And no wonder.
Just six years out of Cawthra Park Secondary School’s vaunted performing arts program, the dancer is lighting up the stage in the West End in London (England’s equivalent of Broadway) as part of the cast of that city’s 50th anniversary production of West Side Story.
Birl plays the role of Teresita and, as one of the Sharks girls, gets to sing the jaunty, I Feel Pretty.
The musical, based on one of Shakespeare’s most popular story lines, Romeo and Juliet, is playing to sold-out audiences at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. It’s garnering rave reviews such as this one from the prestigious The Observer: “If you buy one theatre ticket this summer, make it this one. A thrilling, hurtling triumph.”
And this one from the Evening Standard: “A fabulous, emotionally packed revival.”
It’s all heady stuff for Birl, whose first professional gig was dancing on a cruise ship. But she isn’t forgetting her roots.
“I grew up in Mississauga — Meadowvale to be exact — and trained at the Dance Factory under the instruction of Cindy Dalzell for almost 10 years,” she told The News from London.
While at the Dance Factory, Birl competed all over Canada and the U.S., and was exposed to many different teachers, choreographers and styles of dance.
At Cawthra Park, she was introduced to Modern dance.
“It was great to have the extra outlet and a totally different perspective on dance. We were exposed to performances at the Hummingbird Centre and even got the opportunity to perform there with the late Gregory Hines,” she said.
After graduating from high school in 2002, Birl was offered a contract on Princess Cruises.
“I’d won a scholarship from Triple Threat Dance Convention (a B.C. dance school), which came with an opportunity to work for the cruise line,” she recalled.
Birl then moved to New York City to train with the prestigious Alvin Ailey Dance School. Not long after beginning there, she was offered a part in the The Lion King. Birl toured the United States with the Broadway production for four years, and then returned to New York. Like all performers, she auditioned for every show that came her way. One was West Side Story — and soon afterwards she was jetting to Europe.
“The dancing in the show is timeless...it’s some of the most challenging work that I have ever done. I am also understudying the role of Rosalia, which allows me to work on a challenging vocal role. Touring Europe is something that I have always wanted to do and it has proven to be worth it,” she said.
Now 25, Birl says she’s proud of the work she has done.
“I always try to push myself to the next level with every role that I’m fortunate to perform. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t dance. The business can be very challenging at times, but I think that perseverance and staying true to yourself are the most important tools to have in show business.”
West Side Story plays Sadler’s until the end of the month, before continuing on its four-month tour of Europe.
jchin@mississauga.net
