Glasgow Lives: Julia, 27, London, Professional Dancer – Glasgow Live

I started dancing relatively late. My mother put me into ballet classes when I was 5 years old, but I was bored and stopped going to them.

My parents took group lessons in Latin, ballroom, and salsa dance classes, when I was 10 or 11 plus they would take me with all of them. I would sit in the corner, and whenever someone was missing, they would let me join in to try the dance.

A conservatory of dance opened in my Spanish hometown, Malaga, teaching musical theatre, all styles of dancing, acting and singing. They ran a month’s intensive course during the summer and my mother asked if I wanted to try it. From the first day, I knew that this is what We wanted to do. Dancing has been my main focus during the course, training for 6 hours every day time.

I actually went on to study the degree in contemporary dance, jazz, flamenco, musical theatre, singing plus acting. I also found a dance partner and had been competing inside Latin and ballroom dancing. So, while I was dancing every day, Also i studied the marketing degree – the mother insisted I do both degrees just in case dance didn’t work out.

When I finished our studies, I moved to Madrid, yet Madrid is still Spain and sadly there aren’t many opportunities for creative artists within my country, and it’s not well paid. We stayed there for a year trying to begin my career – I really wanted in order to make it plus to be able to work as a dancer.

That summer, I found the month-long training course in London with Rambert, a contemporary dance company. I decided to take the particular course to allow me personally to dancing and train more. I actually loved Greater london and understood that I needed to stay. I called my mother and told her that I wanted in order to try and make it as a dancer there, she told me, ‘I know that this is your dream so do it! ’ We went back to The country of spain to collect my luggage and I moved straight back to London.

I’ve been within London ever since working as a professional dancer and it’s been brilliant. Once i first arrived to begin the career right now there at 18 years old, with no English, not knowing anyone, I had been like, “How do I make this, how perform I start? ” So , I began looking online for auditions for dancing jobs. The first actually audition was to dance several styles and roles within the opera, La Traviata, at the Royal Opera House. It was the whole time audition, and it was also upon my birthday – these people wanted 2 girls out of 200, and I got the job!

From presently there I started making contacts, doing casting call, and I actually found an agent. Since then, I’ve had work most of the time. It’s hard because it’s really competitive – you have a job, you do a contract, then you finish, and then you have to audition again in order to find new jobs. I think because I’m trained in so many dancing disciplines, I’m versatile plus that’s enabled me to work on lots associated with different projects. If there’s not a show on, there’s gigs or films which i season casting for. So, I’ve done everything. For 6 years I’ve been dance in productions at the Royal Opera House, I have done some Strictly Come Dancing UK tours, We have been in a West End show, We’ve done commercials and experienced a part in one of the Fast & Furious films, therefore it’s very varied.

I’m within Glasgow now with Scottish Opera dancing in Ainadamar, after they will invited myself to audition. I used to be so happy when I got the contract because this is the first time I’ve truly danced inside a Spanish show – Ainadamar is the story about a Spanish poet set in Spain throughout the Civil War. The production was looking for flamenco dancers and it’s really nice to bring my culture and roots to Scotland. The other dancers in the cast are also The spanish language, which is lovely because I always been the particular only Spanish dancer back in London, and it is nice to be in rehearsals speaking Spanish with them. I can’t wait for the show in order to start — it’s special.

I love dancing, it’s my passion. I’m really close to my family therefore to live so far from them is difficult for almost all of us and am knew that if I moved to London to pursue my dream, then I actually had to create it happen – I’ve been extremely focussed, working difficult to do that for the last 9 years.

After i dance, I feel liberated and free. It’s like my own medicine. While i dancing, I forget about everything else, I’m just being me. I don’t have to think about anything, simply feel the music. It’s the particular best moment of my life when I am on a stage in front associated with an audience and Now i’m able in order to express how I feel with our dancing.

‘Ainadamar, a Scottish Opera collaboration with Safari Ventures, plus co-producers Detroit Ie , The Metropolitan Opera and Welsh National Opera ,
opens on 29 October at Theatre Regal Glasgow for three performances, in that case transfers to Festival Theatre, Edinburgh for a further three shows. For more information, please visit: ScottishOperaAinadamar