Chloe Young: 2018 Company Trainee

Pre-Professional Year 2017 graduate Chloe Young joined the Company in 2018 as a Trainee. Chloe’s first challenge was learning repertoire for the South America Tour at the beginning of the year. We chatted with her about her first few months at the Company.

I studied ballet in Queensland before moving to Sydney to complete my studies in 2016. I was really interested in expanding myself into contemporary dance and soon discovered the Pre-Professional Year (PPY) program. It looked amazing! I applied for the course, sent in my video and was called for an audition. It was an incredible experience, I graduated from PPY in December 2017.

Towards the end of the PPY course we all auditioned for the Company. Rafael chose three of us to move forward to the open audition with 100 other people, all trying their best to gain a position with Sydney Dance Company.

I was selected along with another PPY dancer to be understudies for the remainder of the year. We shadowed the Company dancers, watching them rehearse every day and learning the repertoire.

Just a few weeks before graduating, Rafael called me in to his office and offered me the Traineeship for 2018!

I was so shocked! I didn’t know what to say! I stood in Rafael’s office and I think I squeaked out “thank you” but I can’t be sure! It was such a surprise and it’s been absolutely amazing so far.

Being a trainee is almost the same as being a full Company dancer. It’s a slightly smaller on stage role, but the commitment off stage is just the same.

On stage I have a smaller official part and I fill in for other dancers. For example someone might have two solos and two group parts. If it turns out the load is too much for that dancer, I might take over one of the group parts.

I was really lucky to go on the South America Tour at the start of this year, which meant I began learning repertoire in December. South America was really unexpected, I had a lot to learn in a short amount of time, it was intense! Full rehearsals began in 2018 and I discovered how incredibly supportive the dancers are. It was a fantastic experience.

I would say the Europe Tour. It’s quite long, we have four different places to visit and perform in, which is really exciting.

I’m also really looking forward to performing ab [intra]. This is my first experience creating a work from scratch with Sydney Dance Company and with Rafael, rather than learning repertoire, so it’s a very different experience.

I’ve heard the National Tour is long, so I’m going to focus on staying fit and healthy. I’m looking forward to being on the road in Australia and visiting lots of places I’ve never been. 

I have my dream job! Being a Trainee at Sydney Dance Company will give me tons of experience and new challenges. I love what I’m doing now and hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to become a full member of the Company in the future.