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Maryss arrived back in Manila last September 17, 2007. No, she did not have a vacation. After making sure that the best dancers were chosen for Billy's crew via Move, the First Reality Dance show, she went back to L.A. where she was hard at work getting the freshest grooves for Billy's concert here in the Philippines.

She shares, “I was meeting with other choreographers. Janet Jackson's choreographer, Omarion's choreographer, Ciara's choreographer...”

Heady with the names you heard? We were impressed too!
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Maryss continues, “They all knew Billy and they've all worked with him before. I'm used to working with all these choreographers as well. We kinda have a little clique so we put that all together.”

The term “all” refers to the dance routines that this impressive list of artists has worked on. Maryss put them all together in her mind. With the help of her handycam, she has the hard task of teaching these steps to Billy, the Movers and a couple of the Maneuvers two weeks before the grand event.

Spill the Beans

Maryss gave us a little teaser as to what to expect from the show.

“Well it's going to be a dance show. There's no doubt that people know him (Billy) as a singer. He's a great singer and a great performer and to see him on stage.... you know, he has great ballads but he's mostly known for his dancing songs.” She says with a conspiring smile.

According to Maryss, there will be new songs with never before seen grooves, like the song It's Time, which is the title of the entire concert. And, of course, there will be classics, like Bright Lights and Like That. But she states that all of the routines will be amplified and electrified further for the special event.

She then closes the interview with a simple promise, “We're really going to try to make it great, you know?

it's Time ... for Billy Crawford's coming home concert at the Araneta Coliseum. He will dance like he has never danced before. He will sing like he has never sang before. And, it is all for you, his Filipino audience. Text by KC M. Abalos. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio.

stars“There's more pressure in dealing with Filipinos because, siyempre, Pinoy ako eh. And, their expectations are very high.”

This is what international recording artist Billy Crawford admitted. He said that after all his performances and accolades all over the world, he is actually nervous about performing in front of his own countrymen.

In a related interview in PEP, he also stated that another added pressure is the presence of his parents. Read the article here.

But a day before the grand event, what is he thinking? How is he feeling?

stars“I'm exhausted but I'm in the zone to make it very clean. (I'm) very happy. I was coming up (with) dances thinking about it quickly.” He answers with a tired but satisfied smile.

He further talks about his daily regimen leading up to October 6. “I have been very focused. (I've been) sleeping late, been waking up early to go to rehearsal.”

Aside from learning and memorizing all the dances, Billy also had to practice his live singing while moving onstage. Is there a technique he uses so that he can do both without any obvious effort? For a sample of his performance, watch this Bright Lights video!

He shares his secret. “Usually once I rehearse, I sing on top when I'm trying to do it. Yeah there's certain technique that you do but it just takes a lot of practice and a lot of years of training.”

Billy's Show

What most people don't know is that Billy is also the producer of this concert. An undertaking that is the biggest challenge he has ever encountered to date.

“starsHe says, “The whole concept of the concert is rather challenging. You know, dealing with people from overseas, local. It's hard to get in touch with people. Budgets are completely different.”

Production-wise talagang.. this.. this.. concert, I think, is the biggest I've ever done in my life. Filipinos will see. For someone local to do a concert like what I'm going to do... it's going to be crazy.” He continues his tirade but it is obvious that he is proud of what he is trying to accomplish.

With his guests, Jay-R, Karylle, Kris Lawrence, The Movers and Maryss from Paris, Billy promises to rock Araneta Coliseum on October 6, 2007, at 8 p.m.

As a final note, Billy declared, “I promise a great show. Like something that they've never seen before. What they've seen on SOP, on TV, nothing compared to what they're going to see on the concert. The dancing is going to be outrageous. The stage is going to move.”