The Past Year In One Blog Entry!

So sorry for not writing on here for a long time.  It's been over a year, and a lot has happened!

When I left you last year, I had had that horrible experience with the cruise job and was auditioning my ass off not knowing what to do next.  Well, I auditioned for another cruise job around June/July time and got it!  I decided to give it a go once again and hope that it didn't all go terribly wrong like the previous one!  And it really didn't.  I had the most amazing experience ever and made some really awesome friends.  I got to travel over to Stockholm to join the ship and we performed every night as we travelled back and forth between Stockholm and Helsinki, Finland.  Both cities were beautiful and completely different; Stockholm was the centre for sky scraper buildings and high fashion stores, everyone was absolutely stunning and lived up to the Scandinavian stereotype.  Helsinki however was just how imaged it, very traditional with a buzzing harbour that was filled with fisherman offering to sell their catches of the day.
I was working onboard the cruise ship for 3 months and it was the best feeling in the world.  I felt free and liberated.  I was in my own little bubble, and considering I was living on a ship floating over freezing cold waters, I felt safe, sound and completely at home.
I remember during rehearsals in London walking through the dance studios and thinking to myself, this is just where I want to be and doing exactly what I want to be doing.  The most amazing feeling.

When I returned from the cruise I only had a few weeks and then I was off again to panto land, also known as Bognor Regis.
This year I had taken on the duty of dance captain so was very nervous, the rehearsal period was extremely stressful for me and I didn't realise how much pressure would be put on me.  Once the shows kicked into gear however the pressure seemed to lift and everything feel into place.  Being back in panto land was a warming feeling and I had the pleasure of performing once again.  The audiences in pantos are always great as they're very responsive and when there are kids in the audience, it's great to see them get consumed into the story and booing at the Ugly Sisters, then cheering when the princess meets her prince.
Here's a picture of me with my friends, Prince Charming, the Fairy Godmother and the other male dancer.

So once panto was over, I was back home and determined not to go back into my old 9 to 5 job.  So I was on the hunt for the next job.  Luckily my friends were part of a show called Essence of Ireland and were asked if they knew anyone who would be interested in being in the show, but not performing in England, going over to Johannesburg, South Africa for 3 weeks and performing there in the Mandela Theatre.  So they called upon myself and Alison and we got the job!!!
This what yet another amazing experience that I have had the pleasure of being involved in.  South Africa was beautiful.  I was a little unsure at first because of the reputation that Johannesburg has but it really was great and I never saw any trouble.  We got to do safari as well which was something that I was so excited for, and it's something that I will never forget.  I highly recommend for anyone to do, it's so lovely seeing all the animals but in their natural habitat and not constricted by walls or fences.

As you can tell from the name, Essence of Ireland, the show was all irish themed.  Including the dancing!!!  Which was a challenge as tap itself isn't something that comes naturally to me, let alone irish tapping.  It was fantastic though to learn a new skill and the audiences out in South Africa loved the show and we always got great feedback.

After each show, we would have to go out to the foyer and meet and greet the audience members and for a short while I felt like a celebrity.  People were crowding over to see us and fighting to get to the front and then we would have to sign their programmes and pose for photos with them.  It really was awesome.

And so this brings me up to date.  I've returned from South Africa and once again the search is on..... until August anyway!  As then my travels continue as I am off to China, touring in a show called Red Hot Broadway.  I had a costume fitting for it yesterday which was great to see all the clothes I'll be wearing for the dances.
Things are certainly good at the moment, I'm very happy.  I have just signed with a new agent also and have an interview next week for another big agent so fingers crossed that goes well too!

So there you go, the past year in one blog entry!
So sum up, I am finally doing exactly what I want and having the most amazing experiences.  I am extremely happy and feel blessed to be able to be doing it.