World Class Dance Tours is worth every single dollar. It is a completely enriching experience made up ofscreen-shot-2017-02-09-at-5-53-41-pm once in a life-time opportunities such as performing at Disney Land, dancing on Hollywood Boulevard, and meeting high scale dance and drama professionals, which I will treasure for the rest of my life.

screen-shot-2017-02-09-at-5-53-30-pmYet, I found it to be so much more than just a dance tour with the aforementioned once in a lifetime opportunities. I found that it was also a tour focused on personal development, one that aimed for everyone to go home a better person, dancer, and all round artist. This combination of personal development tasks and immersive once in a lifetime opportunities was awe-inspiring and made the tour have a very powerful and lasting effect on me.

Now, while I absolutely loved every part of the tour, there were a few aspects that really stood out to me. screen-shot-2017-02-09-at-5-54-26-pmFirst was the variety of workshops offered to us during the trip. The abundance of choice we had and the quantity of such amazing workshops and tutors placed at our fingertips was every dancer’s dream. Whether you were an advanced dancer, passionate about making a career out of it, a beginner who just dances for pure enjoyment, or someone in between, there was a workshop for you. All of the workshops allowed you to try something new and step out of your comfort zone, and I ended up doing workshops like one for twerking that I very much enjoyed, but would have never tried had I not been on the trip. It was therefore, a tour that very much encouraged you to be brave screen-shot-2017-02-09-at-5-55-03-pmand embrace things that you would not normally do, the motto being, ‘you never know when you may be graced with an opportunity to take a class like this again so why not do it and make the most of it,’ which lead to a very enriching experience. Also, as someone who has grown up doing a lot of dancing and loves the choreographic side to it as well, the exposure to the industry professionals taking the classes and their choreographic process was incredible and very insightful for myself as an inspiring choreographer and dramaturge. I would not trade my participation in those workshops for the world.

Another aspect of the tour that stood out to me was getting to be a live audience member for a ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ episode. While I absolutely love dance, I would classify myself more as a drama enthusiast so this really was the best of both worlds for me. It was so amazing to get insight into the production of a live audience program while watching very inspirational and clever dancing and choreography. In one afternoon I got to see the inner workings of television, be the same room as well-known celebrities such as Jason Derulo and high profile choreographers, see some of them perform, watch amazing dancers, and appear on television myself (even if just briefly). This experience highlighted how the tour presented us with both traditional dance experiences (such as workshops and dance performances) and also, some not so traditional dance experiences, which tapped into other areas of the arts as well. I loved every second of that afternoon and would sign up to do it again in a heartbeat.

The Disneyland audition workshop was definitely another highlight. It provided me with skills I have screen-shot-2017-02-09-at-5-55-47-pmfrequently used over the past year. While again it was danced focused, the things I learnt were easily transferable to acting and every other aspect of the arts (and in fact, life in general). Audition skill workshops are something I think get overlooked by many people, but are extremely valuable (especially when you are being taught by a Disney Land casting director who has the power to employ you if you stand out enough). From only a one hour workshop I came away with the knowledge that in an audition you should always ask questions, as it makes you known to the casting director and they begin to relate to you as a person rather than a number, and when possible you must always put your hand up to go first, as it shows bravery and it is an automatic way to get a call back. These are some of the secrets that contribute to a successful audition, which I would have never learnt if I hadn’t had the opportunity to attend the workshop. Therefore, the tour made me a more well-rounded and knowledgeable dancer/drama student about the entire performing arts world from auditioning to performance work, and applying these skills since in University drama work and in job interviews has lead to some amazing results.

Last but certainly not least, my favorite and most treasured moment of the dance tour came out of an evening I never would have expected to come across on the trip. It was Kim’s personal development screen-shot-2017-02-09-at-5-56-02-pmevening, which taught us a lot about the power of the mind in manifesting what you want to get out of life – otherwise known as the Law of Attraction. This evening was an eye opener for me as she emphasized (in short) the importance of creating a career that you will love doing rather than one that will bring you wealth. She made the point that with hard work and the right mindset it is possible to do what you dream of doing, to create your dream job and that often you will end up making the most money that way – from something you love doing, so why settle for a job you do not enjoy. I think what she said is very true, money cannot buy happiness, but doing what you love can and I have lived by this mantra since as I have started to develop my career pathway. Not only was this evening very helpful to me and lead to me being able to accomplish all of my set goals for 2016, but since the tour Kim has continued to provide me with very generous support and advice. For instance, at the end of 2016 I had trouble deciding which university courses I should be taking to get to where I want to be and after seeking out Kim for some advice, she replied with a very detailed email with tasks for me to complete to help me with my decisions. She is a very busy woman and this would have taken substantial time out of her day to reply to. Thus, the tour provided me with the opportunity to meet a very inspirational mentor who infects everyone with positivity and hope, and I am very grateful to have met her and to have her continued help and support.

Thus, ultimately I got more confidence, inspiration and an increased love for all things arts from screen-shot-2017-02-09-at-5-56-48-pmparticipating in the tour and it brought home the fact that no matter how hard it may seem my career in the arts is achievable. Consequently, my dreams had never felt more in my reach than after I finished the tour and I owe that to the experience offered by Kim and the open advice she continues to give me. That, to me, is something you cannot put a price on. Plus how many people can say they have danced at Disney Land? Not many, and this is why World Class Dance Tours is worth every single dollar and is an experience every lover of dance should embrace. Travel is known to make a person richer, and this trip does exactly that, enriching you in the area you are passionate about the most.

Thank you Kim for creating this wonderful opportunity for dancers all over the world and for having such a positive impact on my life.