Performing! It’s a challenge, a joy, a mystery, and sometimes hard work. Sometimes it can be all these things at the same time. But what I love about it, what I aim for, when it feels and works best – is for it to be a place where I go to, where I live in the moment, to tell a story, to be someone, or something else, to be the paint, as it were.
Meet Toby Fitzgibbons
I’m a professional dancer, and I’ve been working with balletLORENT since about 2012. I have danced in other companies too, and I teach dance in companies and colleges. I have been lucky to travel to places all over the world to do my job.
I get to share many of the wonderful things I’ve been taught with other lovely people and impart some of the knowledge that has been gifted to me.
I first met Liv Lorent at the very beginning of my professional dance career – in 2004. I love balletLORENT’s creativity, scope and its mission – all based on Liv’s vison.
Dancing is a hard thing to choose, and it won’t always be easy — but that’s what makes it special! It’s not for people who give up quickly. If the fun times help you through the tricky ones, then maybe dancing is meant for you.
Get to know Toby
What’s your favourite part of your job?
What’s your favourite balletLORENT family show and why?
It’s very hard to choose! But in many ways Snow White would be one of my favourites! The show is full of drama, jeopardy, jealousy, and the wrath of mother and her need for revenge. Not to mention, in our version, it is an allegory as a critic of capitalism, and thus a warning to those of ‘the haves’, in contrast to those of ‘the have’ nots; the oppressed classes, that you can only push people so far before they will rise-up and demand social justice!
But love, in our story, conquers the darkness. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if real life was like that!
What would you say to someone who wanted to dance?
Dancing isn’t always easy — it can be really hard work! Some people might say it’s too difficult or not worth it. But that’s why brave people like us choose it. It’s not for someone who gives up when things get tough.
But if you love dancing so much that the good days help you through the hard ones, then maybe dancing is exactly what you’re meant to do.
Gallery
Rapunzel
Dancers: Toby Fitzgibbons, Virginia Scudeletti
Costumes: Michele Clapton
Set Design: Phill Eddolls
Photo: Bill Cooper
Snow White
Dancers: Virginia Scudeletti, John Kendall, Geoff Hopson, Toby Fitzgibbons, Berta Admetlla, Montaine Ponceau, Natalie MacGillivray
Costumes: Libby El-Alfy, Nasir Mazhar
Photo: The Twins
The Velveteen Rabbit
Dancers: Toby Fitzgibbons, Berta Admetlla, Montaine Ponceau, Natalie MacGillivray
Costumes: Nasir Mazhar
Photo: Luke Waddington