It may seem like all glitz, glamour and sidestepping, but a lot goes on behind the scenes when it comes to the world of dance.
For Chloe Rixon, dancing has been a part of her life as long as she can remember. Her foray into the world of dance began with ballet at the tender age of three and now 17-year-old Chloe, along with her partner Ronan Aston, shows off her talent and skill in the styles of Ballroom and Latin.
Together this dynamic duo are Queensland Open Amateur Standard Champions and Australian Under 21 finalists in Standard and Latin. You’ll have a chance to catch them in action when they grace the floor at the Morayfield Sport and Events Centre on August 5 for the Queensland Challenge Cup.
“I was quite shy and reserved when I was younger. I went along to the studio and it turned out I actually have some rhythm and general timing. Then Richard and Natalie snapped me up and threw me into competitions as soon as possible and it went from there.”
Chloe and Ronan have been dancing partners now for five years. They have showcased their skills at a local, state and national level, with plans to embark on the international stage from next year once Chloe has finished school (she’s currently in year 12).
“Ronan and I have been dancing together since 2018 and we have already achieved so much, it’s really exciting to be able to push this to the next level and see where else it takes us,” Chloe says.
Ronan discovered dancing nearly a decade ago after watching a few dance shows and deciding it was something he wanted to try.
“I was quite shy and reserved when I was younger,” he says. “I went along to the studio and it turned out I actually have some rhythm and general timing. Then Richard and Natalie snapped me up and threw me into competitions as soon as possible and it went from there.”
Given the gruelling nature of dance, one can only imagine the toll it takes on the body. Both Chloe and Ronan adhere to a full on training regime at their studio Learn 2 Dance in Stafford.
“It’s definitely tough and you have to be very fit,” Chloe says. “So we train five days a week for about two hours and we also do gym and running outside of that as well. That combined with school, takes up a lot of my time these days!
“When I’m on school holidays, I have the whole day to fit everything in, do some other stuff and even relax as well!”
Although we may dream about the chance to wear sparkling numbers and killer heels, for Chloe it’s a regular occurrence. She currently sports two-and-a-half inch heels (and she’s already tall too!) and yes she has even contemplated soaking her feet in ice!
“There are times I have thought really thought about doing it, it’s not such a bad idea,” she says with a laugh. “But over time your feet start becoming tougher and it does hurt less and less.”
No doubt she’s learnt a lot of moves and fancy dances over the years, but Chloe admits she loves the Rumba.
“My favourite dance can change depending on what we’re working on and training for, but I really love dancing the Rumba,” she says. “It's a Latin dance and it's a bit slower, the movements are bigger and more dramatic in a way. So I really love being able to do that.”
Always advancing and growing their skills, Chloe and Ronan often lean on and look up to others within the industry.
“All of our coaches are amazing,” Chloe says. “Our Latin coaches are currently competitive as well, so they have just come back from the world championships and doing a lot of international competitions. So they're definitely people we look up to as well as our ballroom coaches, Richard and Natalie.”
The upcoming Queensland Challenge Cup at Morayfield is run by their studio (Learn 2 Dance) and both Chloe and Ronan see it as a great opportunity to show off and promote the discipline they love.
“I'd definitely say come along to anyone who wants to,” Chloe says. “It's a really fun event and there's a lot of interesting people to watch and see what they can do out on the floor.
“And if dancing is something you have an interest in or you might want to learn, come along to a studio and find out what it’s all about. It’s definitely for anyone!”
Catch all the fun and action of the Queensland Challenge Cup at the Morayfield Sport and Events Centre on Saturday August 5.
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