Brainerd High School 2007 graduate Ali Clough will be on her way home Monday after spending an exciting week at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona working on the halftime show of the Super Bowl XLIX.
This is Clough's third year in a row being part of the Super Bowl halftime show. The first two years she worked on the costumes and performing.
"My role this year was much different than years past and I really enjoyed being on this side of things," Clough said. "This time I was on the opposite side working with the cast and I really enjoyed it. I liked performing but this was definitely more hands on and was so much fun."
Clough, who works as the lead designer choreographer at Just For Kix in Baxter, was part of the choreography team for the halftime show. Clough worked with about 500 performers, along with Katy Perry and Missy Elliott and their dancers.
"There is a lot that goes into the show so we have kept pretty busy," Clough said. "We had rehearsal Monday through Friday, with four of the days being in the stadium and most of the rehearsals with full lighting, pyro, wardrobe, etc. I don't think most people have any idea how much work and behind the scenes actually goes into the halftime show. Even rehearsing how to get on and off the field as quickly as possible is quite a production in itself. Every rehearsal of getting 500-plus cast members through wardrobe, props and meals has to be done in a timely fashion and everyone I work with is so great and incredible at their portion of the job that it has such a nice flow to it, even when things aren't going exactly as planned."
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Kristen Patterson Terry, who has been doing the Super Bowl halftime shows for a long time, is who Clough works for and she said Terry is incredible at her job.
"She has everything down to a science and is so great at trouble shooting any obstacle that comes her way," said Clough.
Clough said Katy Perry has rehearsed with the entire cast since Wednesday's rehearsal.
Clough said, "She was very nice to all of the cast members telling them all about her childhood living in Arizona, talking to them about how this is all of their first Super Bowl experiences together along with her. I think she made all of them feel like part of her team."
Clough said the best part of working on the halftime show was working with all the people. "They all come from different places and all have very exciting jobs in their normal lives," Clough said. "They are all so fun and I feel like I learn different things from each one of them. I have made some good friends. It is also really cool to see how the whole show comes together from what it looks like in the beginning to the final product you will see on TV. It's really insane."
Outside of the halftime show, Clough said she didn't meet any football players. She also said, before the game started, she doesn't really have a preference for which team wins.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl .
