Aaron who? When he appeared as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, many were introduced to this talented Australian for the first time. Yet the talented Cash has paved the way for many Australians overseas, writes Sally Clark.
When Aaron Cash was first announced as a judge on Series 4 of So You Think You Can Dance Australia, many younger members of the Australian dance scene, both students and teachers, scratched their heads and questioned his dance heritage and right to occupy that role in this new Australian series. Cash had trained in Australia, and was a multi-skilled and classically trained dancer, singer and actor. But the bulk of his 25 year professional career had been spent in the United States working with icons like Baryshnikov, Twyla Tharp and Cher -- or more recently as co-choreographer of Cuba’s “Ballet Revolucion”. As a result he has flown under the radar in Australia.
Fortunately, bringing him to the attention of SYTYCD’s audience has remedied that oversight and also means he can share the wealth of knowledge he has gleaned from all those incredible performance experiences. His career also serves as a great example of how rewarding and varied your professional opportunities can be when you are not afraid to challenge yourself or move yourself to where you need to get those challenges.
Cash began his dance training in Brisbane with Clarrissa Hill before winning a scholarship to study at [the late] Ross Coleman’s performing arts school, which moved him to Sydney and shaped the kind of dancer he would become. Of that experience Cash says: “Ross Coleman was probably the greatest influence in my life, and I miss him every day. What George Balanchine did for American Ballet, Ross Coleman did for dance in this country. It wasn’t just about the dance, it was about life. And life is to be lived -- and you danced as you lived with great passion and hunger and curiosity. You always learned. You never stopped learning.”
This is an extract from an article by Sally Clark in the June/July issue. You can buy it from your favourite dance shop or newsagent, or subscribe here or download our app here.