Ian chasing his dance dreams

SHOE SHUFFLE: dancer Ian Vincent heading south to start a scholarship at Wellington’s Performing Arts Centre. 040061AD

By Cathy Asplin

Ian Vincent freely admits that when he was taken to dance classes as a sixyear-old he hated it.

“It was my sister Leeza who really wanted to go - I thought it was for girls - and it was. I was the only boy in my class.”

Over the years he learned to handle peer pressure and avoid questions from his school mates.

“If anyone asked what I was learning I said ‘jazz’ - I certainly wouldn’t say ‘ballet’. There was a real stereotype when it came to males dancing then - especially ballet - most people assumed if you were a dancer you must be gay.”

Perseverance by his family taking him to classes paid off, however. By the time he was a teenager Ian began to really enjoy jazz, hip hop and tap classes and clearly showed how talented he was.

He won numerous major awards at competitions around the country, including the top Song and Dance Award at the National Performer of the Year contest in 2004.
Judges from Australia and New Zealand noted his outstanding dance ability and felt he could do well with both singing and dancing.

While at Te Awamutu College Ian was recognised in other areas - drumming for the award winning school band, playing soccer for the school, excelling at athletics and showing his leadership ability as head boy last year.

He begins a one year scholarship at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre this week. His classes are paid for, while living expenses are his responsibility.

“I’ve already been offered a teaching position for hip-hop classes, which is great, but I’ll need to pick up some part time work as well.”

He will be living in the heart of the city, just a 10 minute walk from the Performing Arts Centre. While he will be using his considerable talent to take singing, acting and music classes, it is dance that really fires him up.

“I’d love to be a professional dancer and will probably head to Australia next year to chase that dream.”

Not bad for someone who hated his first dance class.