BEYOND DANCE

Dance has been the biggest part of my life for as long as I can remember and remains always my first love. At the same time, I really value having a fulfilling life beyond my career and outside of dance. I believe that having interests, experiences and time away from the studio is important for wellbeing, perspective and creativity, and ultimately makes me a better artist, teacher and person. I enjoy being curious, continuing to learn, exploring new interests and making time for the many things that inspire me beyond dance.

Reading & Podcasts – I am an avid reader and bookworm, with a particular love of fiction. Some of my favourite authors include Kazuo Ishiguro, Ian McEwan, Maggie O'Farrell, Khaled Hosseini and Sally Rooney. I also enjoy biographies and autobiographies, particularly those of artists and sportspeople, as well as memoirs and books exploring politics, geopolitics and the experiences of war correspondents. I love discovering new subjects, perspectives and people's stories, and reading is one of my favourite ways to switch off. I also enjoy a wide range of podcasts, particularly Desert Island Discs, Private Passions, The News Agents and The Sports Agents, as I enjoy hearing people's stories, experiences and perspectives.

Sport & Fitness – I love watching sport particularly athletics, tennis, swimming, figure skating, gymnastics and rugby union. Before committing to ballet, I was a successful middle-distance runner, competing for Cornwall and my local club at national championship level in cross country and 1500m, regularly achieving podium finishes. I still love taking dance classes of different genres in my spare time. When I am not performing or teaching, I enjoy going swimming, going running, taking Pilates and yoga classes, and training in the gym.

Theatre, Cinema & Music – Obviously, as someone who has worked as a professional dancer, I have a real passion for the performing arts, but I also love experiencing them purely as an audience member. When I am not performing or teaching, I love going to the theatre, particularly to see musicals, plays and dance performances. I also love going to the cinema and am a big fan of film. I regularly enjoy going to music concerts too. Music of all genres is important to me and is one of the main reasons I love to dance. As a child, I studied violin to Grade 5 standard and had the opportunity to perform alongside the Dante Quartet.

Writing – I am a published author, having written my first fictional novella in 2020, which was published in 2022.

Travel & Exploration – I love travelling, taking holidays, discovering new places and experiencing different cultures and countries. My career has allowed me to live, work and travel internationally. I particularly love being by the beach and ocean and enjoy swimming, snorkelling and bodyboarding, spending time in nature, and exploring the outdoors. At the same time, I love the diversity, culture and energy of cities exploring different neighbourhoods, discovering local food, good coffee shops, great bars and restaurants, going to the theatre, visiting museums and galleries, famous monuments, experiencing the arts, and making the most of the social side of city life.

Friends & Family – I greatly value spending time with friends and family. 

Fun facts – I have skydived from 15,000 feet and learnt to sail, and can sail a sailing dinghy.

Life Away from Dance – During COVID, I took a 10-month sabbatical away from dance and lived and worked on the Isles of Scilly, a hidden archipelago paradise off the coast of Cornwall in the south-west of England. During the summer months, I lived and worked on Tresco Island, where I wrote my first book, taught community dance to island residents, taught Pilates to locals and visitors, and worked as a barista at the famous Tresco Abbey Gardens Visitors Centre. During the winter months, I moved to Bryher Island, where I volunteered through Workaway, an international cultural exchange programme where travellers volunteer their time and skills in exchange for accommodation and the opportunity to live and work alongside local people. It was a unique experience that allowed me to experience a completely different way of life, become part of island communities and pursue my creativity away from the dance world.