Featured Grad

AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA MISLAN, 1997 GRAD & DANCER IN CÉLINE DION’S LAS VEGAS SHOW, “A NEW DAY”

How did you first get involved in dance and what made you eventually decide to train at the RWB School?

I started dancing at the age of 3 and was fully into the jazz, tap and musical theatre scene. I began with ballet, but to be honest I did not like it! I was always referred to as “the jazz dancer” by my ballet teacher, but I stuck with it to have the base for my technique. It’s funny that at age 13, I auditioned for the RWB summer session mostly because I had heard it was fun and there were lots of excursions planned. Can you imagine? Little did I know, I would end up loving the challenge and the discipline I learnt that summer, and I couldn’t wait to begin training with the school. I was fully focused on ballet.

What do you think is unique about the RWB School?

I love that whenever I was traveling in the US and Europe, people immediately recognized my training. I would get asked where I trained and when I said, “RWB” it was always followed by, “Oh yes. That’s why your technique is so strong”. It’s kind of this hidden gem in the middle of the prairies that everyone around the world knows about.

You were awarded the Paddy Stone Memorial Scholarship for choreography in 1997. Are you still choreographing?

I have to say that receiving that award was a shock! That was my first attempt at creating a whole piece – I just had a vision and went with it! That experience helped me later on as assistant choreographer for the musical “You Can’t Beat Fun”, and also for the extensive training I went through in Belgium for “A New Day”. We were put through hours & hours of improvisation and tableau work and I drew from that early choreography experience to help me.

Was there anyone who was particularly influential in terms of your training?

As I think of my teachers, they all helped me so much. I needed a lot of help with my ballet technique at first and I remember when I first started to feel that something was clicking. It was a struggle at first, but in Miss (Elaine) Werner’s level 4 class I began to understand my body. I worked very hard and every year I was given more opportunities. When I was chosen to work with Mr. (David) Moroni for the Nutcracker Pas de Deux, he gave me a great deal of confidence and knowledge. I am also grateful to my friend Josée (Garant) and for being able to work with her so much. I was there for the start of so many creations, which is my favorite thing! And of course Miss Julia (Arkos) and Galina (Yordanova) for their artistry and detail.

Although you are from Winnipeg and you weren't away from your family while training, those years in the school must have been very intense - balancing academics with dance, the cost of tuition, etc. - there were undoubtedly a lot of pressures. How did you deal with these? Did you ever get so discouraged you thought of giving it all up? What made you keep going?

They were very intense years. Looking back, I don’t know how I juggled all of my training and schoolwork (on not much sleep), finishing with good grades in the end. But I have always been one for challenge- it fuels me. I did consider myself lucky to have my family there and also my friends from outside the dance world. I think it was important for me to escape the mindset now and then so that I could refocus and not get lost. The RWB School was very supportive of me. I received a scholarship every year I was there, which kept me going and gave me more to strive for.

When you graduated from the RWB's Professional Division in 1997, did you feel adequately prepared for a professional career?

I did feel prepared as a dancer. When I graduated, the Aspirant Program was just being implemented. I stuck around to work with the Company and benefit from the performing. I also got to work a lot on more independent modern projects with Groundswell. Because the Aspirant Program was just starting, there were times when we didn’t have classes. So I planned an audition tour with my girlfriends, on our own, which was a challenge. I found we were venturing into unknown territory, being so isolated in Winnipeg. I was asked to give a class for the future grads on everything I learnt.

When did you decide to cross over into modern dance? What was the process of that for you and what were the factors that contributed to your decision?

It wasn’t really a “cross over”. When I was in the Professional Division, I was focused on ballet, but have always considered myself a very versatile dancer. I can easily pick up different styles and am most happy doing everything! I was fully into my modern classes at the RWB School and loved ballet for the technique and body awareness it gave me. When I was auditioning in Europe and was deciding between a couple of contracts, it was actually at that moment that I knew I wanted more. I wanted to do ballet, contemporary, jazz, sing, act… Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough for me in Winnipeg and I actually stopped dancing for a year. I missed performing so much that it’s what I had to do. I followed my instincts to NY, and now I’m in one of the biggest, most coveted shows among dancers.

Were you surprised at the success you and other RWB grads have experienced?

No, not really. If you work hard for something, I believe that things fall into place and you go towards what you want. Sometimes though, it takes some time before you really know what that is.

What, if any, advice or "words of wisdom" do you have for young students / up and coming young dancers?

If you really want it, you will end up in your niche. From my experience in the dance world, you have to be versatile and open to any style that comes your way. Your career will go farther, as today’s shows and choreographers are much more open and constantly trying to evolve. It’s also more fun!

What is a typical day like for you now - or are there no typical days?

Well, we work 5 days a week - Wednesday to Sunday - and we work usually 6 weeks in a row and have a couple of weeks off. I’m at work at around 2:30. We have daily classes offered in all different styles, taught by some of the dancers and many guest teachers. We also have time for physio and massage appointments and pilates sessions. We then have an hour-long restaging and notes session everyday before the show. Then it’s dinner, make-up, warm-up, and show time! Post show, we usually go to a few of our hang-outs to unwind. It’s a fun life.

Tell us a little bit about the show, Céline Dion's A New Day. You are one of many dancers - is it modern? Contemporary ballet? It must be exciting to be part of such a huge show. Does the content change fairly often or is it the same show over and over? Do you mind the repetition?

I can’t believe it’s been 3 years, because I’m actually not tired of it yet. We do have opportunities to rotate in the show and I find that because we have notes everyday, it keeps the show fresh. In fact, people who have seen the show again and again say the energy just keeps getting better and it stays genuine. The audience is different every night of course, which affects how we perform too – it’s exciting. I am among some of the best dancers in the world and each one of us has a different style and something unique to bring to the show. That’s why we were chosen, and thinking about that makes me feel very fortunate to be here.

Everyone is going to want to know what Céline Dion is like. Do you have much contact with her?

Every time someone asks me, I always say the same thing because it’s true! First of all, she’s hilarious. She’s always joking around with us backstage before the show. She’s very down to earth and has such a kind soul. Sometimes I forget that she is the top female recording artist of all time, because when she’s with us we’re all the same. We all consider our company a family.

Although I'm sure it's a long way off now, do you have any plans for what you'll do after dance? It sounds like you are enjoying Las Vegas and you mentioned that you recently bought a house. Do you see yourself staying there?

I did just buy a house here with my boyfriend, but we won’t be staying here forever. The thing to do here is to buy real estate – it’s a great investment! But we love it and are enjoying our time here as much as possible. Life after Vegas? Who knows. I’m just keeping all my doors open and making as many contacts as I can. I’m definitely not finished with performing yet…. This is just the beginning!

Andrea Mislan, 1997 RWB School Grad