Shut Up & Listen with Emily Keddell
We sit down with the excellent, energetic, exquisite Emily Keddell who currently teaches in Eastbourne for a quick fire round. Get to know her on the blog before you enjoy her epic-ness in person – our intro blurb is boring as-hell in comparison to her delightful responses, so without further adieu…
My name is Emily - I get Em, but nothing much more exciting than that… occasionally, “Smemily”?!
If there was a film made about your life, whats the song that plays on its trailer? Oh please, no. This is too hard. Ummm… Life is a Highway? Fat Bottomed Girls? Sigh No More? It really will depend on the editing.
I’m happiest when… I’m dancing with my family - either at a festival, party or just in the living
room.
I wanted to work with Shut Up & Dance because I wanted to spread the love. The total joy and fulfilment I have received from the SU&D classes, since first coming along a year ago, is something I want other people to experience. Being an instructor means the opportunity to dance even more!
My ‘guilty’ pleasure song is Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice because I discovered it was the only song I
could out-sing the sister-in-laws with on SingStar. All those primary school socials served me well to know every word perfectly.
Something that has changed since my first Shut Up & Dance class is… my stretch routine. It is no joke that your body doesn’t recover from a dance class like it used to after you turn 40. I spend a good 20 minutes stretching my neck, shoulders and back at the end of class.
Dance is? Freedom. Dance is joy. Dance is my best expression of exuberance. Dance is also a weapon - it is fatally embarrassing to teenage children if applied correctly by a parent.
The Shut Up & Dance routine that best describes me is any routine with dramatic and contemporary moves like Pink, Sia or Lady Gaga because, even though I fantasize about being a Missy Elliot or Beyonce support dancer, I truly need to acknowledge my theatre core. Is it dramatic? Perfect. I love it. Let’s do it!
The happy feelings I get from dancing are better than a high from tequila margaritas. Big call, I know. But it’s true.
My life motto is “Be you: Be free. (I stole this from Trish Blackwell, but it is ON THE MONEY!)
The most important thing life has taught me so far is each day is a beautiful gift to live, give and love.
If money was no object, I would… continue to live life as I do! I love being a mum, a performance teacher, a dance instructor… Honestly, I’m living the dream. The only thing I desperately want to do A LOT more of is travel. I love exploring NZ but cannot wait to get on an international flight!
My most dorky moment this week was extravagantly opening the front door to the courier and saying, “Hello, my darling!” – In my defence, it was very close to the kids getting home.
I wanted to be… a dancer! When I grew up.
The world would be a better place with more dance clubs. There’s so few places to go out on the town for a decent boogie!
The routine I want to learn the most i̶s̶ … was Justin Beiber’s Sorry. Ever since seeing Paris Geobel’s dance video, I was wanting to get in amongst some of that caterpillar, bum- smacking action. At the end of our instructor training weekend Claire taught it. I was in heaven!
If I was a cake I would be a Lemon Yoghurt Cake… These tangy and delicious cakes don’t even need dressing up with icing. And, baby, they just taste better the longer you leave them. As one of the senior instructors here at SU&D, I’m attempting to stay true to the lemon yogurt cake of your dreams!