Las Vegas Weekly

May 27, 2009 · 7:27 AM

Michael Jackson courts Cirque gymnast; Elizabeth Taylor vows to attend show

By Robin Leach

Danielle Watts has gone from Las Vegas nightclub pole dancing champion to Michael Jackson backup dancer.

Over the past two weeks, Vegas DeLuxe has reported and shown you the video of Michael Jackson’s auditions for his upcoming London comeback shows -- click HERE -- and how he signed former Penthouse Club professional pole dancer Danielle Watts to his 12 principal dancer lineup. Danielle also danced in Cirque du Soleil’s sexy and topless Zumanity at New York-New York.

Now comes word that Michael’s interested in signing another Cirque du Soleil dancer. The inside buzz is that Michael wants to lure 30-year-old gymnast Noriko Takahashi from Ka at MGM Grand to London for his delayed July shows that will run through next March.

Noriko has won six gold medals from her 15 appearances at the annual Baton Twirling World Championships. Rumors are that Michael in disguise saw her perform 10 times during his last stay in Las Vegas and met her backstage to extend his offer to perform solo at London’s 02 Arena during his This Is It concerts there.

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

Elizabeth Taylor.

Elizabeth Taylor: Twitter fan

Meantime, Michael’s longtime friend legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor is a-Twitter, and although she’s currently in the hospital for further treatment for her longtime back injury, she has promised to be out in time to fly to London for Michael’s opening night July 13.

“I’m counting the days,” chirped Elizabeth, who has 6,967 followers of her Dame Elizabeth handle! She even twittered to supermodel friend Kathy Ireland, asking her to smuggle her puppy past hospital security!

Click HERE for our first story about Michael’s London concerts.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Share This