Ellie - Mai Blakeway

Dance has always been a passion of mine after watching stage performances from a very young age which inspired me to become a dancer. Not only was I interested in the in the style of dance and the flexibility of the dancers, but the costume and makeup aspect also inspired me a lot. The idea of wearing tutus and looking professional also inspired me.  Dance is a healthy way that I can express my emotions and it allows me to be myself and feel free, from being a dancer I have gained many skills such as being able to work independently and having a strict schedule which I have to stick to.  I have also gained skills working within a team as well as independently and not relying on others to help me.   I started dancing from a young age and currently studying musical theatre at College focusing more towards the dance pathway. During my time at College I have studied many different practitioners such as Martha Graham and Lester Horton and have learnt different technique routines by them. This has helped me develop as a dancer as It has helped me gain experience from different styles of dance. By studying all three sectors of musical theatre I am able to gain confidence across all disciplines which will open me up too many more opportunities in the future as I will be able to audition for different roles as I’ve been taught in all three sectors. In the future I am looking to go on to university which would help me get to the job I have always wanted. My experience of dance has seen me take many exams in ballet, tap, jazz and gymnastics. This gave me the experience of working under pressure and working with other people. From experience inside and out of college, I have gained knowledge on different cultures and transitions, for example I attended an event in Birmingham that was a ballet show performed by an all-black community, however I would like to further enhance the depth of what I know at university before travelling the world and learning the history of different dance cultures. Outside of college I am have experience as work as a cleaner, this shows that I can work under pressure and stick to a specific time. It also shows that I can work independently. I have also worked in retail showing that I can work at a fast pace and working within a group. Dancing as a soloist in front of my peers and teachers has helped me with my overall confidence which in turn has enabled me to sing solo in front of everyone. Overall this has enabled me to talk in public confidently when needed. By doing this and gaining this confidence it will open up more opportunities for me as I will not be afraid to participate in activities and go to auditions. Through having guest speakers and talking to my teachers at college they have inspired me to carry on my studies as a musical theatre student instead of focusing on just dance as they have explained the better opportunities within the musical theatre industry. I would love to travel the world through dance and musical theatre and work on cruses entertaining people.