When I was in sixth class in school, just twelve years of age, I was asked if id like to join a local stage school. It came about when the mother of a girl my sister went to drum classes with got chatting to my mam while they waited for the two girls to do their lesson. One day I went along with my mam we got into a conversation about music and drama etc so she knew it would be of interest to me. One thing led to another and I joined. Between the time I joined in 1999, and the time I left in 2009 I think...I took part in a number of shows there. Including 'Cinders', and 'Dream Catcher', which we did in a local secondary school, as well as The Olympia Theater in Dublin. During my time with the school I had the privilege of taking on some of the lead roles in the shows. My dance teacher Pamela Keeley thought a lot of me, and she really nurtured my 'talent', giving me every chance to shine. There were always talent spotters at the shows, and they were very interested in me at the time. They wanted me to go to London, for what I'm not actually sure! But my parents had a secret meeting with Pamela and they thought I was to young to make the trip over to London. I only discovered this within the last year, when my Pamela was reminiscing on old times, and she mentioned it. I was quite annoyed, but I'm sure they thought it was the right thing to do at the time....Boo.
Some of the songs I sang included; A whole New World (Aladin), Rich Girl (Gwen Stefani), Sway (Pussycat Dolls), Somewhere over the rainbow (Eva Cassidy), amongst others. Sometimes we would be asked to dance at events like, shop openings, fashion shows, and a select few of us were asked to dance at Pamela's wedding! I was hugely honored to be asked to do this! Originally I was asked to sing at it, and when I arrived at rehearsal, there was a group of older girls there, and Pamela asked if id join them also. It was a spontaneous decision as far as I know! We performed at a fashion show at which Sinead O' Carroll (Former B- Witched member) was MC for the night, (Not to be name dropping...)
My time with the stage school really gave me the foundation I needed to deal with the ins and outs of 'the business' as they say. To this day I still refer back to things I learned there. Also, Pamela has been a huge inspiration to me. I'm still in touch with her, and I call her when I need a professional opinion or advise on all kinds of matters. I cant express enough, how extremely happy I am to have her a phone call away.
