Meet our reigning Miss Brass Queen of The Brass Barre, Miss Elsie Rockerbunny! She is also a proud and well-loved instructor of The Brass Barre too!
With Amateur Night 2019 being just around the corner, we caught up with Elsie to share a few words of her experience at our last Amateur Night in 2017.
WHAT WAS YOUR THEME AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CHOOSE IT?
My theme that year was Destination Unknown and I chose Heaven and Hell. I really wanted to take the chance to combine 2 of my favourite rock songs (Stairway to Heaven + Highway to Hell) together and add some comedic element to it.
HOW LONG DID I TAKE FOR YOU TO CHOREO?
It took me 2 months to choreo, plan the full storyline I wanted to portray plus practice with my backup dancers. I didn’t want to rush it, so I took it slow, had some periods of mental block where nothing was happening. But it happens! I tried my best to enjoy the choreographing process instead of being stressed out about it.
WHAT WAS YOUR CHOREOGRAPHY PROCESS?
I started by choosing my songs first, because music sets the tone of the entire performance. When chosen wisely, it can embody the theme into the performance. I then started weaving in my storyline, the pole combos, floorwork and how I wanted to engage with the audience in the whole routine. Things were changing every week and sometimes progress seemed very slow or even stagnant. I’ll admit it was quite stressful when I injured my knee 2 weeks before the competition so that slowed things down a little, with me even considering pulling out due to the injury. Choreographing really doesn’t stop until you’re super close to competition date, I was still finalising small details 2 days before the competition.
HOW HAS COMPETING IMPROVED YOUR SKILLS AND TECHNIQUE?
It definitely made me become more aware of my technique and lines. It forced me to improve my technique by practicing the combos/transitions over and over again until it looked (kind of) effortless going into it and dismounting from the tricks. It also forced me to point my feet as much as I could throughout the routine haha. Competing also pushes you out of your comfort zone in a good way, I find that I learn to be more creative each time I compete too! :)
ANY TIPS FOR THE COMPETITORS THIS YEAR?
ALWAYS engage with the audience and whatever happens on stage, let it be - the show must go on! Remember, no one knows your routine except YOU. :) If you blank out on stage, flash your biggest smile, body wave and keep moving. A little humour in your routine helps too. Have fun with what you have created and have parts where u can slow down to breathe during the routine. It is going to be nerve wrecking but your 3 minutes on stage is going to go by so fast compared to the months of hard work you’ve put in to choreograph. So let the adrenaline take over, savour every single second on stage, and ENJOY it cos once these 3 mins pass, it’s gone forever! You’ll want to do it again (and again!) right after you get off that stage cos it’s just too much fun!
DO YOU HAVE ANY MESSAGE FOR THE COMPETITORS AND THOSE WHO MIGHT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE?
Have fun, enjoy the stage and be proud of what you have created for yourself! Joining Amateur Night will change the way you perform forever, so just go for it!