Mysterious, Funny and Scatterbrained.
This is how Move Through Life Company Dancer, Hope Douglas, describes herself. At 19 years of age, she is wise beyond her years, and says the best piece of advice she’s received is:
“Fear is an illusion of the mind, an imaginary boundary that prevents us from living life to the fullest.”
Find out more about Hope by reading her answers to our Q&A below
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?)
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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.