The 18-year-old, who has emerged as a standout emerging talent at the Goulburn Valley’s U CAN DANCE Studio, successfully auditioned for a place on next year’s coveted program at Brent Street as her burgeoning career continues to grow.
The teenager has now described her delight as she looks forward to the next chapter in her remarkable rise in NSW at the illustrious Brent Street - which has a rich history of producing household names in the industry.
Graduates include So You Think You Can Dance Australia winner Michael Dameski - who has starred in a Lady Gaga music video - as well as choreographer Cassie Bartho - who has worked alongside superstar chart-toppers Katy Perry, Doja Cat, and Ricky Martin.
Henderson will join up with a host of fellow starlets at Entertainment Quarter at Fox Studios, a venue that has attracted homegrown talents in the showbiz world, from Hugh Jackman to Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue to Joel Edgerton.
The performer started her journey in the entertainment business in calisthenics at the age of seven, before joining up with U CAN DANCE three years later, which provided her with the platform to hone her craft on the dance floor.
At 13, she received a scholarship from the Shepparton institution for all genres of dance, with the studio having nurtured her from that point on.
After impressing the decision-makers at Brent Street, the youngster will enrol on a two-year Advanced Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance) course in 2027.
The program will see the starlet undertake classes in jazz, commercial jazz, musical theatre, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, classical ballet, tap, latin, heels, singing, acting and more in one of Australia’s leading intensive training courses.
“I first saw them on their TV show and saw that they were doing auditions for their Australia and New Zealand tour,” she said.
“They were offering for you to do the classes for fun or as an audition, and I just decided last minute that I wanted to do an audition.
“I rocked up on the day and got my number, and we just did these three classes - then us auditionees did the performance by ourselves at the end of each class.
“A few days later, I got an email saying ‘congratulations’ and that I’d been offered a place.”
Henderson also described how she impressed Brent Street teachers with her attitude and approach.
“They were really keen about not giving up - and if you ever missed a step or weren’t doing well they said to ‘keep going’ as they were really looking for that hard work and dedication.”
Looking to follow in the hallowed footsteps of previous alumni at the revered Sydney studio, Henderson revealed that her dream is to one day work alongside singer Tate McRae as a backing dancer.
“Hopefully once I do the Advanced Diploma that I can start getting jobs and getting booked as a back-up dancer at concerts and things like that - that’s the big dream,” she said.
“Tate McRae would be the ultimate dream.”
As she looks to represent Shepparton on the big stage, it is clear that she is taking her burgeoning rise in her stride as she expressed gratitude towards key figures in her pathway to date.
“The Principal at U CAN DANCE, Aliesha Spence, has been my biggest supporter,” she said.
“She’s so amazing - I think she’s everyone’s biggest supporter there at the dance studio.
“She’s helped me a lot through dance and everything else.”
It’s all part of the dance for Henderson, as the Goulburn Valley talent prepares to depart the region for what promises to be a potentially show-stopping career.
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