When a reality series involves a talent competition, it can at times be difficult to imagine the lives of the contestants after the show is over. In the case of American Idol there is a tangible outcome: a CD, songs on the radio, etc. But what happens in the case of shows like So You Think You Can Dance Canada?
For Calgary’s Miles Faber, it has meant he gets to fulfill his dream of dancing for a living. Whether performing in movies, at events like the Calgary Stampede, teaching at seminars or trying out for auditions, the season 1 runner up is a busy man.
“It has been crazy I have probably had a total of two months off since the show,” Faber told GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine over the phone from Toronto. “We went on tour right away and then I started travelling around the country teaching and doing shows like the Calgary Stampede and shows in Toronto. I am also on my third movie now, it has been non-stop. That show has flipped me around 180, not only for everything I learned about dancing but to learn what I was capable of. It changed my whole outlook on what I can do with my life, goals and my dance. It changed everything for me.”
A big part of his career is teaching, such as at a recent workshop in Calgary – he has come a long way from his early teaching days.
“The teaching I was doing was local studio, show up every week and do my thing. It isn’t bad but once you can breach the market and travel and do workshops as opposed to an every week class it is much better.”
While travelling across the country, he doesn’t often get time to actually see the cities he visits.
“A lot of times it is in and out. When I have friends [in a particular city] I try and stay an extra day or so, so I can hang out with them and explore the city. One place I didn’t get to explore was St. Johns, Newfoundland. That was a real in and out procedure and I really wanted to see more because I had never been that far east out there. But I got to spend a couple of days in Halifax which was good.”
He has moved to Toronto, another life and career altering decision.
“Toronto living is great. I just got a new apartment, and there is everlasting inspiration here that you can’t find in a lot of cities in the world, let alone Canada. I met my girlfriend here and am still with her and love being around her, so that is nice. One of my main teachers for my style of dance lives here and he is one of the best in the world, and I am very thankful to have that. There are auditions, movies, it is a great place to learn and experience things. I do want to travel abroad and go to different places and experience different things. I love it here but I do want to extend.”
When he is not travelling he has been busy working on movies. He acted and danced in Turn The Beat Around currently playing on MTV, danced in the upcoming Disney film Harry The Spy, and is currently dancing and doing the choreography for Hockey: The Musical starring Olivia Newton-John.
In fact, getting to work with iconic figures like Newton-John still blows Miles away.
“It hits you like a wall, and you don’t believe it until that moment. Then you talk to them and it is overwhelming, but you remember you are both working there, you have to keep yourself in control and under check when you meet people like that. I’ve met people like Tom Cruise, and at the Michael Jackson audition he was right there so that was the toughest one. It is sometimes difficult to hold it in but you do what you can.”
Many don’t know that Faber auditioned for Michael Jackson’s This Is It tour—what he hails as one of his most amazing experiences.
“It was insane. I hadn’t been on many auditions in my life, Michael was my fifth audition. There were about 170 guys from all over the world, from people who had danced with Michael before, danced with Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake—you name it, they were there. I made it to the top 40 guys before I was cut. We did the 1995 MTV Smooth Criminal routine and it was crazy. I was right there in his face, it was an energy like I have never felt before. Everyone was freaking out because the king was there, there was no room for egos because Michael was there.”
To say Jackson’s death affected the dance world would be the biggest understatement ever. In watching the documentary/concert film on the tour, one couldn’t help but feel for the dancers that did make the cut, watching their dream of performing with Jackson die with their idol.
“I know a couple of them that were on the show. They became very close to him, they would hang out with him, go to his house for rehearsals, they had a really strong connection. When something like his death happens, everyone in the world feels it. It is still hard to believe that someone like that is gone. He is the reason why 99% of the people in the world dance, he was a huge factor. I know everyone is very upset, but you have to hold onto that experience that you had with him. They were lucky enough to spend those last months with him and that is beautiful. ...Being in his presence is something I will never forget. I will always be driven and it will help fuel my desire to get better, always. To know that I had that opportunity and what is possible.”
Faber is not the only SYTYCDC participant who has performed for a Jackson. Winner Nico Archambault and finalist Natalli Reznik danced in Janet Jackson’s Make Me video, and at the 2009 American Music Awards. Faber’s style doesn’t quite fit with the likes of Madonna or Britney Spears, but there is one artist that is tops on his list.
“There are a couple of artists that I would [dance for] but [backup dancing] is not my ultimate goal. One artist I respect not only for his music but his talent and presence is Justin Timberlake. I would love to be in his show. I respect him a lot as a person and an artist. He is probably the top show that I would want to be in. I would love to dance for someone like Janet, that would be amazing but different types and genres and types of dancing go along with different artists and the one I feel I would fit best for is Justin’s show.”
The future is bright for the 23 year old.
“I love acting in movies and am taking classes because I would like to do more. I am doing more choreographing and getting heavier and heavier into my own dance, and training harder. Sometimes I will wake up and I am in whatever city doing a show or rehearsal, and I put on music and can’t believe I am doing what I am doing. I am very fortunate and feel like I am living the life.”
