One great seasonal work work opportunity for commercial dancers is the Hair Expo held in Sydney on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend every year. Hair Expo brings 6000 hairdressers to the Darling Harbour for three days of inspired learning and creative exhibition of hairdressing craft with notable international guests. Commercial dancers feature heavily in all the shows put on by the leading brands (as well as some of the smaller salon shows) -- who are all trying to outdo each other and present the newest products in the most innovative ways.
P J Clarke of Jeep Management, Sydney’s largest dance agency, noted that this year alone in excess of 60 of their dancers (two-thirds of the agency) were employed for at least one show each, with performers working in more than 15 productions. “The beauty about Hair Expo is that they (the hair teams) are so incredibly creative with their show productions,” he says. “And the big shows have evolved over the years so that now they have an 'entertainment WOW factor' - so each guest will walk away feeling [they’ve had] an experience. These shows also offer opportunities not only for models but dancers with a good fashion look.” And Clarke’s agency is known for representing dancers with just this look, which is why they do so well from the event.
Pictured below is Katie McMahon, from Jeep. This year she featured in both Schwarzkopf’s Essential Looks Gala at the Museum of Contemporary Art on the Saturday Night and then in The Art of Hair’s “Dollhouse” presentation for Sunday Night’s Gen Next show, sponsored by Goldwell. The Saturday presentation was more a photographic installation but the Sunday evening show was a fully choreographed presentation with another seven dancers. She is pictured (L – R) with Briden Aspinall and Ela Ray Markstein.
- SALLY CLARK