Dance has taken Emma Holloway around the world. Now based in Dunedin, the 29-year-old is tapping into the musical theatre scene - most recently choreographing Musical Theatre Oamaru's production of The Addams Family musical. Rebecca Ryan finds out more about the life of an Otago dancer.
From the moment she had her first lesson at the age of 6, Emma Holloway (now 29) knew she wanted to dance.
Over the past 23 years, it has become an all-consuming passion.
Growing up in Sydney, Miss Holloway's initial aspiration was to become a ballet dancer and for years she studied ballet, tap and jazz.
She especially loved the variation of jazz, and at age 16, she began to realise it could become a career.
''We got told by our dance teacher: `If you're serious about this, I'll help you. But I need to know who's serious about it and who just wants to keep doing it for fun','' she said.
''I was like, 'Yes, I want to do this'.''
She started performing and teaching around Sydney and New South Wales and got her first contract at 17, straight out of high school.
She left Sydney to take up the contract to dance in India and then Taiwan.
''It was a huge culture shock, but I'd always wanted to go to India ... that was what I wanted to do, I wanted to explore the world and dance at the same time - it was like living the dream.''
In Taiwan, she performed at theme parks.
''I'd go over for anywhere between three to five months, and we'd do a show at a theme park every day for that time, go home for a break and then hope to get another contract and go again ... it was so cool. I loved it.''
After Taiwan, she worked hosting entertainment events on cruise ships for 18 months before arriving in Dunedin in 2008, where she took a break from performing for about three years.
She eventually eased her way back into dancing, going to ballet classes at Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz, where she also started teaching.
While working at the Dunedin Casino, she met director and choreographer Doug Kamo, who the casino hired to do gigs.
''So I thought I'd email him and tell him I'm a dancer.''
They kept in touch and when Mr Kamo was announced as the producer and director of the Otago Daily Times - Big Night In later that year, she found herself auditioning.
The Big Night In introduced Miss Holloway to members of the Otago Dancers and she joined the group and last year applied to choreograph Taieri Musical Society's production of Mamma Mia!.
She got the job, working with Mr Kamo who directed.
Watching her choreography come to life with the lights, the costumes and the set was a ''pretty incredible'' experience.
In February, she won the award for best choreography at the Otago Southland Theatre Awards, for her work in Mamma Mia!.
Earlier this year, she choreographed East Otago Musical Theatre's production of Oklahoma! and when Mr Kamo approached her to choreograph Musical Theatre Oamaru's production of The Addams Family musical, she jumped at the chance.
She will choreograph Grease: The Arena Spectacular for Taieri Musical Society next year.
Based in Dunedin, where she works in administration and marketing, she said she loved the city.
''I love Australia, I love Sydney, and going home for a visit, but I couldn't live there now after living in Dunedin,'' she said.
