We are happy to share our interview with Ella about her years of experience as a solo dancer and her valuable insights and tips for other soloists. Ella is not only a creative force at Ndigo, but also a true example of dedication and hard work.
The solo is truly tailored to you. You can bring your own ideas too.
How did the process of creating your solo choreography feel?
It's a really lovely process. Together with your coach you create the solo. It's great because the solo is truly tailored to you. You can bring your own ideas too, and if you're not comfortable with a step, you just say so and then you look for an alternative with the choreographer. The coaching sessions are incredibly educational as well. In the coaching sessions you really discover what your strengths are and where you still need to work.
Did you enjoy your solo competitions?
Solo competitions are obviously super exciting, because you have to stand on stage completely alone. At my first solo competition I was really stressed, but in the end it was fine. You just have to enjoy it and show what you can do. What I also love about the competitions are the friends you make. Everyone is really kind and supports each other. After the competition you also receive feedback you can use to keep improving.
Do you feel you have grown through solo dancing?
Yes, I'm certain that everyone who does a solo grows a great deal. Firstly you learn a lot from the one-on-one training and you receive lots of good tips. The competitions themselves are educational too, because you get tips from professional jury members and you grow as a dancer by standing on stage. But beyond the dancing you also learn many other things: you learn to deal with stress, you get to know yourself better, it helps with perseverance and so much more.
Everyone is unique in their own way and has their own style, so you really can't compare.
Did you experience any difficulties or fears? Have you overcome them?
At first I was really scared of standing on stage alone, because everyone is watching just you. And I was especially afraid of what people would think of me, that they might not think I was good or that they would judge me. By taking part in many competitions that fear disappeared, and everyone is really kind to each other at the competitions.
Any tips for other solo dancers?
One of the hardest things for me with a solo was not comparing myself to others. You really shouldn't do that, and I've learnt that over the years. Everyone is unique in their own way and has their own style, so you really can't compare. The most important thing is simply to enjoy it and learn from the experience.