Local actor, Freya Dare, will play Zephyr the Puffin in this year's festive pantomime, Rapunzel. She's also the coreographer. Anwen went to find out more ...

Tell us a bit about how you started dancing - where did the inspiration come from?

I started dancing when I was three years old. I was always dancing and unable to sit still in the house and very frequently asking my brother can you do this move that I’d made up. My amazing mam took me to my first dance class, and I just loved the feeling of freedom and joy that dance gives you. I remember a project called ‘The Young Americans’ visited Carmarthen and we worked on performance at The Lyric and I knew then that feeling of creating and performing was so special.

Do you need to be super talented to be a dancer, or can anyone give it a go?

Dance is for everyone! I believe dance is like an extension on language where you can communicate how you really feel on deeper level where words sometimes fail. Dancing can express how we feel and help us to let go of emotions. I love the way dance brings people together, most of my happiest memories are with groups of people dancing together.

Yes! Absolutely I think everyone should give dance a go. Dance is something natural we all have within us! I teach dance classes to all ages and abilities from very young children to people in their 80’s and you still see the same joy for movement to music.

Tell us a bit about the choreography in Rapunzel and how you go about choosing the routines?

I work with the music and lyrics as my initial inspiration. Our amazing Musical composer James Williams always creates a diverse range of music that expresses characters feelings on another level.  I use chorography as an extension of that feeling. For example, we may get a Jazzy cool piece of music for a baddie, and that could trigger inspiration of quirky movement or Bob Fosse cool Jazzstyle. When working on a comical song I’ll use the physicality of the character and the words of the song to dictate the choreography. Last year with a song in J&BS I used sign language for the Fairies song that encouraged the audience to join in. I love how sign language expresses words physically and really compliments dance.

Our Rapunzel show has a nautical feel to it. I am envisioning some inspiration for chorography from sea related activities such as Charleston/comedic rowing boats and choppy seas/shipwreck inspired dancing. As well as fun, joyful movements that audiences can join in with.

Do you write notes of the movements, or do you store them all in your head?

I like to use a visual reference for my notes. I take videos of myself dancing parts of choreography and store them on my phone. I also print lyrics of the songs and draw lots of pictures with shorthand notes.

Give us a step by step breakdown of the thought process behind the choreography.

I will listen on repeat to the music and make notes of movement ideas and styles of choreography that 1^st come to mind. I like to then think about the dance being an extension of the character performing it and think what moves would they use to tell that story. I will usually do this by looking at lyrics in the song and then freestyling to the music and noting or videoing the movements I like.

I then fine tune this and start to build the choreography to the song. If the music has a real obvious stylistic quality I may think how we can use those classic movements and add modern twist to it.

I will keep adapting the dance once working with group or individual, so it feels good and organic for them to perform. I’m always up for ideas and creative input I will try give room for the actor to come up with some of the movements and help to bring that to life. Often amalgamating ideas with actors helps the dance feel more authentic and from the character.

What can audience members expect to see as regards dancing in Rapunzel? Will they want to join in?!

I think Rapunzel will have a variety of dancing from sea themed numbers to lots of fun choreography that audiences can copy and get up in their seats and do.

You have your own theatre company, tell us about about this.

I have a theatre company that I run with my mum Lynda Dare. She writes original plays inspired by children’s classic literature with a environmental message woven into the plays. I make theatre shows that are immersive and have audiences as integral parts of the show. We take these shows to different locations such as parks, towns, festivals and woodlands. These shows will have lots of dancing, comedy and music all woven into the tale. We work  with Arts Care Gofal Celf’s inclusive performing arts group ‘Take a Bow’ who are a group of brilliant actors/dancers with learning disability or who are neurodivergent.

Tell us a bit about the characters you've played at Torch pantomimes - could they dance?

I played Agatha a comedic baddie last year in Jack and the Beanstalk Sam Freeman and I created a comedy double act that had lots of energy to portray youthful teen silly siblings. We wanted to reference some movement/physicality from the Welsh band ‘Goldy looking chain’. I included some street dance style movements to give a nod to this. Our song also had a 60’s funk backing to it, so I drew some inspiration from Bob Fosse’s Sweet charity choreography. 

I was understudy in Beauty and the Beast and used my physicality to help create the different characters I needed to play.

What character will you play in Rapunzel this year and will you be dancing?

I will be playing Zephyr the Puffin. Zephyr is a very physical role so expect to lots of dancing and wiggling from her.

How easy is it to mix the choreography with acting?

I see dance as an extension of acting using your body to tell the story and express a feeling. It adds an extra dimension of fun and sparkle to the Panto.

We love panto season! Do you and why?

It’s my absolute favourite season! I love seeing audience completely letting lose, shouting out, belly laughing and dancing along. It’s so lovely to be a part of peoples Christmas. As a child and teenager, I regular performed with my dance school in our local panto and the magic I felt then has stayed with me. I am so looking forward to all the fun this year. Click here for tickets.