The performing arts have taken Rochelle de Vries on adventures all over the world, but only Tasmania’s managed to keep her in one place for long.

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Rochelle de Vries (image: Kishka Jensen)

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Durban in South Africa during the time of apartheid. Both of my parents’ parents were mixed race couples, and they made our life so exciting that we never really realised the impacts of segregation until we were much older. My dad was a gospel singer, so we travelled a lot and lived with our bags always packed for the next adventure. When we came to Australia for the first time in 1986, I was the only coloured child at my school. A kid asked me if I tasted like chocolate because I looked like chocolate. I asked him if he tasted like strawberry! Having that kind of experience in Australia as a kid was a blessing in disguise, because when we returned to South Africa, apartheid had been abolished and the schools became integrated. I had already seen how good it was to have different cultures living and learning together, and it was really beautiful to be a part of that in my home country as well. I think the kids paved the way for older generations to see how different it could be.

How did you end up here, at the bottom of the world?

Even when we’d gone back to South Africa, my dad continued to travel to and from Australia. He came to Tasmania once, and thought it was such a beautiful place that he’d like to bring the rest of us back. In 1997, we left South Africa for the last time, and came to Tassie. I’ve been here for 20 years now - it’s the longest I’ve ever lived in one place, by far. I remember thinking how quiet it was at night when we first got here. Where we had been living, you would hear tribal wars and gunshots at night. Here, it was so quiet that my brother and I couldn’t sleep at first. It was this immediate peace that we weren’t used to. Tasmania was also so beautiful and unique, compared to the other Australian cities that we had visited.

Later, I met my husband at a rehearsal for a performance that I was singing in. He has his own building company now, but he was a drummer and sound engineer at the time. I don’t think I could have settled down with someone who didn’t have that creative understanding. We’ve been married for almost as long as I’ve lived here.

Rochelle de Vries and family (image: Kishka Jensen)

You founded Eternal Dance Studio in 2007, later rebranding to Eternal Performing Arts. How has your background inspired what you do now?

I was a back-up singer for my dad from the age of 13, and learned a lot about the performing arts industry and how to put a show together. I also started dancing from a young age, and was blessed to train with an excellent classical ballet teacher in South Africa, first in a community hall, and later in her studio when segregation was abolished. I watched how she made every individual feel like they were the most important person in the room, regardless of their background. She made people feel special and like they belonged, and that’s a legacy that inspires what I do today. Throughout my childhood, I trained in other dance genres, including hip-hop, house, contemporary and afro. To see the dance style of my homeland now being embraced around the world is really wonderful.

I also worked in fashion for several years - styling, buying and working with designers. All of these worlds - music, dance and fashion - help each other out a lot, and I wanted to build something that brought them together. I created Eternal, with a view to build it into what it’s becoming today.

What does Eternal Performing Arts bring to Tasmania?

We’ve created a space that anyone can come to - no matter their age, or whether they’re a beginner or pursuing a career in the performing arts industry. We now have studio classes where we teach dance for fitness and fun, as well as a training hub, where we’re training children and adults to perform on stage or screen. Our ethos is to help each artist develop who they are, and find their own pathway by expressing themselves. I love watching how our space brings people together. We’ve built a community here, where people are forming connections that they wouldn’t have otherwise.

What are three must-dos for every visitor to lutruwita/Tasmania?

Definitely go to the east coast of the state - it’s beautiful. You’ve also got to make the most of the hikes and walking trails. The access that we have to these amazing places like Three Capes and kunanyi/Mt Wellington is like nothing I’ve seen anywhere else in the world. Finally, experience our incredible art scene. In Hobart, there’s a gallery on almost every street, and you’ll often have the opportunity to talk to the artist themselves. This sort of thing is impossible in a bigger city.

Where do you get away to for a Tasmanian stay-cation?

My husband and I stayed at Piermont for our anniversary, and it felt like being hidden in nature. We’ve also been lucky enough to stay at Freycinet Lodge and Saffire, both of which were beautiful experiences.

Where are your favourite local haunts for eats and drinks?

There’s just too many to list them all! I love Peppina, Restaurant MARIA, Bar Wa Izakaya, and anywhere I can eat Tasmanian oysters. I wasn’t an oyster person until I moved here, and now I believe the hype. They’re different here - you can actually taste the sea.

For coffee, my picks are Villino, Born in Brunswick and Bear With Me, and for a wine, I love Lucinda.

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Q&A: Rochelle de Vries