Finding your place as a dancer: A chat with CLI alumna Cadence McBride 

The dance world is small, but also large; every city has a dance ecosystem with various entities, opportunities and “big names.” Each of these ecosystems is also different, just as different as every dancer…so dancers have to find the one that’s right for them. You’ll hear it from many accomplished artists: once they found that right place, that’s when their creative life really blossomed. 

CLI Conservatory alumna Cadence McBride definitely fits in that category. She’s danced in several different cities, learning and growing a lot in each. Yet, it was Boston, MA (and, in particular, the opportunity of CLI that is based there) that really showed her more about who she is and where she wants to be as an artist. She’s now signed with MSA (McDonald Selznick Associates), so it’s only forward from here.  

Here, Dance Informa speaks with McBride about training and working in Canada, the CLI experience, where to from here and much more.

You’ve described your story as ‘diamond in the rough.’ We’d love to hear more — about what brought you to dance, what’s kept you there and what’s kept you shining diamond-bright. 

“I grew up in a small town in Alberta, Canada, and started dancing at three years old at a small studio. It really nurtured my love for dance. It built the feeling that dance is safe, and I wouldn’t trade that. 

COVID hit, reducing resources and opportunities. But I was scouted at conventions by a Royal Caribbean choreographer, then moved to Edmonton for more opportunities. 

I came into those spaces feeling behind, like I had a lot of catch-up to do. I repeated this same cycle two years later with a move to Vancouver. These moves really inspired me to grow and learn, though. Then came another move, to Boston, where I auditioned for CLI. 

I grew up feeling like I was not enough, but at CLI, I could find my place and my voice. There were people there who’d never taken a ballet class but were crazy poppers, and also hard-core ballet dancers, for example. So, there was someone and something for everyone! 

There was a huge audition with scouts from all of the major agencies. I didn’t even think of it as an audition, though, because I didn’t think any of us Canadians were in the running. But I got that offer email from MSA, and here we are!”

Can you say more about your experience with CLI? What led you there, and why did it feel like the right place for you? What were the key lessons and experiences that you took away from it? What were some challenges of that time, and how did you overcome them? 

“CLI was really interesting. You’re auditioning with 18-20-year-old dancers, and everyone’s hungry. Your goal is to stand by the best person in the room and learn from them. We were separated into style groups, by specialty. I’ve trained in everything, but I was put in the hip hop group – which was interesting to see, that view of my strengths. Being with those people, with that music…I realized that’s where I want to be. 

During the last couple of months, we were auditioning every day…it was long hours. But it really trained my mindset; you get cut, and it’s back at it the next day. Maybe you get cut from every single audition, but you still leave with all that training and learning. CLI really pushed my limits, and shifted my perspective to really appreciate and work at the artistry of it all.” 

And how about your post-CLI life and work? What have you been focused on? Are you working on anything exciting that you can tell us about at this point? 

“I’m back in Vancouver now, after that full year in Boston. I feel like I’m a whole new version of myself. It’s nice to come back here and feel like there are opportunities for me. I’ve done a couple of films recently, for instance, which were great experiences. 

Having MSA representation is less common here, so it’s definitely turned some heads and opened some doors for me. It’s nice to get those opportunities and apply all the learning from CLI and beyond.”

What words of wisdom might you share with dancers in a similar situation, who reach for those big opportunities and make those big moves – and then end up as the small fish in the big pond?

“You can learn so much just by watching! I was in Phoenix, AZ, dancing at Radix, the convention. At one point, I just stopped and watched the rest of the class…and I truly saw so much. At the same time, I knew that I deserved to be there just as much as everyone else. Remember that: you do deserve to be there just as much! Just trust, and take it day by day. 

And, just as crucially, make it your own. When I was in that audition room, when I got signed with MSA, I was fully myself. It’s definitely a tendency of mine…for example, say, a lyrical combo, I’ll make it a little more mine with a bit of hip hop flavor – and I’ve gotten in trouble for it at times. But making it you, showing you…that at least allows you to be seen, and those at the front of the room will help you make it what they want from you. But first, for that to happen, you need to be seen.

And research, research, research! I love watching videos. With social media and beyond, there’s just so much out there that we can learn from. That can also help us find the place and thing for us. I truly believe that every dancer has something out there for them, you just have to find it.” 

Looking to the future, what do you have your eye on? Do you have any visions and dreams that you’d like to share?

“I don’t want to allow myself to get too comfortable. My biggest fear is missing out on what I could have been doing. I want to be in those rooms fighting for my life, on those stages with Justin Timberlake and those sorts of big names on tour. 

I wouldn’t have said that five years ago…these past few years have really changed things for me, really shown me a lot. There’s of course still so much learning and growing for me to do, but now I’ve found out so much more about who I am as a dancer. I’ve truly started to find my voice and my place.” 

You can follow Cadence McBride on Instagram: @cadence.mcbride.

By Kathryn Boland of Dance Informa.

The post Finding your place as a dancer: A chat with CLI alumna Cadence McBride  appeared first on Dance Informa Magazine.