Tell us about your early dance journey? Where did you start and what did you do as a child?
I started dance in my first year of high school. I had always been interested in hip-hop and after I got a come and try pamphlet for a local school I thought I’d give it a go. The moment that class ended I knew I wanted to dance for the rest of my life.
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What is your earliest memory of dance?
I remember how my hip-hop teacher always used to make jokes, he was a super fun guy and I was absolutely in awe of his talent.
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Where have you trained and who were your teachers as a dancer?
I have been to a couple of different dance schools. Ryan Turner was my first hip-hop/dance teacher and he is an absolute legend. He introduced me to dance and I will be forever indebted to him. I had the pleasure of working with him again last year and it was a wonderful reminder of what began my dance journey. Vanessa Schar is a wonderful and kind teacher I started with last year. I love that she continues to challenge and grow my technique. And of course this year I have had the pleasure of working with Jo through the company- I love her alternative approaches to choreography, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever been involved with.
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What have been some standout moments/achievements you’ve had with dance?
One of the stand out moments for me was last year when I did workshops with the Royal Family Dance Crew. I absolutely idolise their style and it was such a great and exciting experience.
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Have you performed in a Fringe show before? If so, tell us about it
I have not.
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What is your favourite thing about dance?
The way it makes me feel. I can never fully explain how dance helps me. It’s like it fills a hole in my existence, as corny as it sounds it is literally the air I breathe.
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What is your favourite thing about performing?
I love the adrenaline of performing, I love the costumes and the lights. I love that everything has finally come together for that moment.
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What dance styles are you most drawn to?
Hip-hop! It will always be my most comfortable style. I also am drawn to contemporary because it has such a great opportunity to tell stories. I love contemporary because it allows me to say things I can’t in conversation.
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What do you prefer – class, rehearsal, or performance, and why?
I’m very much a rehearsal and performance kind of dancer. I adore creating routines and the thrill of the performance. I understand the need for class (I just hate corner work😂)
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What are your top three favourite dance movies?
This is an awfully hard question! I love dance movies, every single one of the Step Up movies. I am also a massive fan of the third Honey movie (I like all of them, the third is just my absolute favourite) Born to dance is a massive favourite of mine, one of my favourite choreographers- Paris Goebel. If I was going old school I’d say Singing in the Rain. I also love the Dance Academy movie.
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Who are some of your favourite dancers or choreographers?
This is also a hard question because I have too many! Here is a couple: Paris Goebel, Travis Wall, Sonyah Tayeh, Kenny Wormald, Comfort fedoke, Brian Friedman and Alex Wong.
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What for you is the most challenging and most rewarding aspect of dance?
Challenging- Puts me out of my comfort zone, as someone incredibly inclined to being quiet and keeping to myself this quite literally does the opposite. Rewarding- Dance has literally saved my life, in more ways than one. Dance has also allowed someone who was born incredibly clumsy to get movement.
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What training or practice do you do at home?
I’m the luckiest daughter ever and our spare bedroom has been converted into a dance studio. I’m in there for minimum two hours a day, everyday.
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What are your dance goals, dreams, or aspirations?
I probably have too many to write 😂 I want to be a choreographer, my younger self desperately wanted to be on Broadway and I want to share with the world how dance has saved me.
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How many times a week do you dance? And what are they (eg class, rehearsals, where, with who?)
- Everyday at home. 2. On Tuesdays I train at Vital Movement Dance Studio in their Opens classes. I do three styles, Jazz, Contemporary and Hip-hop. 3. On Wednesday’s I attend rehearsal for the Move Through Life Company.
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Who inspires you (they can be dance or not dance related)
My mum- My best friend and the most fabulous support ever. People that keep striving for success, even when the circumstances seem dire also inspire me.
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What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received (again, it doesn’t have to be dance-related)
Fear is an illusion of the mind, an imaginary boundary that prevents us from living life to the fullest.
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What keeps you motivated when you are tired, discouraged, or down?
The idea that things will get better and an inner persistence to keep achieving.
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Why did you decide to audition for the MTL Performing Company?
I am always looking for new experiences and ways to push myself, I thought this would be just the thing. (And I love performing)
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How did you hear about Move Through Life?
My Mum saw a post about the audition on Facebook and told me about it.
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What is your favourite thing about being part of the MTL Performing Company?
Learning a new choreography approach, I have never worked with someone like Jo before and it is a refreshing experience.
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What always makes you laugh?
Akmal Saleh (comedian) never fails to make me laugh. Bloopers from different movies are also a personal favourite.
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What hobbies do you have outside of dance?
I read, draw, and compulsively go to the gym. ( I LOVE the gym)
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What is your ‘day job’? (could be working, studying, volunteering etc)
I am studying a double degree. Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practise and Bachelor of the Arts.
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Describe your personality in three (or so) words
Mysterious, Funny and Scatterbrained.