How You Can Get Chosen as the 'Lush Life' Dancer at Zara Larsson’s NZ Shows

Swedish pop powerhouse Zara Larsson is touching down in NZ this week, bringing her viral Midnight Sun tour to Auckland’s Spark Arena for two massive shows. 

Whether you're a long-time fan or just getting up to speed, you likely know the viral routine to her iconic 2015 hit, Lush Life, which experienced a massive resurgence online during her Midnight Sun tour.

At every stop on her world tour, Zara invites a fan on-stage to perform the choreography alongside her and her backup dancers.

The trend came about when Zara was performing a show in Amsterdam and invited 16-year-old Julia Coster onto the stage.

Julia surprised the crowd by executing the full choreography alongside the backup dancers with pro-level precision, and the clip went on to rack up over 15 million views on TikTok.

From then on, the feature became a tour tradition. At every show, Zara invited a fan on stage to perform the routine alongside her, leading fans to memorize the choreography and bring sign after sign pleading for their turn.

The hype even sparked a resurgence for Lush Life, pushing the song back up the global music charts nearly a decade after its release.

So, how do you actually get picked to join her on stage? Here are our top tips to help you stand out.

In a recent interview with BBC Radio 1, Zara revealed that while the selection is random and mostly down to energy, there are a few ways to boost your chances:

• Show up early to secure a spot near the front

• Wear a fun, eye-catching outfit

• Bring a sign that gets her attention

Check out the clip below to hear Zara explain her criteria herself:

From what we’ve seen, every fan picked so far was standing near the front barricade. The closer you are, the higher your chances.

Plus, setlists show that Lush Life comes toward the end of the set, so you have almost the entire show to stand out.

One fan who was chosen posted a TikTok story time sharing his secret: keep steady eye contact with Zara and bring top-tier energy from start to finish.

He revealed that you're more likely to get picked if you have a VIP ticket, but the closer you are to the barricade where Zara can see you, the better.

So, if you want to get on stage with Zara at Auckland's Spark Arena, make sure you arrive early, keep your energy high, wear something attention-grabbing to stand out, and bring a sign to catch her eye.

Plus, you'll need to know the Lush Life dance! Want to lock in your moves before showtime?

Zara breaks down the choreography step-by-step in her official tutorial below.

Get prepared and good luck out there, we've got our fingers crossed for you bestie!