Dance Mogul Exclusive Interview…
Dance Mogul: When did you develop a love for dance?
Lucy Mangion: Ever since I could talk, even before I could walk, I told everyone I wanted to be onstage. I used to make my family watch me put on a one-woman show from the age of two.
Dance Mogul: Who were some of your inspirations?
Lucy Mangion: When I was growing up, my biggest inspiration came from some of my peers, as I started dancing a bit later than most, and felt like I was always catching up. I was very inspired by pop stars like Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Lady Gaga. Now, in the dance world, I’m inspired by both current and past Broadway performers like Robyn Hurder, Rachelle Rak, and Jessica Lee Goldyn.
Dance Mogul: How did you develop a work ethic to be progressive and successful?
Lucy Mangion: I trained a lot in ballet growing up because I started at a dance school when I was 10, which is later than most people. I wanted to get a solid technical foundation. The dance industry in Australia is extremely competitive with many talented dancers and few job opportunities, which made me continuously train hard to improve and truly appreciate every opportunity given to me.
Dance Mogul: Did you have family support?
Lucy Mangion: My mum was my biggest supporter; she took me to every single dance class up until I was an adult. She paid for all my dance tuition and
competitions/conventions. She provided me with every single dance opportunity when I was a kid.
Dance Mogul: When did you realize you could be a professional?
Lucy Mangion: I realized I could be a professional dancer when I received my scores for my final dance assessments. I received perfect scores for my VCE dance, VET dance, and VCE drama performance exams and was invited to perform in Top Class, the highest level of dance at a school level in Australia. That was the moment I realized that performing arts could really be a viable career path.
Dance Mogul: What have been some of your most memorable dance moments?
Lucy Mangion: Some of my favorite professional dance moments include performing for The Kid Laroi, Sean Kingston, Joel Corry, Topic, and Havana Brown, choreographing for Australian rap artists Alpy & Sophiya, and dancing for the Melbourne Aces dance team.
Dance Mogul: How did you survive the pandemic and the overall day-to-day of 2020?
Lucy Mangion: Honestly, the pandemic was very challenging for me in Melbourne because we were in complete lockdown for nearly 2 years. The only thing that kept me sane was teaching dance on Zoom and seeing my students’ smiling faces. It made me really grateful for all the dance I had done before the pandemic and even more driven after we were finally let out.
Dance Mogul: How has 2020 affected your artistic decisions and progress?
Lucy Mangion: The years 2020-2021 made me realize that I needed to travel to other countries to check out the dance scene. I finally got to travel to the US in 2022, and that’s when I visited NYC for the first time. It was love at first sight, and I absolutely loved the welcoming dance community in NYC.
Dance Mogul: What advice do you have for all artists as everyone works their way back to some form of normalcy?
Lucy Mangion: Dance is a gift, and we should treasure every moment we have doing it. Remember, age is just a number; there is no age limit on your professional career.
Dance Mogul: What would you like your legacy with dance to look like 20 years from now?
Lucy Mangion: In 20 years, I would love for everyone to know me as a successful Broadway performer and choreographer.
Dance Mogul: Is there anyone you’d like to thank for helping you on your journey
Lucy Mangion: I would like to thank my mum because without her, I wouldn’t be the dancer I am today.
