I have been a choreographer, movement director, and dancer for 20 years after graduating from the Central School of Ballet with a degree. I first joined Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Dance Company and performed over 20 years as a principal dancer in Swan Lake, The Red Shoes, Play without Words, Nutcracker, and Cinderella. I have also featured in the films Alexander and World War Z.

Through the year I have performed in numerous operas and musicals as well as commercial work and touring with the British Band Goldfrapp. As a choreographer recent credits include Judgment Day in New York directed by Richard Jones CBE and starring Luke Kirby (Marvelous Mrs Maisel), and before the lockdown was working on Jeremy O’Harris’s (Slave Play) London debut of ‘Daddy’ directed by Danya Taymor at The Almeida Theatre.

1. In training, be versatile. One can get a very singular focus on what kind of dancer/performer you want to be and not which one you excel at or enjoy the most. Listen to everyone and work as hard as you can. This is the most influential part of your life, take it seriously.
2. Getting work is just as dependant as your personality and ability to collaborate with groups of people as it is your talent. The fact you are even in the room means you have the talent but whether you keep getting asked back is to do with how you interact and make people around you feel.
3. Don’t be afraid to be individual and to make mistakes. Try to pay more attention to your real-life peers- go to see dance performances, shows, small theatre, big theatre- and pay less attention to images posted online on socials. Being in the arts requires elements of play and discovery as well as hard work. Remember what makes you unique because whether you are performing on stage or you are making work, that is what shines through.