Dancenorth Australia is delighted to introduce two new members to their dynamic ensemble: the recent NZ School of Dance graduate, Aleeya McFadyen-Rew, and returning friend, Jag Popham. Their unique paths and perspectives were recently illuminated in a Q&A session expertly conducted by Susannah Smith from the Dancenorth team.
For Aleeya McFadyen-Rew, the journey to Dancenorth feels like a dream realised. Having first encountered the company during their Secondment Program in 2024, the 19-year-old dancer was immediately captivated. Reflecting on her initial draw to dance, Aleeya shared a charmingly relatable anecdote: "I started dancing because I really liked Barbie and the Twelve Dancing Princesses and Usher’s 2005 live Grammy’s performance." Her training has been broad, encompassing everything from "baby ballet classes" to a contemporary major at NZSD. What truly excites her about dance now is the "way energy flows through me, the push and pull of momentum, and the physicality." Her experience performing in Malia Johnston’s "Belle – A Performance of Air" was a career highlight, where she "was able to learn a bit of aerial work which I really enjoyed." When asked why she chose Dancenorth, Aleeya explained, "I first heard about Dancenorth before training at NZSD... In my third year at NZSD, Felix Sampson came back to the school as a guest teacher. He shared his experience of working with Dancenorth... I really connected to it all." Now living in Gurambilbarra (Townsville), she admits, "This is my first time living in a different country... it’s a lot hotter than New Zealand, a lot more humid," but she's also looking forward to "exploring Gurambilbarra (Townsville) a bit more, the beautiful landscapes and nature."
Jag Popham, on the other hand, is a familiar and welcome presence at Dancenorth. Having recently joined the company for the final leg of their "Wayfinder" tour, the 28-year-old brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the company's ethos. His initial connection to dance was sparked early: "I started at three with Ballet... I disappeared one day, and my parents were like ‘Where’s Jag!?’ They found me about an hour later wearing my sister’s leotard!" For Jag, dance is more than just movement; it's about "emotional hygiene" and an "exploration in this body that we’re all kind of born into." He sees it as his "task to research all the different ways that this body can interact with the world." His decision to officially join Dancenorth was driven by a strong sense of alignment. "It’s my favourite company," he declared. "It feels like you can run alongside the team, no one’s way out ahead and no one’s dragging their heels." Moving to Gurambilbarra (Townsville) has been "terrific!" for Jag, who is keen to embrace the local environment. "I’ve got a motorbike that’s dual sport and I’m keen to get off into the mountains and do some camping and proper ‘bush time’." Beyond performing, Jag is already contributing to the community through Dancenorth’s Dancespace program. "It's dance with a reason," he explained. "It's the healing power of dance and actual community building." Looking to the future, Jag is brimming with creative energy, revealing, "I want to release my first album this year... And I've got a whole bank of things that didn't make it - off-cuts from projects that I want to put into something. I want to keep working on my company, Kin."
With their individual journeys and shared passion, Aleeya McFadyen-Rew and Jag Popham are set to bring exciting new dimensions to Dancenorth Australia. Their energy and insights promise valuable contributions to Dancenorth Australia's continued artistic journey.