#PART 4 # PHOTO SHOOT INSPIRED BY MY SUBCULTURE: TOMBOY CHIC

 

                                                                 

PHOTOGRAPHER: Indi Print
MODELS: Akssana Mota, Marlene Rodrigues and William Mota
STYLING & MAKE UP: Cheila Guerra

#PART 4 #Interview with Melissa Freire

    1.     Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Melissa Freire, I’m 26,I was born in France and I’m a Professional dancer and choreographer in London.

    2.     What influenced you to become a hip hop dancer/choreographer?

I took ballet classes when I was young but then I stopped and only started dancing again when I was 12 years old. I was taking hip hop classes and one of my teachers invited me to an audition to go into a professional dance group called dance to excess.I was 15 years old when I got into the group where I trained for 5 years travelling with them going to Chicago representing the group and going to train in New York too.Since then I realized that I wanted to be a dancer, it was always my dream to be in a dance group, to perform on stage and be able to do everything that I saw in MTV. That was it, I never stopped I just kept fighting for everything and that got me where I am now here in London still doing exactly the same thing I was doing 10 years ago but now professionally.

  

    3.     What sort of clothing do you wear more regularly?

Basically what I wear is a lot of let’s say easy clothing, basic clothing. Leggings, shirts, shorts, crop tops, oversize jackets, something simple because I like to feel really relaxed. Also the trainers, beanies or snap backs and the chains are so important, accessories are everything.  

    4.     Do you prefer your clothes to be fitted or more loose?

It depends; if we go back in time maybe eight years ago we usually used to wear more baggy clothing. A lot of volume, XL t-shirts or men clothes, but now with time even in the dance world the way that we dressed changed and we start using tighter clothing. Nowadays some dancer wear a high waist legging and a crop top and an oversize shirt tied up around the waste.

    5.     Do you have any favorite items of clothing? Where do you normally go shopping?

I would say leggings I’m crazy about leggings but I would say beanies as well it wouldn’t be the same without beanies. I am not picky at all I just go everywhere anywhere what I see if I like it I buy it. I have been doing a lot of online shopping now and I’m becoming a bit addicted to it, it’s so easy, I started 2 months ago on Boohoo and Miss Guided they have everything and you get loads of discounts but of course I like the basics like Topshop and Primark too.

     6.     How would you describe your style?

     I think I have two sides. Sometimes I like to dress a bit more not like a guy but carefree. Use no makeup, put a t-shirt, a sweater, a snap back and leggings, I always like to keep it somehow feminine. But then in some others days I think maybe I’m going to look like I’m 26 today and dress up a little bit more like a lady so I put some boot cut jeans and a nice top and some heels, always simple but effective. I guess it depends on how I wake up and if I have an audition or classes that day.

  

     7.      Do you think your work influences the way you dress and behave?

     Every day of my life my work influences me. I’m always dancing, I’m always thinking of dancing is part of me. I never had a normal job like finish my studies and go to interviews, my job interview is an audition where I have to present myself as a dancer. People ask me how old I am and I say I’m 26 and they won’t understand, they will tell me I look like I just came from school and why I’m dressed up like that.Maybe I just came out from four hours rehearsals for a show with Lily Allen that’s my job so that’s the way I’m going to dress every day because I always have classes or auditions. Is just natural, if you go to a bar, club or even just on the street straight away you can understand who is the dancer, the way they walk, their movements, their posture is unmistakable. I have so many videos with me and my friends dancing on the street randomly is in us is impossible for us not to do it but some people don’t get it at all.

     8.     Music plays a big role in your life, what kind of music do you listen to? 

     I listen to so many styles of music all my life I have been threw different phases. I would listen to rock, Limb Bizkit, and at the same time I would listen to hip hop and R&B, Miss Elliot, Usher, Michael Jackson forever since I was a kid is definitely my biggest inspiration. But then I love classical music too, reggae, house, so if I give you my phone with my playlist you would be a bit confused. I just love music in general, life without music would be completely impossible for me.