Graduate story: Nicola Wills
Trained: Terry Simpson Dance Studios, SA
Now: Royal Ballet of Flanders, Belgium
What is your best memory of your full-time dance studies?
The best memory for me was my ability to start taking agency over my dream to become a professional dancer. Participating in full-time training allowed me to begin to understand the demands of the career and realise my full potential under the positive encouragement and support of Terry and her very experienced team of teachers.
In one year, I improved physically and mentally in leaps and bounds towards my goals; going from dealing with two very serious injuries to healing and refining my technique, leading me to become a finalist in the Sydney Eisteddfod McDonald Ballet Challenge, the Silver Medallist of the RAD Genee Awards in Singapore and finally securing a position in the Queensland Ballet Professional Program at the end of 2009. I have no doubt that this was one of the most momentous, challenging and important years of my life, and I am so grateful to Miss Simpson and her team for supporting me in facing these challenges with grace, courage and determination.
What was one of the main life lessons you learnt?
I learnt that nothing beats hard work and that your environment will influence your mindset and eventual success. For me, I
realised how important it is at a young age to have a teaching team which really supports you and creates a positive and safe environment to develop your most authentic artistic self. Through the core values of Terry Simpson Dance Studios, I learned that working with “courage and determination” provided me with the strong foundation to achieve anything I set my mind to in this career. I can really say that I am so grateful for my full-time experience because it provided me with the space to grow and the attitude to persevere.
Nicola is one of a number of featured graduates who tell their stories in the Full-Time Studies Guide in the current issue of Dance Australia (July/August/September). Print is for keeps! Buy your issue in your favourite newsagent or dance retailer or online here or here.