Meet Caitlin Watson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Watson.

Caitlin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised (by the best might I add! Janet- Mum & Patrick- Dad) in Sydney, Australia. I grew up dancing and got into singing/acting a little later. I am a triple threat performer and creative, have a passion for writing and film editing, and I’m studying a Bachelor of Media and Communications online. I always knew I wanted to work in the Arts/Entertainment Industry and living/working abroad in the US had always been a dream of mine.

Back in November 2016, I entered the green card lottery for the first time. It was actually the first I had heard of it and so I decided to try my luck. In May 2017, first-round results came out and I got the news I’d been randomly selected to progress to the next round. So, I filled out the next stage of forms and then waited. It was quite the waiting game. So long waiting that I’d forgotten about it.

One night in April 2018, I was teaching at the dance studio I co-owned at the time with my sister (Lauren) and I got an email informing me of my scheduled interview at the U.S. Consulate in Sydney. I remember my heart dropping and feeling elated, but also slightly confused. It was just so out of the blue (after nearly a year of hearing nothing) that I was concerned it was a scam. I emailed off to every official email under the sun to gain clarification that it was legit and that it was actually happening and sure enough it was! I had an interview scheduled for the following month, in May. After a hectic month in April sorting all the documents for my interview in May, I had my visa in my hot little hands! That visa you get lasts six months, and within that time you need to enter the US so that your green card can be activated. My Mum and I made a trip over in August to do the activating! I had job commitments in Sydney until the end of 2018, so unfortunately couldn’t move straight over to the US.

Come January 2019, at 23 years of age, I packed my life into two 23-kilogram suitcases and headed to NYC! I didn’t really have anything sorted out to be honest. I was going over to no job and no permanent place to live, but I had a dream of being a performer and that’s all that I needed. I ended up in NYC for seven months and hustled hard! Within my first month in the city, I found a job and a place to live. In the following months, I became a part of the work-study program at Broadway Dance Center, which gave me super cheap dance/voice/acting classes. I performed at gigs in NYC and I made incredible friends and had a strong support network of other fellow Aussie’s in the city (Bec, Lauren and Elle- LEGENDS!). I also made a bold move while in NYC and reached out to Eddie Perfect (Australian singer-songwriter/pianist/actor/comedian/writer) who was the composer and lyricist for Beetlejuice The Musical. We ended up going for coffee and talking about the industry/career. That was something that a few months prior, I would never have done out of fear of rejection or embarrassment. This is how I knew I was growing as a person – I was taking risks, being bold, and fearless: it was exciting!

I decided in August to fly home and surprise my Mum for her birthday. Side note: it was a success and she had no idea! But, once I returned, quite a few complications with my Grandma arose. I ended up being back in Sydney for a lot longer than I planned- but family illness had to become a priority at the time. Fast forward all the way to July 2020. Yes, that’s right, smack bang in the middle of a global pandemic and I am now in LA after making my way back to the US from Sydney at the end of July. Oh, the things we do for a dream, hey!? So, why LA and not back to NYC? Well, I completed the Empowering the Artist online dance mentorship (10-week course from end of April-end of June) with American Arts Film & Television Academy (AAFTA), under the direction of Jessica Orcsik, Renee Ritchie and the incredible AAFTA team. The course was everything I needed and more! And it ignited a burning desire in me to get to LA. So, I’ve been in LA since the end of July and already have taken on the role of Dance Administrative Assistant with AAFTA. I cannot wait to explore the dancing and acting opportunities that LA has to offer and I’m beyond excited for my future!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think every crazy journey has its struggles and mine has been no exception to that. Being away from family and friends is tough – I miss them a lot. I particularly have a super strong relationship with my family and talk to them nearly every day when I’m away. Being away for long periods definitely makes each reunion that extra bit special though! It’s always so nice to return home and be in their presence. Having to build a life and reputation from the ground up is also no easy feat. Finding a job, finding a place to live, trying to make your space feel homely, essentially living out of a suitcase: it can be tough, but it’s all a part of it (and the fun)! Then there is the financial factor: you definitely have to hustle to make things work, and of course you can’t forget the business you are in – the entertainment industry is brutal and there is lots of rejection involved. But, my resilience, commitment, passion and love for the industry always keep me going.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As mentioned earlier, I am a triple threat performer. Musical Theatre has a special place in my heart and will always be my number one passion. My love for theatre was fueled in my high school years by Cameron Mitchell (one of my all-time greatest mentors!). I am especially fond of fosse- a dream gig would be anything in the style of fosse! I also am a choreographer and dance adjudicator. I have choreographed for various competition schools across Sydney and the Central Coast and co-owned a dance studio with my sister in Sydney for five years, where I predominantly choreographed. I am fairly new on the scene in the dance adjudicating world, but I love it and am continuing to get offered more opportunities with it! I’ve judged in Sydney and surrounds for the past year, as well as judging online international competitions throughout the pandemic. I love seeing all the up and coming talent and building them up.

Our industry can often bring people down and hinder confidence, so I ensure I do the opposite and bring out the best in young performers. These are all avenues I am wanting to explore here in the US: performing, choreographing, and dance adjudicating. I, too am very keen to delve further into other passions like writing and film editing. What sets me apart from others is my work ethic and my personality. While I am a very diligent person, who likes to get the job done, I am a great energy who has fun while doing so and I’m always the first to crack a joke and make people smile! I also thrive off of learning. I am forever building my skills/knowledge and don’t ever want to stop educating myself, as it keeps me inspired, motivated and moving forward!

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Ooo! There were a lot of moments I could have used for this question, but I am going to go with having the courage and bravery to pack my life up and move to the other side of the world. I think that is a real achievement in itself and a step that many people are too scared to take. So, yes, I’m really proud of myself for doing that!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @caitlinwatson
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/caitlin.watson95
• Twitter: @caitliniam

Image Credit:
– Grant Leslie Photography, DANCEvision.tv, Marcus Walters Photographer

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