What is your name/age/job title?

Kerry Nicholls, 40, dance teacher, Choreographer, artistic mentor.

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

One thing I would love to have known is that your career path isn't straightforward and that you don't always keep to the route that you've planned. Keeping yourself willing, open, flexible and curious allows you to keep working in this competitive world and ensures that you keep developing and expanding your craft.

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

I would have urged myself to visit more galleries, see more theatre, read more books, and generally indulged deeper in this fantastic cultural capital before I had my son and time became a frenetic juggle. 

Personally though, I would have liked to have believed in my artistic views and spoken up more. This would have helped me to become better at networking in my early career and would have cultivated some vital public speaking skills.

If someone had told your 16-year-old self that you would be a successful dancer in your twenties, would have believed them? Or did you have other ambitions?

I had no other ambition whatsoever on my radar; dance has always defined me. So although I questioned whether I was capable, I would have gladly believed that delightful person and given them a hug.

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

Not really. I believe that all episodes – whether embarrassing, painful, or joyous – all go in to the melting pot of shaping who you are. However, I had to dance naked for five minutes at the start of a piece once. It was a steep learning curve and ultimately gave me a huge surge of confidence. My major concern is that a copy still lies in a dusty archive somewhere where a student can get their hands on it!

Is there a single thing (a book, a course, a piece of equipment, a technique etc) that you wish you’d had/known about when you started out? Something that has shaped the way you work today?

It’s really hard to narrow this down. Recently though, I have started yoga and this has been a revelation for me physically. Teaching can be so damaging on the body and having the support of my yoga practice allows me to take care of myself. 

Is there a project of which you are particularly proud?

I am currently working on an amazing project called Street Stories. Royal Opera House and East London Dance have joined forces to facilitate a great dance/music collaboration based on responses to Shakespeare’s Othello. It has given a platform to talented young people.

What would you consider your ‘big break’? And how did you get it?

Landing a place at Trinity Laban so that I could begin my training and eventually surround myself with inspirational teachers and like-minded people.

Now I really feel that every day is a “big break” as I get the chance to work inside a fascinating art form with amazing artists. Each single day is an opportunity to continue developing and honing my skills, which is so exciting.

Kerry is working with East London Dance and the Royal Opera House Education Team on Street Stories, a cross-artform collaboration project for young performers. Street Stories will be performed in Spring 2012. For more information, visit the website.

Are you a young creative looking for £30,000 funding over an entire year? Visit the Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund brief to find out more.