Beyond the Curtain

To finish off with a bang, today I am sitting down with the total goodness that is Katie Sanchez!

Katie is one of the most in demand models and commercial dancers in the industry. A multi-talented and accomplished performer and model, Katie has worked across Stage, TV, Film, Fashion and advertising over the past 13 years - both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

You have seen her face in major TV commercials and advertising campaigns for iconic brands including Samsung, Qantas, Westfield, Toyota, MasterCard, The Iconic, Priceline, Bonds, Sportsgirl, Westpac, Marley Spoon, Corona, Brown Brothers. She has graced the pages of magazines like Cosmo, Shop Til You Drop, Marie Clare, Elle and appeared in print campaigns for Tree Of Life, Tony and Guy, and Harvey Norman.

As a dancer, Katie has done it all – she has travelled around the world, performing alongside artists including Pink, Jason Derulo, Kylie Minogue, Flo Rida, Ricky Martin, Zara Larsson, Black Eyed Peas, Ricki-Lee, Jessica Mauboy and Havana Brown. 

Not only is Katie a seasoned pro in front of the camera and on the stage – she has also worked behind the scenes on major fashion shows, as an assistant choreographer and calling the MYER Spring/Summer Fashion show led by Jennifer Hawkins and as the assistant choreographer for Dami Im’s 2016 Eurovision performance.

As a choreographer and movement coach – her work has been featured on The Voice Kids, GQ Awards, television commercials and music videos and large scale corporate events. 

Having worked with Marko Panzic for over 12 years – Katie has become his trusted right-hand woman, working alongside him on projects including The Dream Dance Company, Australian Dance Festival, music videos and live tv performances for local and international artists.

In every area of her work, Katie is dedicated and hard working – and in an industry where careers can be fleeting, she has worked hard to carve out a career spanning over 10 years.

In today’s chat, you will get to know the awesome person that Katie is as she shares a little insight into her upbringing and what her life is like now. She is so down to earth and so humble. I’m sure you will fall in love with her as much as I did. Enjoy!

Today we welcome the fabulous, Jarrod Draper! A proud Wiradjuri man, Jarrod is the first Indigenous graduate from the prestigious Music Theatre course at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Born and raised in Orange, country NSW, Jarrod earned a full scholarship to the Regional Conservatorium to study Music Theatre and Classical Voice, which saw him perform both nationally and internationally for several years.

During his time at WAAPA, Jarrod played roles such as ‘Sam’ in Lord of the Flies, ‘Black Fox’ in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, ‘Louise’s Soldier (pas de deux dancer)’ in Carousel and most notably, ‘George’ in Sunday In The Park With George, for which he was voted Male Performer of the Year by Perth Theatre Reviews.

Jarrod recently performed in Big Sky Entertainment’s production of Mimma! at the Regal Theatre and in The Hayes Theatre Company’s sold out production of Catch Me If You Can. He is currently performing in the spectacular Moulin Rouge the Musical. 

Get yourself comfy, you’re in for a great episode. Here’s Jarrod. 

Thank you to our partners Creative Plus Business and Reverlust Design.

On today's episode we welcome the wonderful, Rob McLean! Rob is a teacher, dancer & choreographer based in Sydney, Australia, with a passion for community, conversation & connection through movement. 

He is the co-director of One Dance Collective; a community support network and company that hosts weekly training and creative development sessions, artist development weeks, as well as training and performance opportunities Australia wide. 

He is also the creative behind Unite Dance Intensive; an Australia workshop intensive, hosting Australian and International teachers with a focus on community building and support. 

As a performer, Rob has danced for many Australian and International artists including Justin Bieber, Rita Ora, Jason Derulo, Kelly Rowland, Vera Blue & many more. Rob is a very well-respected teacher and has worked extensively across Australia and Internationally, teaching in Japan, Canada, China, the USA & New Zealand. 

Rob’s passion for sharing the healing qualities experienced within dance and community is a driving force behind his encouragement for fellow artists and students to find their voice, meaning and connectivity through movement, creativity, conversation and community.

In this episode Rob bravely shares a really vulnerable discussion with me as we look at the beauty that can come out of struggle. 

Today on BTC we have our first episode with TWO guests as we welcome the beautiful married couple, Steph and Tim Maddren.

Steph and Tim have both had very successful individual careers in the performing arts and together they formed Got Ya Back Productions on the NSW Mid North Coast in 2017. Since then, they have created and produced three original touring theatre productions, a feature length film, a drive in cinema, music/corporate videos and 14 separate theatrical productions for aspiring young performers across Taree & Port Macquarie.

Between the two of them, this power couple have covered many disciplines in the performing arts industry including MT, contemporary and commercial dance, choreography, children's entertainment and modelling.

Steph holds a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and enjoyed a busy career in Sydney and Melbourne as a commercial dancer, choreographer, model and teacher. Her work as a dancer took her to stages all around Australia from The Sydney Opera House to the Quarry Amphitheatre in Perth. She has danced in Film and TV including Baz Lurhmans's Great Gatsby and you might remember her from season 1 of So You Think You Can Dance. She is absolutely one of the most beautiful contemporary dancers I have ever seen. 

Tim is also a WAAPA grad and as a performer, Tim's credits include major roles in numerous Australian music theatre touring productions such as The Rocky Horror Show, The Addams Family Musical, Topol's Fiddler on the Roof & Altar Boyz. 

Tim is a former member of the children’s group Hi-5 with whom he filmed 135 episodes, released 3 albums with Sony Music Australia and toured internationally. Whilst in Hi-5 he was nominated, along with the rest of the group, for two TV Week Logie Awards, two ARIA Awards and an Asian Television Award.

In today’s episode we hear about each of their careers and the journey that has led them to starting their successful production company together. They share how they manage balancing their family of two young boys whilst running Got Ya Back Productions. There is lots to learn from this one! Enjoy!

Luca is a musical theatre performer, dance captain and choreographer whose professional credits include; ensemble and dance captain in the Australian Premiere of Bring It On – The Musical, children ensemble in Billy Elliot the Musical, ensemble and dance captain in Stage Art's NINE The Musical , choreographer for RENT at the Sydney Opera House, Assistant director and assistant choreographer for Kiss of the Spider Woman by the Melbourne Theatre Company, she played the role of Anybodys and was Dance Captain in West Side Story for Hando Opera on the Sydney Harbour and she is currently working as a Swing in Hamilton the Musical.

Luca’s career has also seen her assist some of Australia’s finest choreographers, including Andrew Hallsworth, Kelley Abbey, Michael Ralph and Marko Panzic and international choreographers Travis Wall, Stacey Tookey & Al Blackstone.

In this chat Luca shares a lot about her beautiful childhood and winding career journey, what her experience working on Hamilton has been like and she openly shares about her personal experience with overcoming mental health challenges. She is an absolute bundle of joy and her honesty is golden. Get yourself comfy, here’s Luca. 

Today we welcome the beautiful, Eliza Hull. Eliza is a contemporary musician based in regional  Victoria. Her music has been described as ‘stirring,  captivating and heartfelt.’ Think a bit like Florence and the Machine, she totally gives me those vibes!

Eliza’s music has been used in ABC KIDS TV episode ‘And  Then Something Changed,’ ABC ‘The Heights’ and  American TV shows ‘Awkward, ‘Teen Wolf’ and ‘Saving  Hope,’ and has been played on radio nationally and  internationally including on ABC, RN, BBC and triple j. She has toured nationally and internationally, performing at The  Natural History Museum in London and Central Park in New  York and supporting Australian artists such as Mia Dyson,  Katie Noonan and The Cat Empire. She has released three  EP’s and debut album ‘The Bones of Us.’ 

Eliza is a proud disabled woman, and a disability advocate  within the contemporary music space; she has performed at  Ability Fest, and spoken at the music conference  CHANGES. Recently she curated ‘Accessible All Areas’ as  part of Isolaid. She is currently working on a new EP due out late 2021.  

I loved this heartwarming chat with Eliza about her career in music as well as her experience of hiding her disability for most of her life and how wonderful it is for her now to live so authentically and work towards making this world a better place for those living with a disability.

I hope you enjoy listening to this special episode.

Jillian made her professional musical theatre debut as an original Australian cast member in the Queen musical, We Will Rock You, touring Australia & Japan (LWAA).

She was an original cast member and Assistant Dance Captain in Baz Luhrmann’s global premier of Strictly Ballroom - The Musical (Global Creatures) and completed both the Australian and Japan tours of Singin in the Rain (Dainty) where again she took on the role of Assistant Dance Captain.

Other theatre credits include Chess – The Musical (TPC), Wicked (USJ), Now & Then (Michael Ralph), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (James Anthony Production), Rigoletto (Opera Australia) and Lorelei (Victorian Opera).

Most recently Jillian appeared as an ensemble member in the Australian tour of Chess – The Musical (Storeyboard Entertainment) and is currently a swing in the cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Crossroads Live).

Jillian is also a children’s chaperone, having worked on many shows, including Billy Elliot, Mary Poppins, Love Never Dies, Moonshadow, Matilda, The Bodyguard, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as well as productions with The Australian Ballet and Opera Australia.

In this episode we discuss Jillian’s musical theatre career as a swing and chaperone, as well as her experiencing living and performing with diabetes for the past ten years of her life. Lots of great career and life lessons in this one! Enjoy!

This week I welcome a wonderful guest from the UK, Reece Darlington-Delaire.

Reece’s professional career started whilst attending Italia Conti Academy performing as young Simba in The Lion King (West End). He later trained at the Urdang Academy graduating with a diploma in musical theatre. 

After leaving college, he appeared in Bodyguard das musical in Germany and also performed in the stage as well as the recorded film version of Aladdin (West End). 

His TV credits include ITV’S All Star Musicals and Strictly Come Dancing Live Launch. Other credits include Grayboy Entertainment and Qdos pantomimes as dance captain and also workshopping the choreography for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again the Movie. 

In the commercial industry Reece has performed Nike fashion shows, Goldwell hair performances and featured in Music Videos for Limahl and Misunderstood. 

In 2019, Reece launched his own film production company, Silver Cactus Productions. His experience as a performer provides a perspective behind the camera that enhances the artistry of his talent from his understanding of how the movement should look and also feel as a dancer. 

Reece is currently performing in The Lion King (West End) as part of the dance ensemble.

Reece is very insightful and shares beautifully in this episode about his childhood, career pathway, how our passions can change, trusting your instincts to fuel your creativity and the importance of separating your identity from a creative job. I could listen to his dulcet tones all day so I’m sure you will enjoy them too!