27.jpeg 20w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-1350x1800.jpeg 1350w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3112-72x96.jpeg 72w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Eli<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>jah: <\/strong><\/span>It allowed me to integrate seamlessly. I studied theatre in school up to Theatre 8, so blending theatrical elements with dance felt natural. It was an opportunity to bring all my training together and fully embody the performance.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ffff;\"><strong>Dance Mogul:<\/strong><\/span> What was it like performing in front of such a massive audience, both in the stadium and watching from home? How did you manage any nerves or pressure?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Eli<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>jah: <\/strong><\/span>Surprisingly, I was calm throughout the experience. Once I stepped onto the field, the presence of the audience faded into the background. Even with millions of eyes on me, I felt a sense of inner peace, especially knowing we had rehearsed thoroughly. By that point, I was completely at ease with my role and what I needed to deliver.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-18328\" src=\"https:\/\/dancemogul.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3114.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"612\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3114.jpeg 612w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3114-450x300.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3114-225x150.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3114-20x13.jpeg 20w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3114-144x96.jpeg 144w, https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3114-600x400.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ffff;\"><strong>Dance Mogul:<\/strong><\/span> Reflecting on the entire experience, what personal or professional insights have you gained from participating in this landmark event?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Eli<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>jah: <\/strong><\/span>I\u2019ve gained a deep understanding of what it takes to produce a show of this scale. I\u2019ve experienced the thrill of being a \u201cprofessional backup dancer\u201d and learned what it takes to perform at such a high level consistently. This journey has shown me that I\u2019m not just a freestyle dancer\u2014I can tackle choreography, too!<\/p>\n<p>More importantly, I now see myself as one of those versatile dancers who break free from limitations. While I could go on forever, my biggest takeaway is that I have what it takes to stand alongside the greats and inspire others to do the same. It all comes down to taking risks and having unwavering faith in yourself, even when the odds seem against you.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>This interview highlights the resilience, dedication, and artistry required to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Overcoming initial rejection and adapting to a last-minute invitation, the dancer showcased professionalism in balancing intense rehearsals with prior commitments. The performance\u2019s cultural and political themes, combined with collaborations with SZA and Serena Williams, added depth to an already powerful moment. Guided by choreographer Charm La\u2019Donna, the experience reinforced the importance of self-belief and versatility.\u00a0 \u201cEveryone deserves a chance to shine, Elijah it is YOUR turn\u201d and this journey proves that preparation, passion, and faith can turn unexpected opportunities into transformative milestones. &#8211; Anthony &#8220;Solo&#8221; Harris<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dance Mogul: Can you describe the audition process for the Super Bowl Halftime Show? What was it like to be selected? Elijah: I submitted my audition through a video link that was seeking local dancers for the show. Initially, in early January, I received news that I hadn\u2019t been chosen, so I moved on. However,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-18326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dance-industry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18326"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18860,"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18326\/revisions\/18860"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18326"},{"taxonomy":"thb-sponsors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/thb-sponsors?post=18326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}