I began my stilt journey with Empress Stilt Dance in 2006. 

I had graduated from Circo Arts and took a leap of faith and moved to Wellington to join an all female troupe and perform a stilt-ballet to Vivaldi. 

 

We rehearsed in a scout hall all Winter. I moved into a share house while my now hubby stayed in Christchurch, and we flew in and out of that windy city to see eachother. Those plane rides are another story though. 

 

I learned to high kick and pirhoette, and to make those long legs appear to be an extension of my body. 

soft, fluid, dynamic and graceful. 

 

I loved the circus community in Wellingotn, but after spending 3 winters in NZ, it was time to go home. 

When I got back to WA, I realised that stilt performance was mostly character based, and I had been so lucky to have gained the training and community of stilt dance early in my career. 

I craved the dance. 

 

Then Red Top Creations came to town, and my golly we danced. We created choreography and danced through 100's of festivals throughout WA for about 10 years before I moved down south. And we still collaborate where possible. 

 

Now I have gotten back on the sewing machines, and make my costumes, and am building a community of dancers in the South West. 

 

I don't know if I'll ever to another stilt ballet to Vivaldi, but I do know that as long as I can walk,  I will be dancing on stilts.

 

I've found that Stilts engages a crowd and creates a vibe.  And dancing up high elevates spirits, it lights up faces and even inspires the people around me to dance too. 

 

So are we the token stilt walker? Not by a long shot.