At the tender age of five years, Mariah was a shy, sensitive, little girl. One fine day her girlfriend was booked in to attend her first class at Susan Green School of Dance and urged Mariah to come along. Nancy, Mariah's mother, thought it a great idea and persuaded her daughter to take part, not at all expecting her to last the entire lesson. The teacher assured Nancy Mariah would be fine - and that she was. Not only did Mariah stay for the duration of the initial dance class, she didn't miss a lesson for the next eighteen years!
"I wasn't particularly good at dancing when I began." Mariah confessed. "I practised the choreography throughout the week until I memorised it."
Mariah commenced her creative journey with jazz ballet, later adding tap dance and classical ballet. From the age of nine and for the following nine years, she passionately participated in group, troupe, duet and solo competitions.
Dance competitions were held in Leongatha, Yarram and in various venues around Melbourne. At the conclusion of these competitions, scholarships were awarded to worthy students. Mariah won multiple scholarships throughout her teens enabling her to attend summer school programs hosted by elite dance schools. During one of these summer programs, one prestigious school invited Mariah, then sixteen years of age, to join its class on Saturday mornings.
“I was ecstatic, but I think my dad was even more excited than me! He was so proud and drove me to Melbourne every Saturday. He was my biggest supporter - an enthusiastic 'Dance Dad' - and always cheered me on from the front row."
Both Mariah's parents, Nancy and Kevin, were very much involved behind the scenes of Mariah's recreation, often cooking hearty meals, sewing endless costumes and building striking props.
"Sometimes dad would even fix props belonging to opponents at competitions," Mariah remarked, rolling her eyes and laughing.
Mariah ultimately graduated from Susan Green School of Dance as a teacher in Jazz Ballet, Tap Dance and Classical Ballet. She had successfully passed challenging, annual exams from the age of five up to eighteen years with outstanding achievements.
After finishing high school, Mariah auditioned for a full-time position at the Ministry of Dance in North Melbourne; one of the few leading dance institutions in Australia. She was successful and following VCE, spent the next two years studying and perfecting all styles of dance to earn a Certificate 5 in Dance Teaching and Management, as well as a Diploma in Musical Theatre.
After graduating, Mariah spent a challenging, often tiresome year auditioning for musicals, theme parks and Melbourne based productions.
"I literally auditioned for any paid dance role. It was extremely competitive."
Finally, a breakthrough: Mariah auditioned in Melbourne for Disney Paris along with approximately three hundred other hopeful dancers. Mariah shone and won the role.
"I felt in that moment all my hard work had come to fruition."
A few months later, Mariah boarded an aeroplane bound for Paris with her life tucked into two overweight suitcases; her twenty-first birthday a farewell celebration. Nancy was extremely proud of her daughter, but overwhelmed at the thought of her moving to a foreign country.
Mariah soon settled into her new, exciting existence and for one year danced her way through Paris's Theme Park as a Parade Performer. Then the unforeseen pandemic arrived, stopping the world in its tracks.
Thankfully, Mariah was eventually able to catch a rescue flight back to Australia landing in Darwin. The following three COVID-19 filled years Mariah remained home, worked in hospitality and taught dance with Susan Green via the internet. Once the world opened, she again began to audition online for worldwide dance roles, however it was slim pickings.
In 2023, Mariah flew to Sydney to audition for Disney Cruise Line and discovered her sea legs.
"I'd never set foot on a cruise ship before and I was really excited, she said. "To this day I've never experienced any sea sickness."
For the last two years Mariah has enjoyed her artistic sea journey and has voyaged to the Caribbean and Europe. She's hoping Alaska will be her next travel destination.
"I love performing and I love travelling. It suits me down to the ground and allows me to retain a great work/life balance."
Dancing contracts with Disney Cruise Line are typically nine months long, which Mariah spends abroad. Once contracts are fulfilled, she flies home to enjoy the Australian summer with her family and friends, much to her mother's delight. Mariah then remains on the Disney books to be rehired, but nothing is ever guaranteed. She needs to stay focused and on top of her game.
"I want to keep doing what I'm doing for as long as my body allows.This vocation offers me everything I love."
What might the future look like for Mariah? With her impressive portfolio, opportunities are many and varied. One thing is for sure. Mariah is an extraordinary, young woman, oozing ambition, determination and resilience. Her unwavering commitment throughout her dance journey is admirable and inspiring.
Nancy of course, couldn't be more proud.
"I always knew Mariah had it in her to succeed," she winks. Camilla Hullick
