Australian dancer Matt Landel (18) has successfully made the switch from ballet to musical theatre. He has just won the leading role as the magical, mystical Mistoffelees in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats on the cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International).
The role is a dream-come-true for Landel (pictured) who, after many years of ballet training, made the difficult decision to leave the Australian Ballet School earlier this year to pursue his dream of a career in musical theatre. Landel began his ballet training under the direction of his mother, Debbie Landel, on the Gold Coast, working his way through all his RAD ballet exams to Advanced 2 by the age of fourteen. He also undertook jazz, tap and musical theatre training with Dianne Talbot, who he claims is "incredible - I still hear all the corrections she has told me over the years".
With such a strong foundation in dance, he auditioned for the Australian Ballet School's interstate program in 2008 and became a full-time student at the school in 2011.
Landel always thought he would have a career in ballet first before making the switch to musical theatre, but as an "entertainer at heart" he discovered earlier this year that ballet was not quite "fitting that criteria". Making the switch, he says, "was a long and challenging process" made easier by the support of both his family and School. "I still love ballet and respect the art form so much".
Rehearsals for Cats began in Miami in August with the ship setting sail in October. The rehearsal period was intense but inspiring: "It really is living the dream: singing, dancing and acting, all day, every day". Landel alternates his on-board performances in Cats with a role in an original Royal Caribbean show called Come Fly With Me.
The role of Mistoffelees is particularly fitting for Landel who explains that "Mistoffelees is a magical and mystical cat who truly loves impressing people - he really just wants to entertain". He explains that this role aligns with his dream of entertaining and says, as a child, he remembers jumping and dancing around the house to the Cats soundtrack. "There is a possibility I drove my parents crazy".
This role is the first step in Landel's plan to seize every opportunity that comes his way. He reflects that this year has taught him much about the importance of pursuing your dreams. "I have learned from this transition between classical ballet and musical theatre that dreams and goals can change." He credits his years of classical ballet training for his strong work ethic, discipline, musicality and strength and says that his ballet training laid the foundation for his transition to musical theatre (along with his early classes with Dianne Talbot).
For now, an ocean of dreams lies ahead of him and Landel is enjoying every moment of the journey - allowing the "water to take me wherever it wants to".
- MICHELLE DURSUN