More than 500 dancers tried out to join Michael Jackson on stage for his big London shows in 2009.
He chose just 11 of them.
Getting picked meant you were one of the best movers in the entire world. These were the dancers who would have stood beside the King of Pop every single night in front of sold-out crowds. One of those 11 was a young woman who went on to become a face you probably know from your own living room.
Her name is Mekia Cox.
If you were lucky enough to watch the “This Is It” rehearsal film, she’s right there with him. She dances alongside Michael during the run-through of “The Way You Make Me Feel,” matching him step for step.
Take a look and see if you can spot her.
Mekia dancing next to Michael during the “The Way You Make Me Feel” rehearsal
Watch the dancers circle around him, because the woman keeping pace with Michael is the same one you’ll recognize below.
So where might you know her from?
Since 2019, Mekia has played Detective Nyla Harper on the ABC show “The Rookie.” If you watch network television, you’ve almost certainly seen her chase down a bad guy or crack a case. She joined the cast in the show’s second season and became a regular favorite.
The show is still going strong too. Season 8 kicked off this past January, and ABC renewed it for a ninth season back in the spring. So the detective solving crimes on your screen each week once shared a stage with Michael Jackson.
And “The Rookie” isn’t her only big role.
She played Tiana in the fairy-tale series “Once Upon a Time,” bringing a beloved princess to life. She also played Dr. Robin Charles on the hospital drama “Chicago Med.” A princess, a doctor, and a detective, all from the same woman.
But before all of that, she was a dancer good enough to earn one of 11 spots next to the greatest entertainer who ever lived.
It’s a wonderful thing to think about. The next time you settle in to watch your favorite cop show, look closely at the detective. Years before she carried a badge on screen, she was learning routines shoulder to shoulder with Michael, getting ready for shows the world couldn’t wait to see.
Most of the cast’s fans have no idea about that part of her story.
So go back and find her in the rehearsal footage. Watch the way she moves, then flip on an episode of “The Rookie.” Same person, two very different worlds, and one unforgettable connection to the King of Pop.
Few dancers can say they stood that close to Michael. Even fewer went on to become a household name on their own.