We caught up with Northern Ballet School graduate, Erin Blanchfield, about her journey towards landing her dream job as a real-life showgirl at the eponymous Moulin Rouge in Paris!
What inspired you to go into performing arts as a career?
I’m lucky that from the age of 3, when I started dance classes, I was in a fun environment in which I could explore freely, and I fell in love with it! I’m naturally more creative than academic, so dance always felt like a perfect fit for me.
Alison Christy, my first teacher, was my first and long-standing inspiration to pursue dance as a career.
At the age of 3, when I started dance classes, I was in a fun environment in which I could explore freely, and I fell in love with it!
Why was your dream to perform at Moulin Rouge, and how does it feel to have accomplished that?
Being 5’11, I am often too tall to fit into the ensemble cast of some jobs. There is no such thing as ‘too tall’ at Moulin Rouge, where height is celebrated.
I fell in love with the beauty of showgirling! I still can’t believe I landed this job; I don’t think I could put it into words!
What was it like to have your experience filmed for a documentary?
Going into any recruitment process and new job is already overwhelming!
Having my experience filmed for the BBC documentary was daunting at times; it made it all feel ten times more surreal but, overall, made me even more excited to get in the show!
I’m so lucky to have had the process documented for me to look back on.
Read more: Erin Blanchfield appears in BBC documentary Moulin Rouge: Yes We Can-Can!
How do you feel your training at Northern Ballet School prepared you for your career?
At NBS, I received well-rounded training in so many different styles that added to my professional capabilities and confidence. I learnt a lot of independence, which definitely helped me when moving around Europe on different jobs.
I fell in love with the beauty of showgirling! I still can’t believe I landed this job; I don’t think I could put it into words!
What advice you would give to a current Northern Ballet School or ICTheatre student about to start their career?
My advice is to be persistent.
Keep showing up. I auditioned a few times for Moulin Rouge; some people get it first try, and some people take longer! Show that you’re keen and build a reputation with the company.
Try to enjoy every experience you have for what it is, whether it’s an audition or an ongoing job!
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