DanceEast, Jerwood DanceHouse
Foundry Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 1DW
How did you first get involved with DanceEast?
I was talent-spotted for the CAT by Tom Hobden, who was my creative tutor at primary school. I waited to audition until I was 14 and looking to pursue dance more seriously.
When I auditioned I found some of the sequences tricky to remember but the overall feeling of the audition was very calm. A couple of weeks later the CAT manager called me up to tell me I’d been accepted onto the scheme – I couldn’t believe it!
What did you learn from working with Jasmin Vardimon Company earlier this year on the CAT scheme’s annual show?
During the Jasmin Vardimon intensive I learned that I could be much more athletic than I ever thought I could be. I also learned to expose myself creatively and stay cool under pressure. Additionally, I learnt to build my emotional resilience and respond professionally to corrections.
What is it about contemporary dance that you connect with so deeply? Do you think you would have discovered this without DanceEast?
I love contemporary dance because I get to connect with the joy of movement that I felt when I danced as a toddler… I also enjoy contemporary because it takes on aspects of ballet form, which my body feels accustomed to, but with so much more authenticity.
Where are you hoping to audition this season? What are your future plans?
I am hoping to apply to a number of UK conservatoires such as Rambert, Laban, The Place, Northern and possibly the National Centre for Circus Arts. I am also applying to universities like Roehampton, Edge Hill and Plymouth. My ultimate goal is to study abroad.