- By Bianca Day, AUT Journalism Student
Charlotte Collins, at 21, has already built a life immersed in dance.
Earlier this year, Charlotte attended Deltebre Dansa, a 15-day international dance festival held in the small town of Deltebre in Spain.
The renowned dance festival brings together performers from all corners of the world and encourages them to push the boundaries of their craft through a fortnight of intense workshops.
“It was very full-on” says Charlotte, reflecting on the demanding two-week schedule.
But for someone like Charlotte, who has been dancing since she was five, it was nothing she wasn’t prepared for.
After graduating from Unitec in 2023 with a degree in performing and screen arts majoring in contemporary dance, the Cockle Bay resident was ready to take on the challenge in Spain.
A typical day began with a 20-minute walk to the festival site in scorching 35 degrees heat, followed by classes that stretched both physical and creative limits.
“Dancing in that kind of weather was definitely the hardest part. It was the height of their summer,” Charlotte recalls.
Despite the challenges, she says the experience was incredibly rewarding and helped to improve her craft as a dancer.
One particular class focusing on movement improvisation stuck with her.
“We spent 30 straight minutes improvising, focusing on breathing in and out through the nose to maintain our inner calmness.”
That technique, among others, has influenced her dancing since returning to New Zealand.
Outside the workshops, Charlotte says the community feel of Deltebre Dansa really stuck with her, making it easy to bond with fellow dancers.
“Something about dancing brings communities together,” she says.
“It’s really easy to connect with people, no matter where they’re from.”
A highlight of the trip was watching football’s men’s Euro cup final in a local bar.
“The whole town was celebrating when Spain won. I got no sleep that night!”
Reflecting on her Iberian journey, Charlotte says she wouldn’t change a thing.
“It was an amazing experience.”
She’s now taking time to explore what’s next in her dance career and her dedication to improve her craft remains as strong as ever.
