Interview with Liv Kirby

Australian actress, singer, dancer and model Liv Kirby was born in Queensland, Australia and recently she lives in the US. Her first experience in the arts was when she was 12 years old when she started stage and film classes at the National Theatre in the heart of Melbourne. From acting Liv then started exploring the world of dance and by the age of 15 she was dancing professionally. In 2012 Liv recieved her Diplomia of Modeling and Business of Modeling from the Model Academy and since has been involved in many photoshoots as well as had the opporunity to walk for L'Oreal. We have conducted a short interview with her.

What inspires you into this world of dance before the age of 14? How did you finally choose this dance genre/specialisation? 

It started as an after school thing once a week with one of my best friends, we wanted to do something and there was a little dance school everyone went to in our neighborhood so we began hip hop classes there. As soon as I started I loved it! I was horrible at it and it definitely wasn't a natural talent for me. Then the school closed down and I had just seen the musical Wicked and I fell in love with musical theatre and I moved to a dance school in the city and began working there to pay for my classes and I started doing 13 classes a week After school I would run to the train to get me into the city to make it to the first class of the night. Soon enough, I was improving and really getting the hang of it, I was then in classes that my teachers would take and I'd be dancing along side them. They were the people who inspired me the most, so it really made me work hard. I felt like I had to step up my game if I wanted to continue dancing with them.

At the World Hip Hop Championship, which was the most challenging or liberating move/technique to master? 

At most Hip Hop competitions you're dancing with a crew and I think that's even more challenging then dancing a solo, because you all rely on each other to put in the work so your crew can be the best it can be. So I think the hardest part about dancing at the Hip Hop Championships is synchronicity, allowing your crew to look as one, and making it effortless from every performer, that's a real talent within itself. When you see a crew dancing and each placement is so precise on each individual, it makes the whole picture incredible!

Martha Graham once said, “Dance is the hidden language of the soul”, as a dancer from a young age, who do you think is the most soulful dancer? 

I have met so many soulful dancer in my life, from seeing them on stage in shows, to seeing the in classes. A dancer that really stands out to me is Judith Jamison, and her performance of Cry, choreographed by Alvin Ailey. Fortunately I had to study this dance in 12th grade so I really got to educate myself on the piece and the dance which made her performance even more powerful as I had the knowledge behind it all.

What advice would you give to another young dancer wanna-be? 

It would be to just stick to it. Dancing is something that takes a lot of time, you don't just wake up one day with a perfect extension and pointed toes, you really have to work at it and acknowledge that it is a process and allow that process to happen. I also believe it is very beneficial to train in as many styles of dance that you can, the more knowledgeable you have about dance overall impacts the quality you present overall

Other than dancing, what are your other hobbies and interests? 

I love singing and acting, I train in both those areas constantly. I love the arts and performing and will jump at any opportunity to perform, I also really love going to see shows. Traveling is something I also very much enjoy, there's so many places I want and hope I get to go too.