The best advice I ever received
Make your own judgement calls. Remember that everyone is going to have their own opinion and their own voice, and it’s very easy to rely on those. It is important and valid to listen, but not always to take that for gospel.
I had a teacher who instilled in me that I needed to have my own taste, my own opinion – everything stems from your individuality, which is what makes you interesting. That’s the key thing for any artist, I think, to not try to mould yourself into what someone else is, because that will always be a failure.
The advice I would pass on
If I was to go back in time and see my past self, my advice would probably be not to become hellbent on the flaws and weaknesses, but to remember that whilst you are working on the flaws, you also have to shine a light on your strengths. You mustn’t allow your strengths to dim because you’re so focused on improving the weaknesses.
Is that also good life advice? Well, dance is my life! And I live my life by my rules that I go through in dancing. Dancers have so many skill sets that can be translated into the ‘real’ world, if you want to call it that. It’s a really tough career, and young dancers need to remember that it isn’t easy – and it doesn’t get any easier as you make your way up the ladder. As you get older, everyone is still working and still striving.
WATCH
Melissa Hamilton as the Summer Fairy in Cinderella
