She beat thousands worldwide — now this Queanbeyan dancer is headed to Universal Studios
A Queanbeyan dancer who honed her craft in Karabar High School’s Performing Arts Class as a teenager is about to take the stage at one of the biggest theme parks in the world.
After a gruelling six-month audition process, Charlotte Codey, 21, has been named an official dancer for the Universal Beijing Resort: a theme park that covers four square kilometres and runs 24 hours a day across hotels, entertainment and dining precincts, parades and performances.
The resort at night. Photo: Universal Studios
It’s basically Disneyland for Universal Studios: with Minion Land, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World and Kung Fu Panda Land among the worlds you can explore.
Charlotte beat thousands of hopeful dancers across the globe to score a spot as one of the park’s official entertainers. She’ll perform in various ensemble roles during special events, as well as in a main show that runs year-round.
“It’s definitely a dream job for me at this stage,” Charlotte says.
“I feel incredibly lucky to be supported by such an amazing team. I’m excited but a little nervous at the same time. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
As a little girl, Charlotte loved to dance.
She joined Dance City in Hume at the age of just three, then moved to Aria Dance Academy and then Lisa Clark School of Ballet, studying ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary over the years. She auditioned for Karabar High’s Performing Arts Class in 2017 and was successful, studying there for two years before heading to Erindale College.
In 2021, she moved to Brisbane for full-time ballet training at the Queensland College of Dance, graduating the following year with a Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) specialising in ballet and contemporary.
Since then, she’s lived in Melbourne, where she works as a professional dancer, performing at corporate events, sporting events like the Australian Open, and across various nightlife venues “with fantastic companies”.
While she’s used to living away from her parents and younger sisters (mum Rebecca Codey is a public servant and dad Clint is an executive teacher at Erindale College), China is a fair stretch.
“My family has been incredibly supportive of my dance journey from a young age,” Charlotte says.
“They’ve invested in my training, driven me across NSW for competitions, and always encouraged me to follow my dreams – they’ve never made me feel like I owed them anything.
“Their unwavering support allowed me to be brave enough to move across the country at 16 and truly nurtured my passion for dance, for which I’m endlessly grateful.”
Charlotte (far right) with sisters Ava and Addison Codey.
What’s Charlotte looking forward to most about China?
“That blend of the old and new that Beijing is famous for – historical sites but also modern technology,” she says.
“I’ve worked hard since I was 12, making sacrifices along the way to pursue this path, and I’m excited to start this next chapter.”
About the Author: Briony Winchester
Part bogan, part wannabe plus-size model and part journalist, Bree's the woman behind Q! News. A born storyteller, she's been writing locally, nationally and internationally for more than 30 years.
