Jake Sergi has racked up an impressive collection of trophies on his way to movie stardom. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
A docudrama featuring Griffith’s own Jake Sergi will be screened in town this weekend, ahead of its worldwide theatrical release in April.
Dance for Your Life follows 10 Australian performers from Sydney’s elite Brent Street Academy as they risk everything to chase a life-changing opportunity with one of London’s premier performance companies.
Sergi was among hundreds of students and alumni who auditioned for the Project 10 UK trip and, at just 17, was the youngest of the 10 selected. His journey has been captured by director Luke Cornish, bringing the experience to the big screen.
“It makes me feel vulnerable to watch myself and to share my life story with the entire world,” Sergi said.
“I feel like we filmed so much — it was weird to see it condensed into what feels like two minutes, but it’s so inspiring.”
Becoming a movie star marks an incredible comeback for the now 18-year-old, who was at a low point just two years ago after enduring relentless bullying in high school.
His aunt, Yvonne Turnell, told him success would be the best form of revenge — and that one day, those bullies would be buying tickets to see him.
“From the first time we saw him dancing in front of the mirror at age three, we knew he had found his passion,” Ms Turnell said. ”He’s never stopped loving dancing — he’s gone to every dance competition and worked so hard.
“Both his uncle and I are so very proud of his success and progress in such a short time.”
Ms Turnell will attend the world premiere of the film in Sydney on Friday (March 27), and both she and Sergi will return to Griffith for a special screening at Griffith City Cinema on Sunday.
The film features dance routines interspersed with interviews with the 10 performers, capturing all the drama and tension you’d expect from a highly competitive environment.
“Strutting towards the front, it makes me feel like I rule the world,” Sergi says in the trailer.
The film also features several emerging stars from the industry, including Conor Bann-Murray, Cassie Bartho and Abby Faith Whyte.
Sergi said the experience of being filmed during intensive 10-hour rehearsals was unlike anything he had experienced before.
“Some of us would be mic’d up and the camera would be in our faces, but we couldn’t look at it,” he said. ”We’d then be interviewed afterwards, and they’d film us in our London sharehouse. It was exhausting, but the group I was with was great.”
Sergi credited his former teacher Jodi Andreatta and his family in Griffith for supporting his meteoric rise. While he plans to take a short break as the film is released, more overseas opportunities are already in the pipeline.
“He was truly born to dance,” Ms Turnell said.
The special screening of Dance for Your Life will be held at 10:15 am on Sunday, 29 March. Tickets can be purchased from Griffith City Cinema.
