Have you ever ever had the urge to whip out a flip sequence in a grocery retailer? Or leap by way of an empty cereal aisle with abandon? 20-year-old Natalie Sterling feels that manner too. A Dealer Joe’s workforce member, she’s constructed a social media following based mostly on footage of her dancing at work (after hours, after all).
Perhaps you’ve seen her energetic, high-jumping rendition of Depraved’s “Dancing By means of Life” choreography or her impressively clear 32 fouettés accomplished completely in sneakers. She’s a part of a brand new era of dancers who, whereas nonetheless attending numerous auditions and honoring the standard route, have determined to make use of social media as a device in making a reputation for themselves.
Dance Spirit caught up with Sterling to speak about her audition life, dream roles, and her favourite TJ’s snacks.
Coaching and Dance Life
Born and raised in Phoenix, AZ, Sterling carried out in childhood theater productions earlier than beginning competitors dance, which she participated in all through her teen years. She’s skilled in a large number of kinds, together with ballet, Latin ballroom, and hip hop. Since August 2024, she’s been pursuing dance full-time in NYC. Sterling spends her mornings auditioning and her afternoons taking class, particularly in theater jazz. She didn’t study this fashion rising up, so she’s thrown herself into it in New York. “It’s been a enjoyable problem,” she says.
Twirling at Dealer Joe’s
So what impressed Sterling to start out dancing at work? “These aisles are so huge, and there’s all the time music enjoying!” she says, including that she posted her first video only for enjoyable. “I used to be like, ‘You’re telling me nobody’s ever accomplished this?’ Effectively, I’m gonna do it, then!”
Right here’s the way it works: Sterling is a more in-depth, and he or she dances as soon as all prospects have left the shop. Her co-worker and shut buddy Emily movies all of her movies. “She is aware of all of the angles. She’s acquired all the ideas and tips. I genuinely wouldn’t have been as profitable if it wasn’t for her.” All of her co-workers are supportive of her movies, and lots of of them are aspiring artists within the theater and movie worlds themselves. “It’s good as a result of you could have these folks to lean on […], that group that you would be able to relate to in what you’re working in the direction of and your precise work.”
On the Dance-fluencer Way of life
“I didn’t count on so many individuals to love it a lot […] It’s been actually cool to see how many individuals will be supportive.” In a remarkably unfavourable period of the web, Sterling has managed to domesticate an viewers who yearns to see her succeed. One scroll of her remark part reveals followers who firmly consider she’ll make it to Broadway—and when she does, they are saying they’ll be within the viewers. For dancers who need to develop on social media, Sterling recommends discovering a distinct segment that displays your life as it’s—sort of like dancing at your place of business. “You don’t must make up part of your self to do it. In case you’re doing what you’re keen on, that interprets by way of a display screen […] Individuals gained’t be capable of assist loving it too.”
Broadway Goals
Sterling’s dance objectives for the long run are diverse—she’s simply getting began, so TV, movie, Broadway, and business alternatives are all on the desk. However for her, the best achievement can be to bounce on Broadway. “That’s the massive dream, and that’s what I need to do.”
Her Snack Suggestions
We simply needed to ask. What’s Sterling’s favourite meals to eat from Dealer Joe’s? That’s a troublesome query, she says. “After I’m working, I’m actually all the time snacking.” She narrowed it down to 2 objects: the Dinner Rolls and the Maple Leaf Cookies.