Star power to keep Mi Casa dancing in new video
SHE HAS choreographed and appeared in music videos for famous artists such as Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, and Justin Timberlake.
Now Mona Jeanette Berntsen, who uses only her first name, is heading to South Africa to star in house band Mi Casa’s latest music video, Your Body. The music video is to be shot next week and will be codirected by Mi Casa’s lead man, J-Something.
The song Your Body is off the house band’s latest album Mi Casa Su Casa, which has sold more than 80 000 units.
The collaboration arose when J-Something spotted a video of Mona – an established fan of Mi Casa – dancing to one of their first singles, Heavenly Sent.
This sparked the idea to send her a message and see if she would be interested in featuring in their next video.
“Somebody tagged us in one of (Mona’s) posts where she was dancing to Heavenly Sent! We couldn’t believe it,” said J-Something, whose real name is Joao da Fonseca.
“One of our fans said, ‘Look, even Chris Brown’s dancer likes Mi Casa’ and she does for real. I mailed her and she replied... Next thing you know she will be here in a couple of days working on the Your Body video.”
Norwegian-born Mona got her big break after winning So You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia.
Now she’s an established choreographer based in Los Angeles and has worked with some of the biggest names in music.
J-Something said Mi Casa were extremely excited about working with the world-famous choreographer.
“We cannot wait! It’s something completely new for us and it’s a humbling moment too. Our fans can expect international standards in our new music video. We just want to make and do things that make our fans super proud and make ourselves proud. It’s going to be a beautiful music video.”
Your Body is to be released at the end of the month. OLLYWOOD star David Hasselhoff clearly loves South Africa. So much so that he had to share his experience of visiting the country with MTV Base presenter Nomuzi Mabena during last weekend’s MTV European Music Awards (EMA) in Glasgow.
“The Hof was really awesome. He told me some really cool stories about (his time in) South Africa,” said Mabena.
Mabena, along with a handful of South African media personalities, travelled to Scotland to cover the major music event, which took place last Saturday.
Not only was Mabena lucky enough to cover the awards and brush shoulders with some of the famous musicians and actors, but she had the opportunity to party with the stars.
The MTV Base presenter spent 10 days in Glasgow, which included covering the build-up to the awards. She also did a fair bit of sightseeing.
“It was 10 days of back-toback late nights and early mornings, but it was all worth it,” she said.
“It was really a career highlight for me.
“Pop culture in the UK is huge, and the people really get into it, so it was cool to experience it in person.”
HApart from having an “amazing” time interviewing the Hof, Mabena said she had enjoyed chatting to English singer Labrinth and Dutch rapper Mr Probz.
“Seeing (these people) in person only makes you love and respect them more,” the dynamic presenter said.
“I’m able to hold my own around them, so it’s a great confidence-builder for me.
“Goes to show that I’m just as capable, and hopefully that’s a message I can share with people at home.”
Mabena said she did not allow herself to be starstruck.
“I find that the energy you give the stars, they give back to you.
“If you’re relaxed and show interest and respect for them and their work, they’re chilled.
“Being starstruck only makes you seem like a groupie – and that’s never a good look.”