Through the art of dance, Anastasia Strouthos has been able to compete in parts of the world few can only dream of.
The young dancer invited Northcliff Melville Times to join her at one of her favourite locations, a dance studio. There, as she engulfed the Northcliff-based DS Dance Studio with her unmistakable talents, she shared why she loved dance so much.
This 19-year-old contemporary dancer has been dancing since she was about four years old, starting with Irish dance, which she said helped open her up to the possibility that dancing was something she was meant to do.
Even with being introduced to many forms of dance, she would find that non compared to one in particular. “When I was in Grade 6, I found this studio and absolutely fell in love with contemporary, it was my best.” During this time, she carried on doing ballet and Irish dance as she found the three types balanced each other out.
Through the years, she had managed to build confidence through dance. “I have always been a very insecure girl but I can put a performance on and this is also in my everyday life. I make sure I have a show face on.” This is a trait that must have served her well as it ensured she qualified and competed in various local and international competitions, travelling to countries such as Scotland and America. The most recent one being the 2022 World Irish Dance Championships held in Belfast, an experience she said was incredible.
Strouthos is very proud of her achievements thus far. “I have done so much already, I am really happy with how far I have come and I feel teaching is maybe the next step for me. I have danced professionally and would love to do more shows.” She teaches dance as a student teacher at the studio, teaching little ones techniques she grew to love as a little girl.
To young dancers, she encouraged them to keep on trying, though some days may be tough and they may question what the point of it all is. “I promise you, that extra 10 minutes a day you put in will pay off.”
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