1. Can you tell readers how you became involved with dance?
I’ve always been dancing – I began with baby ballet aged two! I suppose the age in which I became serious about dance as a career path would be when I was 16 – I was offered a place on the CAT Scheme at Laban. I had originally auditioned on order from my dance teacher who insisted I give it a go – and now I look back I can’t thank her enough for it! The CAT Scheme inspired me to be more inquisitive in my creativity and gave me the drive to push my technique further and as a result I have recently completed my degree at Laban.
2. What do you find you like best about dance class?
The best thing about dance class for me is that I have the freedom to choose what I want to work on in each class. Some days I may want to push my technical limits, other days I may want to focus on something internal such as the articulation of the spine in movement. In the majority of classes I feel like I have been able to do this and still achieve the goals set by the teacher.
3. What is the hardest part about dance for you?
For me personally, the hardest part about dance is the effect that taking time off has on my body. I am currently in the months between Undergrad and Postgrad study so I am not taking as much class, and my body is giving me a very hard time for it!
4. What advice would you give to other dancers?
My advice would be to do as much class outside of your training as possible. Meeting other professionals and getting yourself acquainted with the vast range of styles there are out there is such a key skill in order to broaden your network and knowledge of the Contemporary Dance world.
5. How has dance changed your life?
I think that dance has enabled me to be more confident in myself, both when socialising and when in class or performance. Studying and training vocationally in Dance has also helped me to develop a deep awareness of my body and its limits which is very helpful in a professional environment and when working independently.
BIO: Lizzie Croucher has been dancing from a very young age, initially training in Ballet, Tap and Modern Dance. Early on in her training she was given the opportunity to perform in the junior cast with London Children’s Ballet (and performing at the Peacock Theatre, London) in 2005. Her love for Contemporary Dance began aged 16 during her training at Laban’s Centre for Advanced Training Scheme (2010 – 2012), creating and performing works with artists from companies such as New Adventures (Lee Smikle) and Henri Oguike Dance Company (Sarah Linstra) at venues such as Queen Elizabeth Hall and DanceEast, as well as at Laban’s Bonnie Bird Theatre. She continued her training at Laban and was awarded a First Class Honours Degree in Contemporary Dance in 2013. During her time on the Degree Programme she was taught by a number of highly respected professionals such as Henry Montes, Lyndsey McConville and Henrietta Hale. She also performed works by a diverse range of choreographers, including Kerry Nicholls, Gary Lambert, Charlotte Derbyshire and Lizzi-Kew Ross.
