Dancers and choreographers

Amelia Pilichiewicz
Dancer

I started dancing when I was five in jazz and ballet, but this evolved over the years to include tap and contemporary. I would be at every class, training for competitions, exams and concerts, no matter how busy, sick, stressed or tired I was - to me, missing any dance class was like being deprived of air and freedom.

Recently, I began to realise that I was getting 'older' and those who I was training with were getting 'younger'. I didn't want to stop, however I needed a change of atmosphere, a new challenge.

My dance teacher suggested that I should join Move Through Life (MTL), and I haven't looked back since. MTL enables me to dance, get fit, socialise with other dancers all with different dancing and professional backgrounds, and family life, but with one common goal; to both individually, and as a group, show off our passion for dancing and/or choreography. The best thing about MTL is that you are not only a dancer or choreographer, but a member of an organisation where we can all contribute - from brain storming ideas, fundraising, promoting and performing - it's the most addictive and rewarding thing I know.

Hi, my name is Catie Cullen. I'm an ex-state gymnast, Adelaide Uni dance graduate, high school teacher, wife and mum. I currently work part-time teaching Dance and Special Education in a north-eastern suburbs high school.

I was introduced to Move Through Life a number of years ago by a close friend, and it was exactly what I was looking for in my life. After having two beautiful boys, I was needing to do something for myself and longed to get back into dancing again, but I didn't want to do adult classes in a dance school environment. Move Through Life offered everything I wanted and more. Not only could I do challenging and exciting technique classes of varying styles, taught by great teachers in the industry, I had the opportunity to perform again without having to do a 'concert'. That was so exciting for me, as I thought that chance had passed me by, and it was such a buzz being involved in the Adelaide Fringe with MTL's show 'Black Coffee'. I am beginning to feel that same excitement again as we get closer to our first season of 'Illuminate'. I hope you'll join us for the ride!

Dance has helped me to develop my sense of self in the world. I now have plans on using my psychology and disability degree with my dance experience. I dabbled in dance when I was a wee one and then dropped it after moving a lot, before picking it up again in high school. However I never found another dance school that I liked and so again I dropped it without finding inspiration. It wasn't until I randomly found Move Through Life as an adult that I realised how much I missed dance.

Move Through Life is a unique space that isn't a dance school but somewhere that allows me to not only test out my old legs (by making mistakes), but also to guide and foster creativity. I've been given opportunities to dance, train, choreograph and perform without having had formal dance training. Something I would have not thought possible beforehand. The motivation of the community helps me remain inspired to better myself as a dancer and artist. You won't get anywhere unless you start, so stop putting off finding or rediscovering the joys of being a dancer.

I also wanted to be the participant and not the teacher and to gain influences of others. Over the past year and a half I have really enjoyed becoming involved with the company as a dancer and getting to know the other members. Thursday nights are now my favourite night of the week! I have taken on helping with the operational committee and some teaching for the beginner's classes.

The MTL Expand program has enabled me to work in a completely different way to my usual role as choreographer. Here I have been able to explore a complex concept, generate movement with adult dancers and work organically. This has been a refreshing change to pre-choreographing '3 minute crowd pleasing' routines for dance concerts.

Dance has been a part of me since I was three years old. I grew up in the dance school environment and in turn was then invited to teach within the school. I have been teaching many styles including jazz, ballet, tap and preschool dance for over ten years now.

Although I still enjoy teaching and being a part of the end of year productions in the school, my interest in performing personally within the school had faded. Conveniently, as this started to happen, Jo offered me a place in the Move Through Life company and the rest, they say, is history.

Move Through Life is now a place for me to enjoy and unwind. It is a place that I am able to engage my creative side fully and do only what I want to do, when I want to do it. Within the last year, Move Through Life has now offered me a chance to develop my choreographic skills as well as my dance abilities. This has been an absolute highlight for me. I have found these opportunities extremely rewarding and fulfilling. I plan to continue choreographing for Move Through Life and I can't wait to see what the future has in stall for the company.

I joined MTL around the beginning of 2010 after hearing about the company from fellow MTL dancer and long-time friend; Karen Humphreys. Karen had been with the company for a few years and as a result I heard about many of the activities and performances run by MTL.

I danced quite a lot when I was younger but stopped in my late teens to focus on school and university. When I finished study and started work full-time I found I had stopped doing many of the activities I previously enjoyed. I really missed
dancing and I kept coming back to the thought of taking it up again.

When Karen mentioned that MTL were going to start running ballet and contemporary classes for adults, and that it would be run by friendly and enthusiastic teachers in a relaxed environment, I finally bit the bullet and came to a class. After over 10 years of not dancing I was amazed at how natural it still felt, it was so strangely familiar! I know it sounds cliché but it was only at this point that I realised how much I missed dance. I missed being able to express myself through movement, and missed feeling the sense of flow that comes with being completely immersed in the music and the movement. I feel privileged to be part of such a dynamic dance company, where adults of all ages embrace the philosophy of Moving Through Life!

I began dance classes at age five after months and months of nagging my mum to take me. I always knew that dance was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. When I was old enough to make my own decisions, I chose to pursue a career in dance and attended university in Queensland to gain a qualification in the performing field. After two years of full time dance study, I found myself losing my passion for dance. My love of dance turned to disinterest and dislike. I felt like I had been drained of my passion for the art. I returned home to Adelaide feeling empty and lost. I felt like the past two years achieved nothing but a draining of the one thing I truly loved.

After being home for a few months, Melissa Hill asked me to be involved in a dance piece she was creating for Move Through Life's show 'Singles'.

My initial response of course was no. As far as I was concerned, dance was over for me. I no longer had the passion for dance, it brought me no pleasure and I wanted nothing to do with it. After Mel asked me several times to be involved as a favour to her, I agreed and it's a decision I'm glad I made!

Being involved with MTL helped me to find my love for dance again. It brought back the reason I started dancing in the first place. As corny as it sounds, Billy Elliot best sums up my reason for dancing. He says, "It feels like electricity flowing through my body." When I'm dancing, I feel free. There's nothing in the world that bothers me, it's like all my troubles seem to melt away. I'm definitely at my happiest when I'm dancing!

No matter how I'm feeling before I get to class or rehearsal - be it happy, sad, angry, stressed, bored - by the end of it I realise I have completely forgotten whatever I was feeling and have been totally immersed in the dance. It is being in the zone, and
it's the best way I know to get there. I often catch myself at a class or rehearsal, looking around at the people I'm with, the way they are so involved in dance, and feel amazed that this community exists.

The last year or two have been the most amazing time with Move Through Life, as we've have the opportunity to work with some talented, experienced and warm professional dance artists. Some of the best in Adelaide and even Australia.
Where else would you get the chance to do that? To learn and grow as a dancer, but also having another career and family life as well? It's a journey that I am thoroughly enjoying, and enjoying all the more because of the other dancers and choreographers who are on this journey with me.

Though I have only danced for about four years it has really changed my life completely. It's funny how a simple invite from a friend to a dance class can change your life so dramatically. It all started when Mel Hill (also a company dancer) challenged me to do a class with her. I scoffed and pretty much laughed at her for even suggesting that I could do a dance class. But eventually I went to a class - and I never looked back.

I became part of MTL when I met Jo, who was my contemporary teacher and she invited me to join. Since then, I have been blessed and feel honoured to a part of such a unique dance company that involves and shares so much with the community. It has taught me a lot about how I move and perform as a dancer.

I can pretty much say, dance consumes me and I think about it all the time. MTL inspires, challenges and excites me and has changed my future and journey through life more than I could have ever imagined.

When it comes to dancing, I have been dancing since I was five and have always loved the hard work, dedication and artistry that ballet required. I am a slight perfectionist! At 18, when I made the hard decision to pursue an academic career rather than one as a dancer, I struggled to maintain motivation at a normal dance school. I wanted to keep growing as a dancer, and discovered MTL was the perfect outlet to keep dancing and performing as an adult, and also to start experimenting with my own choreography. MTL has helped me develop as a contemporary dancer, and challenged me to try new things.

I started with Move Through Life in 2007 and have performed in two of their Fringe Shows, 'Mocean' and 'Black Coffee'. Move Through Life is an avenue in which adult dancers can still learn and be challenged and also get the chance to perform. For someone like me who works predominately with youth, it is a good opportunity to work with like-minded adults, as well as keep up my training.

I think it's important to have dance opportunities like this in SA as there traditionally aren't as many compared to the eastern states. I feel passionately about encouraging SA dancers to work in their own state but we need more opportunities like this in order to do so.

Since that first show, I've performed and choreographed in all Move Through Life theatre productions. I also get the opportunity to use my design skills with wide creative freedom to promote Move Through Life and each of our productions
as well as contribute to the staging and costume design. Over the years I've become somewhat of a sounding board for Jo when it comes to creative direction and decisions and since our last production, Black Coffee, this support role has been
formalised with the title of Associate Artistic Director.

I love the community of people who are Move Through Life. People who make me excited to come to class and who provide a warm, encouraging environment in which to be creative. Through this creative environment and the opportunities Move Through Life has provided, I have been able to grow as a dancer and choreographer.

Dance has always been a huge part of my life. It's something that brings me the
upmost happiness and makes me feel alive in many different ways. Most of my adult working life had been spent teaching Dance in high schools, but I was constantly looking for somewhere that I could dance for myself.

I came across Move Through Life (MTL) in 2007, just after having my second child. I started with just two classes and I never looked back. I have loved coming back to dance as a student and have relished learning from peers and industry professionals. I have learnt so much through MTL, not limited to just moving.

MTL is also a group of wonderful supportive people who are at a range of stages in their lives, which makes for a diverse and vibrant company. MTL has renewed my love of dance and the desire to constantly improve and grow as a dancer. It has given me the chance to work with amazing artists, discuss and create choreography with peers and perform in a professional setting. Coming back to dance slightly later in life has been so rewarding, and something I don't take for granted. This opportunity is a once in a lifetime and I feel incredibly fortunate to have found MTL and its wonderful people!