Griffith University Bachelor of Sports Management student Danica Hilton has secured a three year contract with international performing arts company, Cirque du Soleil.
Danica, 19, who will be part of a new act involving teeterboard, tumbling and trampoline work said performing with the company was something she had wanted to do for a long time.
“It’s very exciting! I heard last Friday that I had been selected,” Danica said.
“I was first invited to audition in December 2005 after sending tapes of my work. At that time I got down to the last five in the short-listing process and was told they’d keep me on file for future opportunities.
“In November last year I heard back from them and was invited to participate in a workshop in Montreal, and now I will start with the company in August this year.”
Danica will travel with the company to Montreal and then Macau the following year.
No stranger to international travel, Danica spent four months overseas last year as part of a study abroad program with Griffith University, attending the University of Waterloo for a semester.
“The University of Waterloo was different to Griffith, but a ‘good’ different. I undertook a couple of elective subjects and caught up on some of my core courses too,” Danica said.
While at Waterloo, Danica joined the cheer leader team, which went on to get third place in the Canadian Nationals.
Despite her success Danica is still keeping her feet firmly on the ground.
“I plan to keep studying while I’m overseas. Cirque won’t last forever so I need to keep studying so I can do something afterwards,” Danica said.
“I want to stay at Griffith and given the flexibility of their courses I should be able to study externally while I need to.
“Post Cirque I would like to do something in Sports Management, but I’m also interested in organising music festivals, so I’ll have to see where I end up.”