For August, we are happy to have as Artist of the Month Kine Stormfelt, a young dancer. Kine is originally from Norway and started her professional career at 18 years old. She performed in many stage productions and TV shows like Dancing With The Star
s (Norway) and Eurovisionsongcontest 2010.
Kine Stormfelt: Dancer
Forum Artistico: Can you please tell us what is the main reason that made you choose to become a dancer?
Kine: Well, it was actually a coincidence, because I played soccer and ran tracks at a very high level when I started dancing. But many of my friends were very interested in dancing and one day I joined one of their dance practices and since then I have loved itJ But I have not always been sure that I actually could live of dancing in Norway because the competition is hard and there is not too many jobs, but I have been lucky andwith hard work I got the opportunity to live of my passion
F.A.: At what age you started dancing professionally
Kine: I would say around 18, I did some dance jobs before that, but not professionally paid jobs.
F.A. What kind of training do you have?
Kine: My first 6 months of dancing I did mainly jazz and funk, but then I got accepted to a performing arts/dancing school ( it `s the same as senior high school in USA ) and went there from the age of 16 to18 ½ . There we had ballet, modern, jazz and improvisations among other subjects as math, geography, Norwegian, English, etc. After High School I actually had a year of dancing because I was not accepted at the college that I wanted to go to. And unfortunately I totally lost confidence in my dancing and myself so I had to take a break from it all . After a year without dancing I was so eager to start again so I applied to another college and was accepted there. So I went there for three years and earned a bachelor in dance. At college I had dance classes like jazz, ballet, hip hop , funk, contemporary, modern and tap, but the main focus was on jazz, ballet and modern.
When I had time off from school, I took classes in the afternoon in contemporary and commercial dance
F.A.: You are performing many different dance disciplines. How important has been ballet for you?
Kine: I believe that ballet is the foundation to almost every dance form, except hip hop and similar styles. But if you want to be a good jazz/contemporary dancer you need to have ballet training. It makes you strong and you get nice lines and a good basic foundation technique. I always wished that I started taking ballet classes when I was a kid because the earlier you get into ballet the stronger you get. Of course you can still be a good dancer without ballet, but I believe that it takes you from good to excellent. I still try to train ballet 4- 5 times a week in addition to other styles, even tough I am not a ballerina. But this changes of course when I am working on a performance or a show. Because then you don’t have to much time off
F.A.: What is your favorite dance style?
Kine: I have to say contemporary jazz and commercial jazz. They are the genres I think I do best. But I like almost any style of dance and I love to learn new styles.
F.A: What is the difference between dancing on a theatre’s stage and on a TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and Eurovision Festival?
Kine: Normally on a TV show there are more people involved, the crew is bigger and it takes more time to do TV, because you need the cameras to know exactly in witch position the dancers are to get the best shots. And of course with a live audience like in the theater you get a totally different vibe to the whole performance. Because you get the energy from the audience and that gives you a real rushJ
F.A.: How is dancing in Norway?
Kine: Dancing in Norway is pretty good, there are many good dancers and teachers, but not to many jobs and the jobs are mainly in the capital of Norway, Oslo. So the competition is hard. Often many have to be their own employers and make dance performances with fellow colleagues and apply for monetary support from the Norwegian government. But there are of course jobs in the theaters and in companies.
F.A.: Did you ever think of going to dance in other countries?
Kine: I would love to go to another country and dance just to experience a different culture, meet new people and get new inspirations. I have already been to New York a couple of times and absolutely loved it. The city is beautiful and full of life and excellent dancing, so that was amazing. Hopefully, I could go back and experience moreJ Dancing in Europe is very good as well so I think I would like to go and experience that to.
F.A.: Usually, the next step for a dancer’s career is starting choreography or teaching, at your young age have you started to do so?
Kine: I have been teaching funk, commercial and contemporary since I was 18. So yes I have started to teach. It is a lot fun to share my passion for dance with others. So I’m probably going to continue with that while I work as a dancer. If I have timeJ
F.A.: Are you currently working on a project or a production?
Kine: At the moment I am in a show/ performance called “ Jazz on Jazz “ by Chet Walker. And we are going to have performances here in Oslo and in Greenland. So it `s going to be so exciting.
F.A.: Professionally, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Kine: Hopefully I could still live of my dancing. I really don’t think that age matters as long as your body still works and your in good shape. Hopefully, I will have had the opportunity to work in different countries around the world and still do so in 10 years.
