From country town
to Cruise-Ship contract

Written by Sasha Missell

They say patience is a virtue, and Transit Dance graduate Michael Sherry can vouch for that sentiment wholeheartedly.

Michael’s story isn’t your short tale of finishing your full-time training and immediately getting work in the industry. For 9 out of 10 times, this isn’t how it goes. Our industry is hard, competitive and at times incredibly brutal.

Growing up in Horsham, a country town located near the banks of the Wimmera river, Michael grew up knowing he was destined to be on a stage, no matter how big or small. The feeling of an audience and the rush of adrenaline one receives when on-stage was the best feeling in the world to him. 

“I have loved to dance for as long as I remember but if I were to pinpoint a moment to look back on and say that was ‘the moment’ it was year 7. I went to my sisters’ dance concert and saw a strong young man dancing with all of these girls. He danced with so much strength and passion. I began training the very next term”.

Beginning his Transit full-time journey in 2018, Michael was in one of the first ever years of our Performing Arts program (which started in 2017). After finding Transit in 2015, through an intensive in his hometown, Michael knew that he wanted to end up calling it his home.

“After the intensive, I visited the studios to get a feel for the space. I fell in love instantly, from the people within the space, to the space itself. I mean have you seen the studios?”.

Michael trained tirelessly for two years to gain his diploma in elite performance, whilst simultaneously creating memories, solidifying life-long friendships and performing in incredible works such as ‘Flash’, ‘Studio 54’ and ‘Electric World’. However, at the conclusion of the 2 years, Michael decided like many others in his year, that he wished to do a graduating year (3rd year). At the conclusion of 3rd year, and after the rollercoaster that was COVID, Michael decided to push himself even further and complete a fourth year. 

“For me, doing a fourth year was undoubtedly the right choice. All of the other dancers I was training with had years of training experience up their sleeves. I spent most of my childhood/teen years doing a 1 hour class, once a week. I felt like I had catching up to do. My fourth year was exactly that. A chance to cement everything I had learnt over the years and find myself as a dancer. Covid also took some things away from me training wise, that left me wanting one more shot at a final year”.

After doing his fourth year, Michael finally felt ready to step out into the big world that is the performing arts industry. It was at this time that he received word that Norwegian Cruise-line was going to be holding auditions at none other than his alma mater.

“I walked into that room not really knowing what to expect. But once I got in there, I was home again. I could feel that I had all of my ex-classmates and all of my mentors there with me in spirit”. 

Not long after, Michael was offered a contract sailing around the world as a member of the Norwegian Star cast aboard Norwegian Cruise-line. 

“To any current or future dancers, What you put into something, is truly what you get out. Kim Adam (course director) says it on the daily but it wasn’t till my 2nd/3rd year where I properly understood it. Everyone is on their own journey, stay in your lane and it will pay off. If you're looking to train full-time, look no further than Transit. I promise you won’t regret it”.

Are you ready to dive into dance performance? Apply for Transit Dance’s Pre Professional Performing Arts course today.