Bio
Cleo Notcutt is a South African dancer best known as one of the Top 16 contestants on the second season of the SABC1 reality competition So You Think You Can Dance, in 2010.
So You Think You Can Dance Q&A
City
Cape Town
Profession
Freelance dancer
Dance history
She has been dancing since she was three years old; her mother is a dance teacher. She has done many different styles from modern, musical theatre and recently hip hop. She has always been accustomed to kwaito, pantsula, contemporary and gumboot dance.
Why should Cleo be SA's favourite dancer
She'd like to be the kind of dancer people would look up to, not only for the way she dances but the person she is. She is Miss Personality. She sees herself inspiring the young generation, growing and pioneering and providing a platform to speak out.
Favourite dance genre
Hip hop mainly
Dance accolades/trophies/titles
Competed in many hip hop competitions over the years and won numerous 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in local dancing competitions. She was chosen to represent South Africa in a Las Vegas dance competition in 2008.
What would she do with the prize money?
Being the strong a Christian that she is, she would help her local church before anything else. Thereafter she would support her family and buy herself a small car to travel better, and save the rest of the money. She would also like to support other groups in need and make plans to travel in order to learn things from other countries and get experience to bring back to the other dancers she teaches or works with.
What makes her stand out in the competition?
She reckons a certain amount of versatility, her bubbly personality, positive attitude and lots of smile. She would like to bring a strong personality with unique dance and appeal to the rest of the South African dancing world.
Family background
She has an extremely supportive family. He mother is a dance teacher, her dad a director and drama teacher, her sister a director and her brother sings and plays the guitar; he is also a youth pastor.
Audition process
She auditioned in her own city, Cape Town
Profession if not dancing
Perhaps stunt performing, which she still wants to do, otherwise she would just focus on studying events management.
Impression of the South African dance scene
We need to believe in ourselves, but also be humble enough to learn from what is out there and grow together. I believe our dancing comes from the soul because of our unique backgrounds.
What would winning So you think you can dance mean to Cleo?
It would mean so much to her if her dream come true. It would also mean that she has a huge responsibility to make a change and impact in South Africa as a dancer, and make something out of the title, SA's Favourite Dancer.
Inspiration
Her mother, her two dance teachers, her dance crew Beat Root and people that love to dance and choreography around the world, specially the Philippines Allstars.
Challenges faced
She hasn't faced anything extremely difficult in her life. There have been moments where she has been close to giving up but she pushed through and grabbed a hold of her true passion.
What makes her happy
God, her boyfriend, her friends, her family her dancing, her passions, having fun, spending time with God, making good conversations with friends, meeting new people and going to new places. And her new dance crew Beat Root.
Message for potential fans
If you always wanted to be a dancer and you never wanted to start because you think you won't be good, everyone has a starting point and it's important to follow your dream. For the people that love dancing, keep pushing and stepping out of your comfort zone. Stay humble and learn from others and be the example. Teach others who are hungry to learn. God will use you to inspire others.
South African charity close to her heart
Her local church, but otherwise any charity that involves abused women, as this is close to my heart.