MEET FRITH HORAN

Auckland Instructor

Frith is our first official addition to the Shut Up & Dance team.  She's holding down the fort for us in Auckland, so we're catching up over a matcha latte and a spicy hot chocolate at Little Bird.  Her hair has a mind of it's own and every time she smiles a giggle comes out too.  We talk about our favourite TV shows, the people and friends we admire and how excited we are for our organic treats to arrive.

So tell me Frith, how did you become involved with SUAD? 

Abby Damen, who co-founded Shut Up & Dance, is one of my besties. So when I heard about what she was doing, I immediately texted her and said "If you're bringing it to Auckland, I want to teach!" 

What do you love most about being a part of Shut Up & Dance?

I love that it's a fun dance class without the pressures of exams or competitions. Most of my dance teaching background is syllabus work, so in the back of your mind you know that your students will have to sit exams and get good grades etc. But with Shut Up & Dance, it's about having an absolute ball, letting out your inner diva (which I love) and goofing around. 

Whats your Guilty Pleasure dance track? 

It changes all the time but right now it's 'Into You' by Ariana Grande. I play it in the morning on my way to work. 

If you were to be stranded on a desert island and you had to take one person with you, who would it be and why?

I would take my sister, Madeline. She's very funny and a bit nuts, like me.

Have you done anything in the past week that has made you proper cringe?

There are so many moments that I simply cannot choose.  Last time I went shopping, I think I was in Glassons and a really great song came on and I got really carried away and started singing and dancing while looking through the clothes racks.  And I danced so hard I bumped into this old lady and she was not happy.  So it's good I'm teaching now because it means I can dance like a goober and it's socially acceptable.  Also, respect to that queen for shopping at Glassons - so trendy.

What would you say is your biggest achievement yet?

I recently made a show called the The Better Best Possible Album Party Anyone Has Ever Been Two where I played a pop-music diva, my friend, Kate McGill and I wrote 10 original songs and choreographed kick-ass dance routines for them.  It was an epic show and I'm pretty proud of it.  Also, my character was an amalgamation of Britney, X-tina and Beyoncé - my heroes.

QUICK FIRE ROUND

What's your favourite quote?
YOLO. 

Vegemite: Yay or nay?
Nay! Absolutely Nay.  Marmite is queen.

If you were a cake slice what would you be and why?
I would be a passionfruit cake with passionfruit icing because that's my favourite cake that my grandmother makes.  Also it's a crazy flavour that people go 'WTF!" and then they try it and they go "oh yeah, actually, that's bloody great."

If there was a film made about your life, what's the song that plays on it's trailer?
'She's a Maniac' from Flashdance - and in the trailer I'd be replicating that dance from Flashdance. 

Cats or dogs?
Cats - I've never had a pet dog and I do like dogs but cats win.

Something you're really good at?
Creating dance circles in da clubz and then dominating them with really cheesy moves. One time I did that in a club and people started filming me.  Actually, in hindsight, I don't know if that was a good thing.  My running man is particularly amazing TBH. 

Want to spy on Frith's life?  You can follow her on Instagram.