Person to Person: I hope lots of people come to watch the Corkmas Christmas Parade

Tell us about yourself:

I have been dancing ballet almost my entire life, so it still feels like a dream to be able to call it my job. I adore working with kids and teens because it is incredibly rewarding to help them improve and watch them find joy in dance.

I came to Cork in September and teach three classes a week at Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance and help out in all the others.

When you can’t find me in the dance studio, I am probably somewhere dramatically acting out musicals or teaching myself another language to add to my list. In Germany, I am also a full-time student majoring in English and Education beside teaching ballet.

Where were you born?

NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia), a state in Germany.

Where do you live?

Münster, Germany, but at the moment in Cork city.

Family?

I have a younger sister whom I miss a lot. She’s 17 and super-talented when it comes to arts and crafts. I can’t wait to see her again when I go back home. My parents are also teachers, so I guess the genetics took over.

Best friend?

I met my best friend when I started working as a ballet teacher. Her name is Daria and she’s from Ukraine. We instantly had a connection; it’s like our brains connected over Bluetooth. Now we spend all our free days together in the dance studio teaching each other our different dance styles. I consider her a second sister.

Earliest childhood memory?

I vividly remember my dad taking me on a walk in a forest so we could cut down a little branch to then recreate a craft we had seen on the back of one of my favourite books my parents used to read me every day. We punched some holes in old beer caps (very German) and built a rattle - I still have it.

Person you most admire?

A big question I don’t really have an answer to. I generally admire people who are willing to work hard for their dreams and have a positive mindset. 

Kindness and patience are also very important to me. Oh, and anyone who can play the guitar well.

Person who most irritates you?

I usually don’t even think about people I don’t like; there’s more important things to use that space in my head for than negative or irritating people. Being a kind person isn’t hard.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

I went to Copenhagen not too long ago and fell in love with the city. I had always wanted to go and finally being there just confirmed my feeling. I adore Scandinavian design and am very interested in fashion, so Copenhagen hit the spot. A beautiful city with super-stylish people.

Favourite TV programme?

I don’t really watch TV, but I absolutely love fairytales, so the only time you will catch me in front of the TV is on Sundays when the German kids TV channel airs its weekly traditional fairytale movie. For Christmas, I highly recommend watching Three Wishes For Cinderella.

Favourite radio show?

Does Spotify count?

Your signature dish if cooking?

Pasta. I live and breathe pasta. But since I prefer baking over cooking, most people would probably consider my signature dish chocolate brownies or cookies.

Favourite restaurant?

My friends and I love going to Wetherspoons here in Cork, so we were heartbroken to hear they’ll be closing soon. It is such a loss for the city.

Last book you read?

Time And The Island, by Séan Dunne. I found it at a vintage bookstore in Dublin.

Best book you read?

Not the best, but I think everyone should give Frankenstein by Mary Shelley a read.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

Requiem album by Keshi.

Favourite song?

Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton. Makes me cry every time. Right now I have Pinball by Rescene on repeat.

One person you would like to see in concert?

Louis Tomlinson. I love that lad. I saw him once already on his first solo tour and would sell my kidney to see him again.

Do you have a pet?

No, but I’d like to have a cat or two.

Morning person or night owl?

Night owl.

Your proudest moment?

A recent highlight was performing the choreography I made with my students in the Dragon of Shandon Halloween Parade. 

It was my first time choreographing something non-ballet and my first time celebrating Halloween on such a large scale, but the feedback I got was so amazing and lovely; it made me really proud.

Spendthrift or saver?

I try to be a saver but I don’t think it’s working. I’m leaving all my money in Ireland.

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

Cork needs to fix its bus system, because I am faster by foot than if I wait for a bus that either never arrives or is 20 minutes late. The thought process behind making everyone enter and leave through the same door one by one baffles me.

What makes you happy?

Performing, music, chocolate, and my friends

How would you like to be remembered?

As joyful, kind, and hopefully someone who was seen on stage a lot.

What else are you up to at the moment?

I still have so many things to do before I leave Cork! At the moment, I’m preparing not only for the Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance Christmas show but also the Corkmas Christmas Parade! Rehearsals are running and we have costumes laying around in every corner. The Christmas spirit is slowly creeping in and I feel like baking some cookies. 

I’m excited to see what Christmas time in Ireland is like and hope many people will come to watch the Christmas parade!

• The Corkmas Christmas Parade will take place this Friday, November 15, and will mark the start of the most wonderful time of the year and the traditional switching on of the Christmas lights. The parade will begin at 6.30pm on North Main Street and travel through the streets of Cork before finishing on Patrick Street. More than 60 dancers from Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance will take part in the Christmas Parade. See www.corkmas.ie