Cassidy Ratliff’s imaginative free spirit lead her to start dancing at only 2 years old. At age 10, she began blending her love for dance with a new found passion for acting at The Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Acting opened the doors to finding real emotions to infuse true storytelling into her dancing. With the support and encouragement of her parents, Cassidy continued her training and graduated from AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts with her BFA in Dance Theatre. When she is not performing, Cassidy enjoys working out, creating art through a small lens, and enjoying life with her little pup Tia.
I am (use a max. of 3 words to describe yourself)… quirky, innovative and authentic.
Dance is... fire. A small spark of movement that is so flammable and contagious, you can’t help but touch everything in reach with its light.
My last gig taught me... the importance of being the most authentic version of yourself the moment you walk in the door. Once you are able to be 100% present and comfortable being unapologetically you, I find to be the most successful within my work!
Proudest performance moment... thus far would be having the honor of playing the iconic role of “Riff” in AMDA’s adaptation of West Side Story renamed, “East Side Story”. Growing up I always knew I wanted to perform, but always felt separated between dance and acting. Ending my senior year with this production was the perfect blend of both. I was able to have dialogue and play a character all the way through the show, while dancing at the same time. It was truly a dream came true and a perfect way to end my college career at AMDA.
Most embarrassing audition... was a commercial mostly because of my fellow auditionee. We were asked to come prepared with this “simple movement” that was pre recorded to memorize ahead of time. Well this simple movement was a step-touch. We were called into the room four at a time and I was lucky enough to be in the middle of two girls who both didn’t know we had prepared material. On top of that, they didn’t know what a step-touch was so I knew it was going to be an interesting audition! We were asked to act as if we were texting a friend then start doing the simple movement once the camera man called out “5’6’7’8’”. Well once he counted us in, you can only imagine the amazing dancing that was going on either sides of me.
Most challenging gig... would have to be being in a commercial with my parents! It was quite the experience let me tell you. It was for a series of commercials called, “Keep Arkansas Beautiful”. In my episode, I was the prom date and of course featuring my parents. It was interesting seeing my parents act and be nervous wanting to get each shot perfect, but with that came stress and arguing. Overall, it was an awesome experience I wouldn’t change for the world.
Favorite dance style... are Hip hop & Contemporary, but I love them all’
Pre-performance ritual... Prayer. Meditation. And Superman Pose.
Stay in shape by... working out around 6 times a week at Barry’s Bootcamp, taking at least 1-3 dance classes a week, and being fully committed to the Keto Lifestyle.
The moment I knew I wanted to be a dancer... was the moment I realized the impact movement had onto others and how you are able to share your true feelings without saying a single word.
Song that moves me... “All Through The Night” | By: Sleeping At Last
Favorite music video... “Pretty Hurts” | By: Beyoncé
Broadway show... Hamilton The Musical.
Person who shaped my perspective on dance... wow well I feel there have been more than a handful of humans who have shaped my perspective on dance that I am oh so grateful for, but there are two people that stand out in 2018 who really helped me develop who Cassidy is as a performer and more importantly as a human. Those two humans are Genevieve Carson and Fresh Redding. They deserve all the praise the world can give!
Dying to work with... Chris Brown
Currently reading... Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power | By: Erwin McManus
Special skill I wouldn't put on my resume... I LOVE ORGANIZING! It doesn’t matter what it is. If you need me to organize or color code, I’m your girl.
If I weren't a dancer, I'd be... a Creative Director
Disney character that best represents me... Ariel
Dancer crush... Phillip Chbeeb, solely based on his insane concepts he brings to life and because he is one of the best creators in the game right now!
Sign... Cancer.
If I were a color, I'd be... Black because it represents power, strength, aggression, elegance, mystery, and sophistication.
Hotel alias... Cassandra.
LA spot that inspires or relaxes me... The Beach!
The best advice I ever got... “There is a time and place for everything.”
You can find me...
INSTAGRAM: @cassidyratliff - https://www.instagram.com/cassidyratliff/
FACEBOOK: Cassidy Ratliff - https://www.facebook.com/cassidy.alane
DANCE REEL: https://vimeo.com/cassidyratliff/dancereel