A young Bachelor of Fine Arts student needed to interview an Australian professional dancer. She turned the tables and interviewed me. Every question made me stop and think. Here is the full Q&A, shared because the answers might help you too.
When the Interviewer Becomes the Interviewee: A Dancer Q&A
Who was your most influential teacher and why?
A tough one to start. Every teacher I have had brought something vital to my dancing and my career. We all learn differently, and every great teacher recognises that. Some pushed my technique. Some challenged my artistry. Some simply believed in me when I did not believe in myself. The honest answer is that influence is cumulative. You carry pieces of every teacher into every performance.
What advice would you give to a young dancer just starting out?
Show up. Consistently. Natural talent means very little without discipline. The dancers who last are not always the most gifted in the room. They are the ones who are organised, coachable, and genuinely curious about improvement. If you want practical guidance on training smarter rather than just training harder, this piece on how to work as an intelligent dancer is worth your time.
How did you manage auditions and rejection?
Auditions are part of the job. Rejection is part of the job. Neither gets easy, but both get more manageable. You learn to separate your worth as a person from the outcome of one audition. A casting decision reflects one director's vision on one day. It does not define your ability. Go in prepared, be present in the room, and walk out knowing you gave what you had.
What does a professional warm-up look like for you?
It depends on the day and what is ahead. Generally I move through the body gradually, starting with breath and joint mobility before asking for any range or strength. Cold muscles do not perform. Neither do fatigued ones. A warm-up is not just physical. It is how you transition mentally from the outside world into the studio or stage. Taking care of your body extends beyond the warm-up too. What you eat and how you nourish yourself daily makes a real difference to how you feel in the studio. This article on nourishing your skin and body as a dancer covers that side of things well.
What is the biggest difference between performing in the studio and performing on stage?
Scale and commitment. In the studio everything feels exposed and close. On stage you have to project intention into a space that swallows small energy. Technically, spacing and sightlines change everything. Emotionally, the stakes feel higher but the freedom can be greater too. If you are preparing for performance, there is solid advice in this guide on taking your work from the studio to the stage.
What do you wish someone had told you earlier in your training?
That comparison is a waste of energy. Every dancer in the room is on a different timeline with a different body and a different history. Focus on your own progress. Compete with who you were last week, not with the person beside you at the barre.
How important is what you wear to training?
More than people realise. Proper studio wear lets a teacher see your alignment, your placement, and your lines clearly. It also affects how you carry yourself. When you feel put together you tend to train with more intention. Loose, baggy clothing hides the details that need correcting. If you are looking for well-fitted, quality options, browse our studio wear range to find pieces that work for class and rehearsal.
What This Q&A Is Really About
These questions came from a student doing her research well. The best dancers are curious people. They ask questions, seek out mentors, and reflect on their practice honestly. If reading this has prompted even one useful thought about your own training, then the interview was worth sharing.
Keep asking good questions.
