Rising Stars: Meet Christina Evans

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Evans.

Hi Christina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up dancing in my living room watching Swan Lake on repeat. I just loved the ethereal magic of the ballet and soon I was performing in a kid’s ballet company for years. Always a shy child, I was plagued with intense social anxiety in high school (which I now understand was Selective Mutism), but I was always able to express myself through dance. I was never great technically, but it lit up my soul. I went on to study dance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and began to create my own work, mixing dance, theatre and socially aware topics like sweatshop labor, trafficking and climate change. After living in London and traveling Europe I returned to Australia, and my most spectacular opportunity came when I received the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship to sail to Antarctica with scientists and create dance works based on the ice. An extraordinary place, this was one of the most expansive experiences of my life! The works I created ‘Polarity’ and ‘Body of Ice’ toured the world. Now years later I have inklings to create more and visit the Arctic.

Meeting my husband in Melbourne we made the move to LA together. I staged my solo ‘TOYS’, a dance theatre piece based on child trafficking, at Hollywood Fringe Festival and received several awards before taking it to New York. In early 2022 I spent time in northern Spain being inspired by ancient caves sites and dancing amongst natural environments, creating the video and photographic series ‘Original Woman’.

Along the way, I’ve discovered a natural affinity to working with kids as a dance teacher, party entertainer and childcare provider. Today my worlds have joined together in creating Fairy School with my filmmaker husband Sasha Dylan Bell.

Alright, 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?
Umm no! Definitely lots of ups and downs. I’ve had to consistently keep choosing my creative expression as a priority and to really believe in its innate value and potential. I’ve struggled with spirals of depression and anxiety over the years, which has been a layered journey of self-discovery and understanding. Creating my own work is always a big undertaking and wearing so many hats (writing/directing/producing/marketing etc.) can get frustrating when you just want to focus on the creative side. Exploring the world of auditions in LA has made me really work to let go of the need to be validated and chosen by others and to be present in my creative work. Finding the balance and foundation to thrive has been an ongoing process too, and really moving past old notions of the “starving artist” which are not helpful or true in our modern world where it’s possible to create, thrive and generate income in so many new ways.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m so proud to have just launched Fairy School, a course for kids to transform into a fairy at home! Together with Sasha, our mission is to connect kids to nature and boost their self-esteem in a way that is fun, creative, and easy for parents. What makes it unique is the structured journey we take kids on, and by the end, they become certified fairies. It promotes a love of nature, self-expression and kindness (which we feel is really needed in the world right now!) and is full of fairy crafts, recipes, dancing, nature projects, good deeds, fairy ceremonies and lots more. Kids and parents are loving it!

It brings my dance, environmental art and childcare experience together, as well as Sasha’s extensive experience as a filmmaker. We’re so excited to keep growing Fairy School with ideas to expand into television, books and live events.

Pricing:

• $24 / month cancel anytime
• $77 for lifetime access
• $147 with supplies shipped to your door

Contact Info:

• Website: fairyschool.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/fairyschoolmagic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairyschoolmagic