PEOPLE OF DJD//

There are many people that make up the community at the DJD Dance Centre. From artists, administrators, volunteers and beyond, these walls are pulsing with personality.

1. WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU CAME TO DJD?

I first came to DJD in 2005!

2. HOW DID YOUR TRAINING AT DJD SHAPE YOU INTO THE DANCER AND CHOREOGRAPHER YOU ARE TODAY? DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW THAT DANCE WAS GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE?

DJD developed my technical caliber as a dancer and shaped me from beyond a dancer into an artist. I always knew that dance was very important to me as it was my form fo therapy as I went through a chaotic upbringing. Dance is my form of healing and processing some of that chaos.

3. WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE IN THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM?

The Preprofessional Program really challenged a lot of my views of what it takes to be a dancer and how to efficiently develop to utilize all of my bodies capabilities. The program also introduced me to many cultural styles of dance that expanded my vocabulary.

4. WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR ROLE MODELS?

One of my favourite dancers and inspirations is Jamie Freeman-Cormack. She was always my number one supporter and would work 1:1 with me to ensure I was training properly and adapting exercises to better reflect where I was at the time. Additionally, I’ve always admired every talk I’ve had with her where she was able to speak so much wisdom into my journey.

5. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF ASPIRING DANCERS?

Find a balance between advancing/developing your strengths and making time for areas of dance that you’re not as strong in. Being a well rounded dancer is what makes you employable and the more vocabulary you have to pull from the better you are to a choreographer in the future.