For Alice, it’s music that unlocks the power of dance.
“I love music. If I was told to do it without the music on, I would struggle, but as soon as the music comes on, it’s like a switch flicks in my brain and it just comes so naturally,” says Alice.
“I can’t run for two minutes, but I can dance for three hours.
“It’s only when you take your shoes off that it hurts – when you’re dancing, you’re too busy to focus on sore feet!”
Alice is particularly sentimental about her dance costumes.
“I love getting dressed up. I still have all of my costumes, I haven’t given a single one away – it takes up all of my parents’ wardrobe,” laughs Alice. “There’s too many memories to give away!”
She describes Barossa Dance Company like her “second family”, where dedication is rewarded with a supportive network of teachers and friends.
“All of us leads, we’re the best of friends,” says Alice. “Maddie Eggleton, who played Ursula (in The Little Mermaid), I’ve been friends with her since I was five. There’s no competition, everyone is so happy for each other.
“And the teachers, Miss Sarah (Hudson), Miss Katelyn (Menzel) and Miss Amy (Dobbs), they are just such great role models.”
Daily dance practice involves learning complex choreography, requiring students to transition between techniques and dance styles in quick succession.
“It keeps us on our toes,” says Alice. “One moment it’s strong and powerful, the next it’s lovely and soft and elegant.
“Sometimes when you do different combinations they will be strung together in different ways and you have to learn how to put it all together.”
Repetition helps, building strength and muscle memory.
“You learn 15 dances for your ballet exam and that helps you remember everything else,” says Alice.
“Mum said it must have helped my memory at school in tests and exams – I’ve always had quite a good memory from dance.”
And when the lights go down, a year of dedication and preparation comes to the fore.
“The only time I feel nervous is when the curtain is about to come up – but when the music comes on, I couldn’t care less,” says Alice.
“When I’m on stage I don’t really think about the audience, I just do my own thing.”