Interviwer asked her what themes were used in the piece, she answered “When choreographing for Springboard, the themes in my piece developed naturally as the process unfolded. From the start, I was determined to create a work that radiated strong, unapologetic feminine energy. To bring this vision to life, I leaned into the ideas of dark femininity and female rage—concepts that have always fascinated me.

Female rage, in particular, is something I’ve been drawn to for a long time. In TV and film, the “angry” female characters are always the ones who grab my attention. Their fury is never random—it’s the result of frustration and resentment building up over time until it erupts into something raw and powerful. That kind of emotion felt essential to what I wanted to explore in this piece.

Dark femininity gave me the framework to push the piece even further. It’s about re-imagining femininity as something bold, mysterious, and magnetic. It’s the kind of energy that demands attention and takes up space without apology. I wanted every dancer in the piece to embody that—to look like they owned the entire room just by being in it.

That’s why I held auditions. For me, it wasn’t just about technical ability—it was about finding dancers who had that undeniable presence, the kind of aura that makes people stop and stare. With 15 performers all exuding that dark, powerful energy, the piece became so much more impactful.

In the end, it all came together as a deep dive into the strength and complexity of feminine power. The mix of female rage and dark femininity gave the choreography a dynamic, electrifying edge, and seeing those themes brought to life on stage was incredibly rewarding. I also asked her about the feelings she wanted the dancers to portray throughout the piece, she said “The most important part of this piece was that every single movement had to make both me and my dancers feel incredible—powerful, confident, and sexy! If any of us didn’t feel that way while performing, it would completely miss the mark. The entire point of the routine was to channel that energy and project it outward. Confidence was key; if we didn’t feel it internally, it wouldn’t translate to the audience. They had to believe it, see it, and feel it just as much as we did.

That said, I was very mindful of keeping the choreography tasteful. There were moments, especially during improvisation or while setting movements, where I found that a particular move pushed the sexual tone a little too far. It’s a delicate balance—there’s a fine line between empowerment and discomfort, and I didn’t want to cross it. My goal wasn’t to shock or make the audience uncomfortable; it was to create a piece that felt empowering, authentic, and celebratory.

Striking that balance meant focusing on confidence and control, ensuring that every move felt intentional and impactful. In the end, the piece wasn’t just about looking powerful; it was about embodying it, and inviting the audience to experience that energy with us.” When curating costumes this was Poppy’s approach “I was extremely intentional when it came to choosing costumes for each dancer. The process was far from straightforward—it involved hours of online shopping, endless returns, and carefully mixing and matching tops and bottoms until I found combinations that felt just right. My goal was to create outfits that not only looked stunning but made each dancer feel truly empowered. Because here’s the thing: if my dancers didn’t feel sexy in their costumes, how could they perform a sexy routine with the confidence and presence the piece demanded? The costumes had to enhance their energy, not hold it back. I chose a colour palette of black and red because, to me, those colours radiate confidence and power. Black has a sleek, commanding presence, while red adds an element of boldness and intensity. Together, they created a striking visual statement that tied perfectly into the themes of the piece. Every choice was made with intention—not just for how it would look on stage, but for how it would make the dancers feel as they embodied the power and sensuality of the performance.” Finally, and most importantly, I asked her how she felt while performing, “I felt absolutely incredible, like a wave of power had just washed over me. There was something so special about performing a piece I had created entirely from scratch. From selecting the music, holding auditions, choreographing every move, designing the costumes and lighting, to directing it on stage—it was all mine. Every part of the process made me feel even more connected to it, and by the time I stepped on stage, I felt like a total boss. I wanted the audience to know, without a doubt, that this was my creation.

I was beyond proud of the dancers and the way they brought the routine to life. They nailed the vibe of the piece perfectly—every ounce of energy and intention I envisioned was there. On stage, I could feel the electric connection between us, this shared love for dance tying everything together. And the confidence? That was undeniable. I hand-picked the dancers for their ability to exude confidence while performing, and it radiated during the show. It wasn’t just about movement; it was about owning the space, and you could feel that energy pulsing through every step. It was such an empowering moment, and I couldn’t have been happier with how it all came together.” Poppy’s dedication and confidence has inspired me, she was able to create an amazing piece which attacked societal issues and allowed all of us dancers as individuals to let out that female rage she mentioned.