Maya McClean

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Maya McClean


Date Of Birth

18 April 1982, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Birth Name

Maya McClean


Overview

Maya McClean is one half of the dancing duo The Twinz together with her identical twin sister Nandy McClean. Besides dancing they have also provided minor background vocals during selected live performances.


Early Life

Maya and Nandy was born to Bruce McClean (a musician from Trinidad) and Australian drugs charity campaigner Mo Hughes, in Sydney, Australia. She is minutes older than her twin sister. Maya and Nandy grew up without their father outside Byron Bay, a small town in rural New South Wales, Australia with their mother Mo Hughes, who also fostered around 200 street kids. In their teens both Maya and Nandy moved to Sydney and were schooled at the Lismore Conservatory of Performing Arts, 1994; Brent Street School of Performing Arts, 1996; Edge Dance Studios, 2000; Lulu Washington Dance Theatre, 2000.

Before working with Prince

Maya's first job in show-business was in 2003 when at age 19 she and her sister worked as dancers on the Sovereign of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. In late 2004, Maya and Nandy both auditioned for Season 2 of Australian hit television series, Australian Idol. Maya made the cut. and was one of 30 finalists, but pulled out so she could pursue a career with her sister. They went on to appear together in the Sydney production of The Lion King from October 2004 until June 2005. Mostly with her sister Maya appeared in Australian fashion shows; theater: (The Wiggles live; Fox Studios Opening); commercials (Motorola, Clarinex, Wonderwhite, Woman's Golfing season); TV shows (Heartbreak High, Wildside, Double The Fist, The Munsters, Scary Little Christmas (USA), Above The Law, Pepsi Charts (Channel 10); video clips (Selwyn) and films Moulin Rouge!, Garage Days, Son of the Mask and Invincible (a telemovie). In July 2005 they moved to Los Angeles where they took dancing classes and recorded some songs.


Work with Prince

Maya and Nandy were first commissioned by Prince in October or November 2005 as dancers and back up singers for Támar Davis. They performed at all spring 2006 club dates with Prince as guitarist. After Támar Davis and Prince parted ways they were retained by Prince to dance in the 3121 Las Vegas residency, appeared with [[Prince at the Super Bowl XLI halftime show and the 21 Nights in London: Earth Tour In early 2008 they did their last show with Prince. But in 2011 they made a return in the NPG appearing the 18 January 2011 show of the Welcome 2 America Tour. Then for the 21 Nite Stand Los Angeles residency of that tour they joined for all performances.


Input in Prince's Discography

The Twinz can be heard singing background vocals on various tracks on the Planet Earth album. They are also credited to appear on the Indigo Nights album, but as their appearances on the shows that album was recorded and were limited to dancing that should be considered mostly a 'virtual credit'


Input in Prince's Live performances

As one half of The Twinz Maya performed on on live performances by [[Prince in 2006 and 2007. In 2011 The Twinz are dancers on the 21 Nite Stand part of the Welcome 2 America Tour


After working with Prince

After working with Prince Maya (with her sister) was featured in Flaunt Magazine and Dance Spirit Magazine. The Twinz performed with Chris Brown at the 2008 BET Awards and played in the film Surfer Dude starring Matthew McConaughey. They also auditioned for Michael Jackson's This Is It tour, but were not selected. They toured with Letoya Luckett and Tynisha Kelly in the US and Japan and recorded songs for an album. Since 2010 they front their own band Heroine December.



Discography

With Prince

  • 2007 Planet Earth
    • Planet Earth (5:51) : back ground vox
    • The One U Wanna C (4:29) : back ground vox
    • Future Baby Mama (4:47) : back ground vox
    • Chelsea Rodgers (5:41) : back ground vox
    • Lion Of Judah (4:11) : back ground vox
    • Resolution (3:41) : back ground vox

Live performances

With Prince

  • Guest Appearances
    • None
  • TV-Shows
    • 4 February 2006 New York, NY - NBC-TV Studios (Saturday Night Live)
    • 24 May 2006 New York, NY - Kodak Theatre (American Idol finale)
    • 16 June 2006 New York, NY - Bryant Park (Good Morning America Summer Concert Series)
    • 13 April 2011 (mat) Burbank, CA - Warner Bros. Studios (Lopez Tonight)
  • Award Shows
    • 15 February 2006 London - Earls Court 2 (2006 BRIT Awards)
    • 27 June 2006 Los Angeles, CA - Shrine Auditorium (6th annual BET Awards)
    • 1 June 2007 Pasadena, CA - Pasadena Civic Auditorium (9th annual ALMA Awards)



Reference