We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Danah-Jane Matthews a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Danah-Jane, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My work ethic? For sure that comes (in part) from growing up in a tiny town and wanting to GET OUT! I grew up- as my brother would say ‘at the edge of the known universe’; I wanted to be where the ‘action’ was; which meant be far away from where I began. As a kid’, The action’ for me meant; big cities, movies and ballet companies. With time that turned into working really hard, putting in volumes of hours getting so good- that I would not be overlooked at auditions.
The second part of where my work ethic comes from is that our parents would ALWAYS make us finish what we started- whether we liked it or not. And, sometimes, whether they liked it or not… cut to: me convincing my parents at 14 it was an excellent idea that I move across the country, solo, to pursue a ballet career.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am Australian and Dutch. I left coastal South Australian home in my early teens to live and study dance in Brisbane and then Wellington, New Zealand. At 19 I moved to Paris, then Milan, Sydney, and eventually Los Angeles – as well as a short stint living on location in Cebu, Philippines.
I started taking ballet classes at 9 years old- and despite pursuing it professionally until 19 years old- I always felt like sort-of the ‘ugly duckling / odd one out of the group. I was a head taller and shades browner than everyone else – right up until I landed my first Dance job at the Moulin Rouge in Paris at 19- and even then, it took me a while to understand how to use my body, my instrument, as a WOMAN, not just as a dancer trying to make impossible shapes – trying to ‘fit in’. Finally I was in an environment that was asking- what makes you STAND OUT rather than can’t you just ’FIT IN’. I was performing predominantly Soloist and Lead roles at the Moulin Rouge in Paris for nearly 10 years- taking breaks only to headline on Italian talk shows or tour Australia with he contemporary dance company, DanceNorth. I get restless when I feel like I am not growing or evolving anymore- or enough. In 2013 I started feeling like it was scarier to stay at the Moulin Rouge, to continue live the same year over and over again, (and do the same show day in day out, 2 shows a night, 6 days a week year after year) than it was to go to the US and conquer the unknown.
By June 2015, after a lengthy Visa process and an unexpected 2nd TV show in Italy, I was finally starting to build a base in Los Angeles; where I was to continue acting, modeling, teaching my ‘showgirl secrets’ to private high profile clients, and instructing in boutique pilates and fitness studios across Los Angeles.
WHAT I AM FOCUSSED ON PROFESSIONALLY:
YOU SHOWGIRL – My Showgirl-Inspired fitness platform- it is creating it’s own lane in the fitness market. I’ve never seen anything like it- which was why I had to make it myself. It’s fitness, finesse and feathers… and there is a strong filmic component to the visual identity. It was really important to me that my online clients felt the visual experience was so strong, that they were as immersed into this glamorous world as they could be, that they could nearly smell the perfume of their audience!
In the company of many esteemed professionals, I have taught and performed this movement vocabulary across theatre stages, for television shows and for cinematic creations; and I know that is is the secret sauce to exuding the ‘it’ factor to the outside world, and experiencing balance, and ease inside your body.
The most exciting thing about YSG : it de-mystifies the elusive Showgirl universe and delivers it to you; visually and with intricate instruction. You will be able to see and implement secrets from ‘behind the curtain’ that you can then take with you, and walk taller and move with poise and confidence throughout every corner of your day.
OTHER THINGS:
Although I am the founder, YOU SHOWGIRL has taken a veritable village of talented artists and artisans to bring her to life.
NEW THINGS LAUNCH IN 2024
I have a limited time pre-launch price for annual memberships to YOU SHOWGIRL SESSIONS, access to unlimited 6 week courses, designed to catapult YOU into the limelight. YSG SESSIONS includes curated classes from 4 programs ranging from Mat Pilates, to Showgirl-inspired workouts, Showgirl Heels Technique, directly from Paris, and Showgirl Choreography. Those who step up to grab this incredible offer will also restive my Runway 101 Course I made with Miss Hawaii and Miss USA finalist, Samantha Trumbo, valued at $97 for free, and, the first 10 lucky members will get a private lesson with me 1:1.
All my Showgirl Secrets will be revealed!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1- Make class your focus, always be in class, always be learning and expanding your knowledge or abilities 2- When its the first time attempting something-don’t freak out that things will take at least 4 times longer than you anticipate. You are learning.
3- Over-deliver.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is an individual who loves a goal to wink their teeth into. They have a desired performance, event or project they are working towards. They want to light up the world with their energy. They want to refine how they communicate with their body, on stage and in life. They are ready to become the Diva they were born to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.youshowgirl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youshowgirl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youshowgirl
Image Credits
Gabriella Oltean Andre Atangana
