FROM the ambulance’s flashing lights and sirens to the dance floor’s disco lights and beats, Alli Kreplins is set to be a national television star.
The paramedic and former Mount Gambier resident will appear on Channel 7’s new series Dance Boss, which is hosted by Australian pop starlet Dannii Minogue.
The dance competition pits amateur dancers from ordinary workplaces against each other for epic dance battles to win the ultimate prize of $100,000.
Alli said she was asked to audition for the television show by one of her colleagues who is “extremely passionate” about dance.
“She wanted to apply as a team and was looking for enthusiastic and adventurous girls to apply with her,” she said.
“I am the type of person that will give anything a go and I love the idea of getting out of my comfort zone and pushing myself.
“My whole life is based around this model of living, if you aren’t growing as an individual, what is there?”
As a group with her workmates Kyla and Tara, the trio wanted to sign up to show another side to the people who work as paramedics.
“We work in incredibly high stress environments,” she said.
“We cry, we laugh, we get scared and as much as we try to not take things from work on board, sometimes we do and so, to relieve these stressors, we need outlets and one of those outlets is dance.”
Currently living in China, where she runs her own active wear label, Alli returned to Australia to film the audition tape with her colleagues.
The trio performed a dance to the song Sax by Fleur East and were “ecstatic” when they found out they had been short listed from thousands of teams for the live auditions held on the Gold Coast.
They performed the same dance for the Channel 7 producers in the live auditions.
Alli said she was very nervous and with no previous dance experience – except for “busting some serious moves at Skins nightclub back in the day” – she definitely was out of her comfort zone.
However, with a passion for health and fitness, she was able to tie dancing into her exercise regime and began to reap all the physical and mental benefits of dance.
Two weeks after the live auditions, Alli and her colleagues received a phone call informing them they had made the top 12 in Australia and would be appearing on Dance Boss.
“We entered the application process with very low expectations,” Alli said.
“We knew we were taking quite a big leap because Kyla and Tara hadn’t danced for 15 years and I had never danced or trained professionally in my life.
“After the live auditions, when we found out we had made it onto the show, I swear our screams shook the earth.
“I could not believe we had enough talent to make the top 12 of Australia.”
After she found out her team was set to appear on the show, Alli, who was in China, flew back to Australia to start rehearsals and intense choreography with some of the top choreographers in the Gold Coast and Brisbane region.
Throughout this time she was given the opportunity to work alongside a number national and international superstars, including Dannii Minogue, Timomatic, Sharni Vinson and Adam Garcia.
Alli said she was also fortunate enough to learn from choreographers who had worked across the globe and alongside artists including Katy Perry and DJ Khaled and meeting and working with experts was the highlight of her Dance Boss experience.
“The biggest highlight has been all the incredible people we have been given the opportunity to work beside and all the contestants I have met throughout the show,” she said.
“It is amazing how people can be complete strangers one moment and become family the next.
“They are such a great support system and really encouraging and it is an incredible feeling being in an environment where everyone is supportive of your goals, dreams and aspirations.”
She added the most enjoyable aspect of Dance Boss was proving to herself anything was possible.
“Never in a million years did I ever think I would appear on a reality television show and more so a dance show,” she said.
“Dance has never been a huge part of my life, but it definitely was something I have always wanted to learn and never found the confidence to do.
“Being with the girls and learning from some seriously incredible choreographers proved to myself that if you put in the effort and show determination you can literally achieve anything.
“I mean I am no Euan Doidge, but I have got a few moves under my belt now that might give him a run for his money.”
Alli has been working as a paramedic for four years now and says the adrenaline rush and the “unknown” of her career is what keeps her going, as well as the impact she makes on people’s lives.
She runs her active wear business from China and returns to Australia every two months to work as a paramedic so she maintains her skills and qualification.
Dance Boss is set to air on national television on Channel 7 on Monday.
