Q&A With Yvette Sauvage
How long have you been dancing? I have been dancing ever since I was five years old so over 20 years!
What inspired you to dance? My first inspiration to dance came as a young child, loving the spotlight and wanting to entertain my older siblings and all of their friends. Now as an adult, my inspiration comes more from within, and less from those around me - I almost feel like I have to dance to feel normal again.
What made you want to audition for the Australian Ballet? I have been slowly getting back in to ballet this year (whilst still teaching) so when I saw the opportunity to perform again, I knew I had to give it a shot whilst my body can still handle it. I love teaching, especially at The Dance Centre but I just felt like it was now or never again.
How did you retrain? Slowly! Ballet is something that takes time to build and having been there before, I knew it wasn't going to happen overnight, especially after a two year break. I made a commitment and stuck to it. I definitely couldn't have done it without the help and amazing tutoring from Ms Deborah & Mr Leader. They are such experts at what they do and knew exactly (right down to the millimetre!) of what needed fixing to improve my technique- I feel so lucky to have had them guide me through a challenging time.
What are your short term and long term goals? Short term - I would like to have a successful year with the Australian Ballet, stay fit and injury free! Long term - I would love to work my way up the ranks, whether that is performing or teaching, who knows? But I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I have been given and I'm definitely going to make the most of it.
What do you want to tell younger dancers who have big aspirations? Stick to them! Unfortunately ballet can be such a slow progression that it's easy to lose sight of why you dance or what you hope to get out of it in the end. I think it's incredibly important to set smaller, attainable goals along the way and to make sure you celebrate the small victories.
Who is your role model? I don't have any one particular role model as I'm a firm believer in discovering what your own unique assets are, especially as a dancer. Having said that, my family play a huge part in who I am as a person and I am continually inspired by them.
Any parting comments to The Dance Centre Peregian Springs? I just want to say a massive thank you to Deborah, Richard, Natalie, and all of the students and parents. Thank you for making The Dance Centre Peregian Springs such a positive place to work and train - I'm going to miss you all very much!
