FORMER local, Rikki Mason, who is now based in Brisbane with Lucid Dance Theatre, is due to appear on the new reality show Everybody Dance Now shortly.
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In the show 88 dance acts are divided into two teams of 44, with one led by Kelly Rowland and the other by Jason Derulo.
From there, the dancers are selected to compete in duels in front of a studio audience and must do their best to win them over.
Rikki and his partner Melissa Tattam will be a part of Team Jason when they make their appearance.
Speaking to the Inverell Times last week, Rikki described their dancing style as contemporary ballet, with a European style and was looking forward to showing people what Lucid is all about.
“It’s an opportunity to put my name out there for the people of Australia to see,” the 22-year-old said.
“Not everyone gets the chance to do something like this, so it’s very exciting.
“I guess it’s a bit nerve racking too, because I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
Having only done an audition so far, he hasn’t really had the chance to meet Derulo yet, but is looking forward to the opportunity to work with him.
“I’m a big fan of his music and it’s going to be great to be around someone of his calibre.”
Born and raised in Inverell, Rikki attended Holy Trinity and Inverell High, where sport was always his biggest passion.
He played a variety of sports, including rugby league with the Hawks, union with the Highlanders, touch footy and also trained in martial arts with Nick King.
It was while he was there that he first got into dancing.
“I was actually in training for the world titles in martial arts when Laura King started teaching me dancing.
“It was only supposed to be about helping me with my flexibility for the martial arts, but I just really enjoyed it.”
After high school, Rikki moved to Brisbane to work with the Australian Dance Performance Institute, where he spent 18 months.
He also spent a year living in Europe, with the Bejart School in Switzerland and has now been back in Australia for two years, working with Lucid.
Rikki said he isn’t really sure what it is about dancing that made him want to choose it as a career, but he knows it was the right move.
“I think it’s just something happens when you find something you enjoy,” he said.
“It’s just natural and it felt right to me,” he added.
He said he hopes to travel back overseas next year, but at the moment he is devoting most of his time to the show, with six-hour rehearsals not out of the ordinary.
Whatever happens from the show, he said he is hoping to just learn as much as possible.
“Obviously it would be great if we can get through, but I’m just looking forward to the journey and it should be a great experience.”
