Graduate story: Glori Pembroke

What is your best memory of your full-time dance studies?

My most enduring memory is of the friendships and connections I made during my time at Conlan. It is such a warm and welcoming environment where the only competition you have is with yourself.  The other students are so supportive and kind, and we all work towards our individual goals. it is a small program and that makes it so much easier to fit in and to feel like you are part of a family.

Some of my best friends, who I know will be my best friends forever, I met at Conlan. Our shared experiences, our love of dance, and the ongoing support of each other that we have, make our bonds so very strong. Conlan is such an inclusive space, and these friendships are what gets me through any tough times, even though we now live far apart.

What is the main overall lesson you learnt?

I started at Conlan as a raw 12-year-old, having come from a small recreational studio. When I joined, I really had not much of an idea about what it would take to turn me into a professional dancer.

During my time at Conlan I grew so much as a human being. I learnt resilience in tough times, perseverance to keep going

through the long days of training, and a focus on me as a whole person that developed me into the dancer I am today.

I learned to work hard, have fun along the way and to focus on the love of my art form. I was thrilled to be accepted straight into the second year (having skipped through first year) of my Bachelor of Arts degree at WAAPA and those life lessons I learned still serve me today.

Glori is just one of many graduates who tell their stories in the Full-Time Studies Guide in the current issue of Dance Australia (July/August/September). Print is for keeps! Buy your issue in your favourite newsagent or dance retailer or online here or here.