Mariah Carey’s 10-year-old backup dancer is compared to Michael Jackson as video of him performing is shared online
Mariah Carey’s 10-year-old backup dancer has been hailed as a ‘star’ and a reincarnate of Michael Jackson after a video of him dancing was shared online.
Nolayn Williams, 10, from New Jersey, is one of a group of backup dancers embarking on an 18-stop tour of America with the Queen of Christmas.
The Christmas Time tour was announced in August and celebrates the 30th anniversary of Mariah’s timeless holiday hit, All I Want For Christmas Is You.
Although the pop icon, 55, takes centre stage to hit whistle tone notes in her glitziest gowns, it is young Nolayn that has captured the attention of her fans.
In one viral clip, with over 1.1million views on TikTok, Nolayn is seen booging along to Mariah’s hit song while dressed as a toy soldier.
After watching Nolayn’s energetic performance, one stunned viewer said: ‘Those kicks were as high as Mariah’s whistle tones. He’s such a star!’
A second commented: ‘It was so nice of Mariah to sing at his dance showcase!’
Speaking exclusively to Femail, Nolayn said: ‘Touring for the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, is one of the best jobs I have had so far.’
Nolayn Williams, 10, from New Jersey, is one of a group of backup dancers embarking on an 18-stop tour of America with the Queen of Christmas
Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, Nolayn said: ‘Touring for the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, is one of the best jobs I have had so far’
The 10-year-old continued: ”It’s a lot of hard work but I absolutely love being onstage and performing – it is my happy place.
‘Being able to share my love of dance with so many people is the best experience ever!’
While many online have hailed Nolayn as a ‘star’, with some even going as far as to say he is a reincarnate of Michael Jackson, his mother, Shay Williams has revealed what life is really like on tour for the 10-year-old.
The proud mother, who described her son to MailOnline as ‘the sweetest, kindest, silliest, funniest 10-year-old you will ever meet’, revealed that the ‘first thing’ Nolayn does every morning is his school work ‘because there will be no dancing dummies’.
While touring with Mariah Carey and keeping on top of his education, Shay, who owns X-Quisite House of Dance in New Jersey, revealed that Nolayn is still submitting auditions.
He usually films a series of self-tapes in the morning to keep ‘booked and busy’.
A typical afternoon on tour consists of Nolayn arriving at the new venue and blocking the entire with the other dancers to get used to the unfamiliar stage.
Always making sure to ‘get himself pumped up’, Nolayn then puts his first costume on – a white and gold toy soldier outfit – and takes to the stage for the 90-minute performance.
Fans have hailed 10-year-old Nolayn as a ‘star’ and a reincarnate of Michael Jackson
Nolayn has worked as a professional dancer for the New York Knicks as a Knicks City Kid since he was seven
Nolayn’s life on tour has been documented by his mother on TikTok
Nolayn captured the attention of Mariah’s fans with his dance moves and facial expressions
Fans took to the comments on TikTok to hail Nolayn as a ‘star’. One said: ‘It was nice of Mariah to perform at his dance showcase’
Showing a video of Nolayn twerking onstage, Shay said: ‘Y’all know I will always be his biggest fan.’
After the 90-minute Christmas extravaganza, the youngster enjoys his well-deserved break, eating Pringles and playing video games with the other young dancers.
He told MailOnline: ‘I love all the people, friends and bonds I have made while on tour.’
After taking some time to relax, Nolayn and his mother nestle into the tour bus as they travel to the next venue overnight.
Any adult would be exhausted just looking at Nolayn’s jam-packed schedule.
But the child performer is used to it, having worked as a professional dancer for the New York Knicks since he was seven.
Nolayn’s catapult into fame comes as Mariah has been struck down by the flu and forced to cancel her shows in Pittsburgh, Newark and New Jersey on December 11, 13 and 15 respectively.
Thankfully she recovered on time to sing at the final stop on her Christmas Time tour on December 17 at New York City’s Barclays Center.
The 10-year-old told MailOnline: ‘Being able to share my love of dance with so many people is the best experience ever!’
Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time tour was announced in August and celebrates the 30th anniversary of her timeless holiday hit, All I Want For Christmas Is You
In early December, sources close to the tour claimed that Mariah was living up to her diva reputation by making extravagant demands such as asking crew members not to speak to her or take photos with her while on tour
In early December, sources close to the tour claimed that Mariah was living up to her diva reputation by making extravagant demands.
In what has come to be expected from the self-confessed diva, members of production were ‘asked not to speak to Mariah or take photos with her’.
Meanwhile the star reportedly decreed that she would not embark on the tour with any ‘unattractive dancers.’
‘Mariah is just being so extra this year,’ an insider told DailyMail.com. ‘She is getting paid an insane amount of money. Rehearsals started at the end of September as she wants it to be the grandest tour yet.’
Mariah’s setlist is rounded out with 26 songs and the concert is around 90 minutes-long.
Audiences will enjoy renditions of holiday classics as well as the superstar’s biggest, most recognisable songs including mid-90s track All I Want For Christmas Is You.
The continued success of the track has led Mariah, who takes an estimated cut of 20 per cent in her royalties, to fully embrace all things Christmas.
Each year fans wait with baited breathe for November 1 when she shares the all-important declaration: ‘It’s timeeeeeee.’
From that moment on Christmas season begins in full swing and sees her famous track climb up the charts once again.
The star has made a jaw-dropping $70million from the hit Christmas track that has reached number one in over 30 countries, earning around $3million per year, according to the New York Post.
