Chantal Fleming: dreams don’t have deadlines

Posted on 3 June, 2019

Just last year, Chantal Fleming dropped her inhibitions as a 45-year-old mum and seized the day.

She took her first ever ballet class at Canberra studio Sixth Position and has never looked back.

Now, the 46-year-old Yass resident splits her time between being a dance mum, training at three studios in different towns and cities, and competing in national-level competitions across states.

Her transition from watching her daughter Holly dance on stage to gracing the stage herself is one that we can all relate to.

After quitting dance as a teenager, Chantal attributes her 27-year hiatus to the workings of ‘life’, and how we’re often steered away from our passions as we navigate the logistics of careers, kids, and “settling down.”

But as a mum, Chantal has never been far from the world of dance. Her daughter, who has been dancing and “absolutely loving” it for the past eight years now, travels regularly with a troupe of girls across Australia for competitions.

For Chantal, the role of dance mum came naturally. “I love the hair, the makeup, the costumes…”

Chantal says that it was all “an opportunity for [Holly and I] to spend time together. [We] both had an equal enjoyment of it.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsae1l0hKSF/

As a result, Chantal found herself falling more and more in love with dance, to the point where watching from the sidelines wasn’t enough.

But it was only when she found Sixth Position in Canberra – a studio that offers dance classes to adults – that she realised she would “always have excuses [if I didn’t] take the opportunity now.”

“My daughter was finally old enough that she had her own thing going for her. I thought, bugger it! I’ll buy my own tights and my own leotard. I’ll do it for me.”

After her first ever ballet class and 12 months of tap lessons, Chantal asked her tap teacher if she could modify her routine to make a competition-worthy solo out of it. Four months later, she entered her first competition.

Having since achieved awards in lyrical, contemporary, and song and dance, tap, and even the inaugural Masters Champion Dancer section of the Follow Your Dreams national competition, Chantal is back in the thick of it.

The dance-mum-turned-dancer spends the year travelling and competing alongside Holly and the two have performed in Bateman’s Bay, Melbourne and Queensland.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx6CbSXh-bK/

Holly has also choreographed a duet for them. “We’re going to do [the duet] for the first time in July and hopefully it’ll qualify for nationals in Melbourne next year.”

On her relationship with dance, Chantal explains that she loves it because it’s a challenge.

“There’s obviously that mental challenge; you’ve got to remember routines and coordinate your body. But I also do it for the physical fitness, just to keep on top of cardio and flexibility… things that are important when you start to get on a bit,” she chuckles.

“I love telling a story, I love making people feel things. And the camaraderie that we have; the community, the friendships… it’s just my happy place.”

As a country mum who has only taken dance up seriously in the last 18 months, Chantal has already been recognised in the dance community and was made ambassador of the Australian Dance Festival last year. This acknowledgement comes as no surprise, given her inspiring journey to the stage.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtcJQs-B5Rl/

Holly also continues to serve as inspiration for Chantal and she hopes it goes both ways.

“My daughter gets to see her mum put effort into what she enjoys, so hopefully I’m being an inspiration to her.”

This inspiration extends to other mums who have since approached Chantal, who says she has “drawn inspiration from [others, too] because they’ve done the same thing. What goes around comes around.”

After following her dreams, Chantal–who feels “bloody fantastic!” because of it–urges people to do something that makes them happy and content.

When asked about the advice she would give to those who feel that they aren’t able to go after what they love, the newly minted dancer stresses the support that can be found in communities.

“If you are apprehensive about doing it yourself, find a network of people that have a common interest and go there. Group enthusiasm builds enthusiasm. Sometimes you just need some people to be with you, to give you that inspiration to go and do it.”