Meet Jessica, known to the world as “Jes”. Born and raised in Sri Lanka, she currently lives in Sydney.
 

Jes is of Indian and Nepalese origin, but her love for Sri Lanka is always strong.  From her younger days, she has had a passion for dancing,  performing and assisting at many concerts whilst schooling. After moving to Sydney in 2006, she was exposed to many fusions of dance genres and soon grabbed the opportunity to perform with several dance schools over there, especially in the styles of Dance Hall, Reggaeton, Latin Styles, Hip Hop and Bollywood.

Here she chats to Life Online..
 

It is remarkable what you do over there. What is your current work like?
I currently teach Bollywood dance at Dance Central, and perform with Sydney based Brazilian dance group La Fiesta Dance Factory (LFDF). They specialise in Samba, Capoeira, Salsa and other Latin styles. I will shortly commence teaching Reggaeton at LFDF too.

What’s the greatest media opportunity you’ve gotten so far?
I’ve made a few media appearances, however the most amazing and fun opportunity I’ve had so far was to appear in an Australian television entertainment show called ‘The Full Brazilian” which was aired daily throughout the 2014 FIFA World Cup on SBS TV Channel. I also had the opportunity to shoot a television advertisement for Samsung, which is yet to be released.

Any recent achievements?
Just last weekend, I had the grateful opportunity to perform the opening act with an Afro/Dance Hall group called ‘Afrodisiaq’ at the African Australian Music and Movie Awards (AAMMA). A couple of months ago I competed in the 2014 Australian Salsa Open with LFDF Samba team and came second in the Samba Pro Level Teams division and second in the Reggaeton Pro Duo division in the National championships.

How did your life turn around in Australia?
I moved to Aussie in 2006 and I was amazed by the dancing culture. My interest and love for dancing grew even more after discovering a variety of dance styles Sydney had to offer. This new found interest opened up opportunities for me to meet, dance and perform with several amazing dancers in Sydney.

I took part in many concerts and dance festivals including Cuban Salsa Congress, Canberra Latin Dance Festival and Australian Dance Festival. And within the next few months, I will be performing in Parramasala (An International Contemporary Arts Festival), the Darling Harbour Fiesta and the Sydney Latin Festival. There’s so much happening in Sydney, so there’s always lots to look forward to!

How did you turn to Bollywood dancing?
Having a partially Indian background, I grew up watching Bollywood movies and listening to Hindi and Bhangra music. So I have a natural affinity for this particular style, and I really enjoy the vibrancy and energy of Bollywood dance when I perform.

As a dancer how do you keep in shape?
I find it important to keep fit and practise maintaining exercise on a regular basis, as it really helps with the delivery of my dance performance. My exercise is in the form of 'dance', but I also try to include a few fitness classes or just a quick run on the treadmill. I don't omit anything from my diet, but I naturally enjoy healthy food, so having my proteins and greens does the job!

 
You spend so much time on beach and sun, how do you maintain your complexion?
Soaking up some sweet sunshine on the beach is my happy place indeed! After moving to Sydney I realised my skin got really dry so I got in the habit of moisturising my skin every day with a regular body cream. I don't use any other products on my skin. I feel that your skin and body stay happy when you treat it with good food, lots of water and being as stress free as possible.

Interview by Jayantha Fernando
Images provided by Jes