Portia Talib in the Ivy Crop Top, Lola Dance Crop and Bailey 7/8 Legging from the new Energetiks’ Oasis Collection. Photo by Energetiks.
Young Perth-based dancer Portia Talib is the new face of Energetiks and Victorian Dance Festival (VDF)! After winning the Dance Informa and Energetiks Model Search in November, Portia has enjoyed her first Energetiks photo shoot, and she’s excited about what the future holds, including her new role as Ambassador of VDF 2018 this February.
Portia’s mother enrolled her in dance at two or three years old, and Portia has loved dance ever since. “I loved it from the very start,” she shares. “I used to get excited about it.”
Portia Talib in the Ivy Crop Top and Eve Shorts from Energetiks’ Florise Collection – out soon. Photo by Energetiks.
Focussing on contemporary, jazz and ballet, Portia is part of Black Swan Dance Company in Jindalee, Western Australia.
“Contemporary is my favourite style because I just find it so gorgeous,” she says. “But we recently did a jazz number in my concert that made me fall in love with jazz so much, too.”
Portia Talib in dancewear from Energetiks’ Florise Collection – out soon. Photo by Energetiks.
Portia entered the Cover Model Search under recommendation from her dance teacher. “I thought to myself, ‘Well, I might as well try it,'” she recalls. “And then, I got it!”
Portia’s whole family were excited about her achievement. “My dad told me I was a finalist when he picked me up from school!” Portia explains. “And then when I found out I had won the competition, I was actually at school in English, and my mum had left me a message to call her back as soon as possible. I didn’t know exactly what had happened, and I was kind of panicking. So, I called her back, and she just screamed in my ear that I won the competition. I was shocked!”
Portia can be seen starring on the cover of this January edition of Dance Informa in Energetiks’ latest dancewear after a photo shoot in December.
“It was amazing!” Portia says of the photo shoot. “It was such a good experience, and everyone was so nice. I just loved it. It’s something that I could get used to.”
Portia Talib in the Ivy Crop Top and Bailey Legging from Energetiks’ Oasis Collection. Photo by Energetiks.
Portia particularly enjoyed modelling the new Oasis collection, out this month, and all of the leggings and shorts, saying, “They make your butt look really great!”
Portia has worn Energetiks for years and with many Energetiks pieces in her dance wardrobe, she is so honoured to now model for the Australian dance icon. “Energetiks dancewear is just so comfortable, and they make you feel so comfortable when you dance in them,” she says.
Portia is looking forward to travelling to Melbourne for the Energetiks VDF with much anticipation. “I am super excited!” she shares. “I look forward to taking classes of different styles from different choreographers and to see how they teach, particularly Stacey Tookey. It’s going to be so amazing.”
Aiming to move to Melbourne in the future, VDF will give Portia a taste of the dance-loving city.
Portia Talib in the Ivy Crop Top and Eve Shorts from Energetiks’ Florise Collection. Photo by Energetiks.
“I’ve planned ever since I was little to move to Melbourne,” she says. “I know I want to do something in the entertainment industry, whether it be modelling, dance or acting. Doing dance professionally would be amazing because I absolutely love it, but wherever it takes me, I’ll do it!”
Come meet Portia at VDF, coming up February, at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne. Tickets are on sale now at www.victoriandancefestival.com.
And make sure to visit Energetiks.com.au to see the latest dancewear styles, as modelled by Portia, including the fresh new Oasis collection, out this month. It’s perfect for your new year dance look.
By Deborah Searle of Dance Informa.
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