Naeemah McGowan doesn’t have time for boys these days – the 21-year-old dancer is busy learning how to turn objects into pumpkins and other ways of using her magic wand.
If her focus sounds like tasks found only in a fairytale, that’s because the St. Louis resident recently landed the role of a fairy in Sesame Street’s Elmo’s Green Thumb, which plays St. Louis through January 25 at the Scottrade Center.
McGowan plays Abby Cadabby, a fairy in training, Sesame Street’s latest character. McGowan landed the role after auditing in July at the suggestion of a former dance teacher and has been touring with the production for five months.
This isn’t the first big-time tour for McGowan. The bug bit her while she toured as a dancer with national recording artist Amerie, who was opening for Destiny’s Child, headed by Beyonce, her favorite performer.
“I knew I would tour again one day, but never in a million years did I think I’d be on Sesame Street,” McGowan said.
Her motto is: “Wherever the wind blows me is where I will be.”
If she could wave a magic wand and make the wind blow her wherever she wanted it to, it would be to California to dance, sing and act – that is, after the tour.
“I feel blessed and I’m learning so many different things, meeting a lot of good people and eating different foods in different cities,” McGowan said.
Her best stop has been New York City. There she took dance classes. She got the chance to walk through Times Square, yell, “Taxi!” on a street corner and ride subway trains.
Of course, she couldn’t wait until the tour hits St. Louis, her hometown.
“I’m excited, but nervous – I want to do the best show of my life for my friends and family,” she said. Turns out that nervousness can be a good thing for McGowan.
“I turn my nerves into positive energy, and nothing matters but transferring it into this character that people love so much – and I’m going to rock it out,” she said.
Malik “Mr. S” Sibadili, McGowan’s first dance teacher (at Northwest Middle School), said he isn’t surprised by her success.
“Anything great that she does, I expect – she has this burning desire to be the best at whatever is placed in front of her,” said Mr. S, a father figure who still stays in touch with her.
At Northwest she was part of a dance team called T.R.O.O.P. (Total Respect of Other People). They performed at the famed Apollo Theatre in Harlem, N.Y. when she was just 15.
The gifted dancer also got the valuable experience of working under local standout dancer Vivan Watt, who was her teacher at Carr Lane Visual and Performing Arts Middle School.
Up until then, McGowan said she had been focused totally on hip-hop. Watt, she said, introduced her to jazz, tap and ballet.
At VAP High School, McGowan learned the technical side of dancing from dance teacher Ray Parks. She also learned a lot from hip-hop dancer Anthony “Red” Williams, with whom she continued dancing after high school. Tiffany Stanfield and her Matiff Dancers troupe also graces McGowan’s long list of dance instructors and influences.
“All of my teachers took me under their wing, because they saw something in me, so we all have good relationships and still call one another,” she said.
Before McGowan left for the tour, she was teaching dance classes at COCA, Judy Best and at an after-school dance program at Simmons Marshall Middle School, sponsored by Neighborhood Housing.
As for other performance highlights, she has performed in The Chorus Line and The Wiz.
McGowan said she has really grown a lot while on the Sesame Street tour. She’s learned to stay positive even when she doesn’t agree with something and to stay professional – even through trials and tribulations.
“You have to know your place and who you are and keep yourself together, but the biggest things are staying grounded and professional,” she said.
Sesame Street Live “Elmo’s Green Thumb”
When: Wednesday Jan. 21 7 p.m. (*Opening Night Discount)
Thursday Jan. 22 10:30 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Friday Jan. 23 7 p.m.
Saturday Jan. 24 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.
Sunday Jan. 25 1 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
Where: Scottrade Center
1401 Clark Avenue
Tickets: $12 and $16. A limited number of $23 Premium seats and $34 Gold Circle seats are also available. Opening Night, all seats (excluding Gold Circle) are $10. A facility fee of $2.50 will be added to all ticket prices. For tickets, call 314-421-4400 or 618-222-2900 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. For information, visit www.sesamestreetlive.com.
