Musical theatre talent inspires Mackay dance students
‘One of the best things of being a working professional and having my dreams come true is I can then pass that on and share that with the younger generation’
Mackay
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mackay. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Musical theatre actor Samantha Dodemaide has worn Dorothy’s coveted red sparkly shoes and now she wants students to know dreams really do come true.
Dodemaide visited Mackay on Sunday to present an intensive class to the dancers at Fame Talent School.
“I love working with students and I always want to come back to Mackay,” the 28 year old said.
“My best friend lives in Mackay so it’s killing two birds with one stone.
“I just love the kids here because they’re so inspiring for me, they really work hard and I think it’s amazing to be able to bring something from down south to the regional areas.
“One of the best things of being a working professional and having my dreams come true is I can then pass that on and share that with the younger generation and hopefully inspire them.”
Ms Dodemaide has starred as Elphaba in Wicked and in Violet at Sydney’s Hayes Theatre.
And she has understudied “amazing” talent including Tina Arena playing Eva Peron in Evita, Caroline O’Connor taking on Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Verity Hunt-Ballard as Charity Hope Valentine in Sweet Charity and Natalie Bassingwaithe as Roxie Hart in Chicago the Musical.
More stories:
Why QLD as preferred 2032 Olympic candidate benefits Mackay
The Australian Ballet mentors young Mackay dancers
But her successes were not without hard work.
“I did four years of full-time dance after I finished high school,” Ms Dodemaide said.
“I (then) started to audition for shows and I didn’t get lots of them until I finally got my first contract.
“It was at Universal Studios Japan working in a condensed version of Wicked the Musical.
“That was thrilling for a 19 year old, 20 year old. It was amazing.”
Dodemaide said musical theatre was infectious all over the world as it made people feel good and allowed self-expression.
“To be honest, what I love about musical theatre in particular is it doesn't really matter about skill, obviously to a degree it does, but passion is the most important part of it.”
Subscriber benefits:
How to activate your free Courier-Mail subscription
How to get Daily Mercury news straight to your inbox
Fame Talent School owner Dolly Louw said her students loved practising with the “fun” and “infectious” Dodemaide.
Ms Louw said the students had watched her perform in Chicago in Sydney and after the show, Dodemaide went to the stage door to greet them all.
“I’m just so grateful my kids (got) to work with someone like her,” she said.
For anyone interested in the performing arts available at Fame Talent School, email admin@fametalentschool.com
Share your story and photos with us: Daily Mercury
REPLAYS: Gold Coast powerhouse sweeps to yet more AFLQ Schools Cup glory
They did it for the first time in 2023, now Palm Beach Currumbin can add four more titles to their burgeoning trophy cabinet after dominating finals day at Maroochydore. Catch up on all the REPLAYS.
Labor maxing out the credit card on socialist policies
The Premier’s $1.4bn pledge to provide free school lunches for all Queensland state primary school children is a bold move, but a sign Labor is just maxing out the credit card on socialist policies that are short-term sugar hits.