What is your name/age/job title?

Marie-Gabrielle Rotie, 44, choreographer, performer, artist, producer.

What one thing do you wish you had known at the start of your career that you know now?

I got put off dance when a ballet teacher told me I had the wrong feet. I had a lot of body image hang-ups. Thankfully, at 22, a Japanese dance teacher told me my feet were perfect for Butoh. I wish I had realised sooner that some of the best contemporary dancers are hardly identikit types.

If you could go back and give your younger self any practical advice, what would it be?

I was a very shy and under confident girl and found it very difficult to socialise. I suspect that learning to be more social and network a bit more might had made my life a bit easier. Having said that, the intensity of creating demands quite a lot of concentration, so maybe being a bit of a hermit was okay for me.

I would also say never loose faith in what you have and that it’s hopeless comparing yourself to other people. Also, find yourself a mentor or role model. It really helps to focus goals and realise that if someone else got there, you can too!

If someone had told your 16-year-old self that you would be a successful choreographer and solo artist now, would you have believed them? Or did you have other ambitions?

My dream was to dance but this got suppressed and I trained as a Fine Artist instead. However, I am living proof that if you follow your dream then you get it in the end!

Is there an embarrassing episode from your past that you wish you could edit out?

Hmm, dancing on my school stage, age 15, in a cut up curtain to Fashion by David Bowie!

Is there a single thing that you wish you’d had/known about when you started out? Something that has shaped the way you work today?

I have been hugely influenced by Butoh. It would have been amazing to encounter that at school. It would have made me realise sooner that there are many ways to understand dance.

Is there a project of which you are particularly proud?

Well, my mum never really took my career seriously until I landed the job of choreographer for the Bacchai directed by Sir Peter Hall and Sir Harrison Birtwistle at the Royal National Theatre in 2002.

Also, I am particularly proud of my latest touring solo MYTHIC as I really feel it’s my strongest piece of work so far.

More If Only I'd Known

Nick Scott: Graphic Designer

Hennie Haworth: Illustrator