DanceLife Blog

The SYTYCD Tour kicks off tomorrow night in Brisbane at the Entertainment Centre. The Top 10 have been rehearsing non stop for the past two weeks to make sure they bring you the best show possible. If you thought you were going to just see the same routines as they did on the show, you were wrong. Top choreographer William A Forsythe and DanceLife Blogger and Australia's Queen of Dance Kelley Abbey have been putting the dancers through their paces over the past two weeks, creating amazing new routines.

DanceLife would like to wish all the dancers good luck! We are lucky to have Kate and Kelley Abbey on board as two of our bloggers who will be writing about SYTYCD this month. These two articles will give you a great insight into the show as well as tips for preparing yourself if you are thinking about auditioning for the Season 2!

If you are heading to the shows please let us know what you think! We would love to see your pictures in the DanceLife Gallery.

Tickets are still available for the Tour. Go to www.ticketek.com.au or www.ticketmaster.com.au (Sydney Entertainment Centre) for more details.

Hindsight is a beautiful thing. My experience on So You Think You Can Dance has been a very positive one, but it wasn't always that way. From the first big decision to enter, to rehearsing for the first tour of its kind, it has been a huge roller coaster ride. I want to give you an insight from the show that you may not have had before. The shows experience has been somewhat up and down from beginning to end. I think all of our individual journeys have been so very different. For those of you thinking of auditioning next year ask your self a few questions.

I remember watching the American series and saying, ‘oh my, I have to do this, what a great format'. The show has definitely changed the dance industry in Australia and put it out in the general public. As a whole, the show has really boosted our industries profile but you must think as an individual when considering entering. I had some moments near the beginning of the show thinking what have I done, I'm watching really great dancers leave and I was in the bottom 3 for 2 weeks in a row. I know from some of my friends eliminated early, that it may not always go the way you want or think, they were amazing dancers. If you are considering entering I say, go for it, but be very prepared mentally. If it doesn't go your way, try again next year or just say it's not meant to be. If it does go your way it could quite possibly change or start your career for life. As a professional you must leave all your baggage at the door and take it for what it is. You lose the control you're used to, your partner, style, choreography and costumes are all chosen for you and you just have to do the best with what you're given. It was a very tough competition mentally and physically and also being the first series we really had no idea of what was going to happen each week.

All that aside, I will look back with fond memories. It was an absolutely divine dance experience. Working with some of the countries finest choreographers and also living and breathing dance 24/7 was a dream. The Top 10 are now embarking on our stadium tour around Australia, which is quite unimaginable. I would never have believed anyone if they had told me I would perform in stadiums not dancing behind a singer, just purely dancing.

Tickets are still available for the Tour. Go to www.ticketek.com.au or www.ticketmaster.com.au (Sydney Entertainment Centre) for more details.

Kate x

It's been 12 years since I left the comfort of my home to pursue my professional dancing career. I sometimes get phone calls from young dancers asking for advice of where to go and what to do now after they finish school or a full time course. When you think about how many young aspiring performers graduate each year hoping to work in the industry, it's quite daunting. What Now?

I can only speak from my own experience, but I'm sure a lot of you can relate and I hope that it helps. I grew up and trained on the Gold Coast. It's an amazing place but like some small towns and far away places like Perth for example, there comes a time in a dancers life where you want more. Sydney and Melbourne are usually the next step. I chose Melbourne as my teacher Robert Sturrock had come from there and I guess I followed his path. Arriving to a city at 18 years of age that I had never been to, and only knew one person was extremely scary. I remember standing outside Tony Bartuccio's school and agency for about 30 minutes feeling sick with butterflies in my stomach before going in. After talking to myself for a while, I took a deep breath and walked in with my resume, picture and a big dream. That day was the beginning of it all and I will never forget it. I went on to do class their 5 days a week for a few months with as many teachers as possible and later auditioning successfully for the agency. I landed a great gig as a regular on Channel 9s ‘In Melbourne Tonight' and then it all took off for me in Melbourne. I never did a full time course but for those that do, always try and branch out after graduating to explore as many schools and teachers as possible. I think the key to getting in with choreographers and agents is in one word, class. Never stop going and try as many teachers as possible as most employers and working choreographers teach. It's like an audition for you and a chance to impress where ever you are.

I know it's not easy starting out, or cracking the industry but don't give up and keep working hard. I truly believe in hard work breeding success. I've been living my dream for 14 years but never thought I would have done the variety of work all over the country. This year especially has been an unbelievable experience and it's one I never thought would happen. It's a hard industry and not always rosy but for all of you aspiring dancers, don't give up. Take the knocks and get back up even hungrier and most of all, keep dreaming.

Kate Wormald x

Since the age of 5, Deone Zanotto has had a dream of being a star on Broadway. She started dancing at age 3 where she developed a taste for the performing arts. At 9 she joined Di- Salvatore Dance Academy and later made the big move to Sydney to do the Brent Street performing arts course. After graduating, her first break into the industry was playing the role of ‘Anybody's' in West Side Story. Following that was a string of amazing musicals like Chicago, where she understudied and performed the role of ‘Velma Kelly', the role of ‘Carmen' in FAME, ‘Estelle' in The Full Monty, ‘Rusty' in Footloose and performing and recording the lead vocals for the world premiere of Dirty Dancing.

Deone met her gorgeous fiancé Adam-Jon Fiorentino when they were performing in Footloose in Sydney. After the show wrapped up they were off to London to explore the world in terms of performing. The West End was there next calling when Deone started We Will Rock You and Adam played the lead role of ‘Tony' in Saturday Night Fever. Adam was also in the tv hit ‘In The City' and will soon be appearing as the lead role of ‘Bert' in Mary Poppins on Broadway.

Needless to say London was a hit for them both but Deone still had a dream of the US. Deone got a call from her mum one day telling her she had a letter from the Kentucky Consular Centre, she new straight away that she had won the Green Card Lottery. In just 3 weeks they were packed and moved out of their London flat as New York was calling.

Starting all over again, finding a home, agents etc, wasn't easy but it didn't matter as she was living her childhood dream. After a few weeks settling in Deone read an audition in the paper for A Chorus Line. This was the ultimate musical for a ‘triple threat' like herself and a dream come true performing on Broadway. The show is the toast of revivals on Broadway and it had been nominated for Best Musical Revival at the Tony Awards. It had been opened since 2006 and they were looking after replacement understudies. After auditioning through several call backs with hundreds of girls Deone got the call she had been waiting for- Broadway!

Deone went on to do the show for nearly a year and understudying 4 roles. She says the cast was amazing and really like family by the end. The show has just closed over there so we had the pleasure of a visit back to Sydney a week ago. I can't wait to follow both Adam and Deone as they have truly been a huge Australian success both on the West End and Broadway.

As my dear friend, I'm so very proud to tell her story as it just shows us all with true dreams, determination, hard work and persistence we can all fulfil our dreams.

Written By Kate Wormald

The MTV awards were on Friday night and did one little lady rock the stage. Jessica Mauboy looked very Beyonce like when she came out on stage to do a stripped back snippet of Running Back before launching into a hot performance of Been Waiting. Jessica has worked with a few choreographers including Project Moda but Kelley Abbey was the choreographer of choice for this performance and did it rock or what! From the awesome costumes to the strong dancers, the stage was on fire. While it was great to see some familiar faces including Kate Wormald (SYTYCD 2008) who also performed in Adam Williams opening number with Camilla (SYTYCD 2008) it was great to see a new, fresh face Joel Rasmussen (Jesse's SYTYCD 2009 Brother), who has been dancing for years and is awesome as you can see from the video above. Hands up if you're just loving Jessica Mauboy right now!?

The delightful Kate Wormald (SYTYCD Season 1) walked down the aisle on the weekend to her long term spunky boyfriend Michael. DanceLife would like to congratulate the happy couple and wish them all the best for a fabulous future together.

SYTYCD Season 1 contestants Demi and Kate have been hard at work to shoot the new TVC for Norsca which will premiere on Ten during SYTYCD US. Check out the pic from the TVC above. Apparently a great day was had by all. Keep your eyes out for TVC in the coming weeks.

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of shooting the latest video for Amy Pearson's new single ‘Butterfingers'. THE SQUARED DIVISION boys, Antony Ginandjar and Ashley Evans did an incredible job at not only choreographing and styling the video but also co-writing the concept for the shoot. This is the 3rd video (also Eskimo Joe & Radio Ink) the boys have done of late along side director Tony Davison. It's going to be a hot clip where you will see Amy revamped and sexy. Dancing along side her were the talents of Michelle Hopper, Jaclyn Seymour, Kaylie Yee and myself. Go the Girls!!!!

The single is out end of October. Congrats boys on your vision and to the lovely Amy, cant wait to see the finished product. http://www.amypearson.com.au

Kate Wormald

P.S. Keep checking out DanceLife for the clip!

We spoke last week about Amy Pearson and her new clip ‘Butterfingers' well here it is. Choreographed and styled by The Squared Division. it's not a bad effort from her team for her first single from her second album although there are much better tracks on the album that would have been a better choice for the first single. Keep an hear out for the album due to launch very soon.

The clip and song is getting mixed reations. Comment below on what you think!

The Aria Awards on next Thursday night in the round at Acer Arena and what a night it's sure to be!!

Jessica Mauboy is the favourite to take home a few gongs on the night but better than that she is performing with an amazing group of dancers! Choreographer: Greg Chapkis (From USA) Directed by: Simon Lind. Dancers: Timomatic, Jordan Pollard, Marko Panzic, Phillipe, Kate Wormald, Talia Fowler, Michelle Hopper, Dani Cook, Jess Stokes and Anjula. Will be an explosive dance performance.

The 2009 ARIA Awards will be the telecast on the Nine Network from 8.30 on the evening of Thursday, 26 November, followed by an encore screening on MTV on Friday, 27 November at 5.30pm. General public tickets to attend the 2009 ARIA Awards are still available via Ticketek or phone 132 849.

The dance industry is often seen as bitchy, competitive and ruthless which it can be but it's photos like the one above that reminds everyone that at the end of the day the Australian dance community is just that, a community, a family. Some of Sydney's finest names in dance caught up for the festive season this week. It's rare that you can get everyone in the same place at the same time as there is usually a huge amount of people working on bits and pieces here and overseas. Merry Christmas to you all! :)

By Kane Bonke

Melbourne based commercial dancer Troy Phillips is currently working with actors from Australian soap Neighbours. There is huge dance based story line in the works.

Happy Feet 2 was launched this week at Sydney's Fox Studio's. Dancers Tracey Morley, Penny Martin, Simon Lind, Kane Bonke, Jacki Hanson Seymour, Kate Wormald Leopold, Michelle Hopper Doyle, Mitchell Hicks, Lee Anne Cherny and Jesse Rasmussen were on hand to lend their Happy Feet.

Dancer Leighton Sharpe is the featured in the latest TVC campaign for Berocca. He is supported by SYTYCD Top 20, the TVC feature heavily during the shows air time.

Will Sabin is currently in Singapore. Launching a new Casino, with Singer Prinnie Stevens backed by Chantel Curmi and Mary Luangkhoth. You can also catch Will Sabin productions at Nevermind on Oxford Street every Friday Night featuring hot Sydney commercial dancers.

If you're watching the film Nine, keep your eyes out for Aussie dancer Shannon Belcastro.

Squared Division are blazing a head of the pack with every gig they touch turning to gold. If your dancer just starting out be nice to these boys!!!

Kate Wormald and Demi Soron are the faces for Norsca deodorant; you can see the girls dancing up a storm in the latest TVC campaign.