What do you love about the Arts?

I love the connections that you make within the arts. A lot of the people I danced with when I was younger; I am still in touch with today. You have friends for life.

I’ve also come to learn that the process is what the arts is all about and not necessarily the product. I love the cyclical nature of creating a performance and the creative insights that are offered within collaboration. I thrive on the twists and turns this creates during the process and all those aha moments that you have throughout. But more importantly when a group share those ‘aha’ moments together.

That’s the true joy of the arts.

When did you start your journey in the performing arts?

I started dancing in kindergarten. According to my Mum I had been asking to dance since I was very little, and she finally booked me in. I can still remember my first class; it was so cool! We got to use props and pretend to jump over puddles while dancing with umbrellas. I remember feeling as though, I didn’t necessarily need to be good, I just wanted to express myself. It was when I was in grade six that I thought, ‘yes this is my thing’ and then I started to take the craft seriously.

I also played the flute and piano as well as took speech drama during school. I guess, I just always was involved in the arts. I took as many opportunities as I could to get involved.

When did you know you wanted to teach?

I came into teaching organically. I wasn’t fully invested in the idea of teaching. It wasn’t until I helped out at a school musical after high school that I realized I enjoyed connecting with young people. I also love the collegial aspect of teaching; we all come together – teachers and students - with a shared passion and create great works of art.

Also, I think most of my mentors knew before I did that, I would become a teacher. My QUT university lecturer said to me in my first year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) that I would be a natural at teaching.

What are some of the best things about your role as a dance/ speech and drama teacher and being a part of the Arts Team? 

I really enjoy getting to the know the layers of each person I am teaching. And allowing students to realize that they are multi-layered. They are much more than the grades they are receiving.

I also like that I can be an advocate for the arts within my role. And spread the important message that students can learn about themselves through the arts. It’s a great self-discovery tool that will bring about many benefits in their other subjects and also in their lives.

What is a quirky fact about you?

I am secretly really good at jigsaw puzzles. I can sit down and smash one out pretty quickly.

I also have an Indian Ringneck Parrot named Mango. She knows how to talk and she likes to eat bananas. And I recently got a puppy. His name is Milton and he’s a Beagle. I am currently teaching Mango how to whistle so she can call Milton into the house.