Please provide a short introduction about yourself and your journey with dance.
I am a former Principal Dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB), currently working as First Dancer at Ballet Zürich. I am a former bbodance Scholar and a proud bbodance Patron.
Please tell us about the highlights of your dance journey.
One of my earliest memories is attending bbodance’s Dance Days when I was 11 or 12 years old. It was hosted at White Lodge and the trip was my first time visiting London; I remember thinking how incredible it was. The only thing I knew about the Royal Ballet School (RBS) at this point was its feature in Billy Elliot. Seeing the premises through bbodance’s event was my first exposure to a vocational dance setting.
Another highlight is my attendance of the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars; through this experience, I was grateful for Marguerite Porter who pushed me towards looking into the Royal Ballet School as an option for full-time training. I was 14 when I auditioned for the Royal Ballet school. I joined in with a class and was asked to join the school full time. It was very quick, very exciting and I have no regrets. There were so many highlights through my time at the RBS; competitions, performances and meeting so many amazing people. Things started to develop quickly when I received my first contract with Birmingham Royal Ballet, I progressed through the ranks under direction of former Director Sir David Bintley and current Director Carlos Acosta.
A huge highlight of my time with BRB is dancing in Buckingham Palace for Prince (now King) Charles, I even sat on his table for dinner. I remember my time at BRB with much enjoyment, when I made it to the rank of Principal dancer, it was validation of all the work truly paying off however the hard work only continues when you reach such a rank. The works I were able to help create will stay with me; it is great to dance existing repertoire, but the new repertoire becomes part of you. The people I danced with through the numerous works are also very special to me.
What has been the most memorable moment of your journey with dance?
It is hard to pick one moment as the most memorable but as it is so fresh, I would say my final performance with BRB in June 2023. It was a mixed programme and felt like a dream when they announced what it would be. The pieces were Balanchine's Apollo (a debut for me), Juliano Nunes' Interlinked and 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café by my original Director, Sir David Bintley. Dancers do not have a say in the programming but this was such a full circle moment for me, the stars were aligning. The dancers I performed with were close friends off stage and were partners I have danced with many times before, so it all fit together as a great final performance.
Why is dance important to you?
Dance is important to me because it allows me to not only transport other people but also transport myself. Whether there is a narrative or not dance can transport people into another dimension, in a variety of spaces, not just a theatre. It allows someone to feel something, no matter where they are.
Where do you find inspiration, both in dance and in life?
I am inspired by the people around me; family and friends, strangers on the bus, wherever I encounter people I am inspired. What I see online or in films and the setting I am in also inspire me – the atmosphere influences how I want to conduct my day. I enjoy listening to interviews; even if I do not agree with the people, it makes me think and evaluate myself. When I evaluate myself it has a direct impact on my development; I can constantly be learning new structures and methods of being.
If you could share some advice with young dancers, what would it be?
Love what you do, in all parts of life. Different stages of life are short - school, college, training – so love what you do. It does not mean it will not be hard but if you give it everything, love and commitment and perseverance, then it will give you everything back. You must also have patience with yourself, but if something does not feel right there is sure to be another pathway waiting for you.
Within dance, you don’t have to box yourself in with one genre. Look at all the colours in the colouring box and keep your options open. As a young dancer it is a very exciting time as you begin to see your roots plant.
Please share your thoughts about being a Patron for bbodance.
For me it is such a full circle moment. When I got a letter asking me to become a Patron it was a no-brainer, I knew straight away it was something I wanted to do. The organisation has given me so much, if I could help in any way, I wanted to. I have had so many great experiences with bbodance; I had a wonderful time attending Dance Days and being in the North Scholars Scheme in Manchester. I continued to be a Senior Scholar, attending classes at Woolborough House with Brenda Last. I also completed the Level 5 teaching course, which was facilitated incredibly well. The classes and events were always full of so much care, so I knew being Patron would allow me to continue being part of a united organisation and membership body.
Can you describe BBO in 3 ways?
Unity. Care. Staff go the extra mile.
What are your hopes for the future of dance?
I would love dance to be bigger in a commercial capacity. Not in a competitive way, but thinking about what is shown on TV and in films, sports such as football are often more prominent. I want dance to keep growing on a global scale and be recognised in more areas as something to take part in regardless of who you are or what your background is. Barriers have been broken but we must keep progressing to benefit communities.
Dance is about health and wellbeing for all; we can hugely benefit communities if we keep encouraging leaders and governments to facilitate access to dance. It keeps the senses alive. Sharing dance is also about generating future audiences, it is a whole cycle for the industry. If we are unable to connect to more people, where are our future audiences and dancers going to come from?
Do you have any advice for dance teachers?
I advise dance teachers to encourage their students to be part of external courses/projects. Nurturing skills that come with meeting and learning from new people will help them as they grow. If they can start networking and building confidence outside of their comfort zone, it is developing them for whatever career path they choose. They will also learn so much from travelling, auditions and new languages, we must remember to be well rounded humans and not box ourselves in.
Why is it important for dance teachers to train and gain a qualification in dance teaching?
It is important to gain a qualification because even if you think you know how to teach, there is always more to learn. By speaking to people on your course you can be guided to analyse your own teaching, meaning you will know how to pull out the best of your students whilst maintaining your own teaching style. During my studies I was given the tools to approach any kind of class using safe dance practice for anyone of any age or ability. You should be able to walk into a class with anyone and know how to teach the session with confidence; the qualification gives you validation that you are capable. Gaining a qualification also encourages you to analyse yourself and your use of resources. A dance studio is effectively a blank canvas – how can you utilise this open opportunity? For example, bringing in colour and shapes for younger students.
Having a qualification is also important from the perspective of running a business. If someone is looking for a dance school or teacher, one of the things they will look at is what qualifications you have. Dance experience is valuable but there will always be someone who questions your validation of teaching knowledge. Additionally, obtaining a qualification from an Awarding Organisation, such as bbodance, shows that you are able to teach safely, correctly and have a well-established organisation as your support network. You are under the umbrella of an industry leader which may also lead you to new clients and connections. Teachers can often feel alone in their bubble, remember that you are not alone and can benefit from this network for support. Continue your training, it is not about getting one qualification ticked off, carry on learning. Safeguarding, IT, health and safety, and how to communicate with people are all areas that are constantly changing – staying up to date is vital for your teaching practice and your business.
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