Hayley Newton with Pixie LottShe's a personal trainer and choreographer to the stars, and with her recent work on Pixie Lott's 'Nasty' music video, we took the opportunity to chat to Hayley Newton about her career and what's to come.
What led to you working with Pixie Lott?
Basically, we both actually trained at the same school. Different years! (laughs) I'm a bit older than her, and both of us - I'm artistic director for the Italia Conti Arts Centre in Guildford - and she'd come and see some of the choreography and shows that I did, and she just really liked the choregraphy.
Then, she found out that I was personal training and she knew she was doing her comeback so she wanted to get fit and ready, and asked me to train her, and then the routine I did - because I do a lot of dance cardio - she really enjoyed that one and was like: 'I'd love you to choreograph my video!', and it was as lovely as that. It was just our good relationship and trust.
How much time would you say went into the making of the video?
A long time because, I was training her for three months before to get her ready, but we had the music that early on as well so we were having a play, and working out what looked good on her, but running up to the actual video I would say two weeks intensely with other dancers, and the director and costume, and all of that - that was two weeks before.
You obviously are quite close with Pixie; how was she to work with?
She's lovely to work with, she's an absolute pro and she's just really inspiring, but she's really laid back and easy as well which is nice, so you feel relaxed. It's a very comfortable environment to work with her, so I couldn't have really asked for anything more.
You mentioned you're a personal trainer as well as choreographer, how do those two worlds balance against one another?
Well basically, as I said my method is dance, as in dance cardio - obviously I do toning as well - so there is choreography involved in that as well but, people love to dance. Rather than just doing a million jumping jacks or whatever to start sweating, putting a nice combination together of dance moves is really fun. I find my clients really love that.
That, basically is where it came out of for Pixie in her video, but obviously the choreography and fitness for me meshes, because I'm always making up routines for my training as well as choreography, so they really go hand in hand, which is nice.
What would you say is most rewarding about your career?
That it's just so different every day, that I never get bored and that is what I'm thankful for.
My personality is definitely - I just don't know if I could deal with having a 9 to 5 job, knowing my destination, not only every day knowing where that would be but for the rest of my life knowing that I'd be going to the same bank or something every day to work. I'm so thankful that I don't know where I will be next year, or what I'll be doing. I like that.
Have you so far had any big, defining or favourite moments in your career?
I have actually. I was assistant choreographer for Torvill and Dean's 50th Bolero Tour, and I remember at the end of a rehearsal once, everyone went home, and me and the choreographer were just left with Torvill and Dean, and they said 'we have to run our Bolero, do you want to watch?', and it was just me and the choreographer, and them in the whole stadium. It was incredible. It was like a personal show of the Bolero - that was pretty memorable I have to say!
Obviously I've worked with many big stars but that's the moment - and they're so modest aren't they? They're the nicest couple to have to be in the presence of, and so it was very magical.
You mentioned you've worked with some big names - is there anyone you'd love to work with in the future?
What, like Beyonce? (laughs) Yeah, let's aim that high, Beyonce definitely!
Just anyone - to be honest with you, there's not a type of person that I'd want to work with. I really enjoy girl's choreography and girl's work, more than I do with boys! (laughs) So, I think, any popstar or celebrity that's a girl, I would probably have a lot of fun with!
Why would you say you enjoy working with girls more?
I don't know! I just think - I'm just thinking of what I do with my boy's choreography, I always make my students laugh when I do boy's choreography.
I don't know, I'm just a really girly-girl so I love the gossip side, and I just really connect well with women. All the people I train as well in fitness - they're all women.
I train Janette Manrara from Strictly Come Dancing - she's one of the pros - and we've just made this fabulous friendship now.
There's something about girls - I always find boys like you know... they kind of grunt! Whereas girls are much more fun and you go: 'How's your boyfriend? How was yesterday?', so I think girls are more fun! (laughs)
I saw that you're launching a new business with your fiancé - what can you tell us about that?
Oh it's very exciting. We're launching Move It this year, from the seventh to the ninth of March at Olympia.
We're actually called 'Hayley and Chris', very much like 'Ant and Dec', and I do try and stand on the right side! (laughs) Hayley first! And Chris.
We're coming up with a training method called Get Dance Fit - we're both dancers - so it's really exciting, and we're combining our clients together, and it's just great to work with my other half - I can't think of anything better to do.
Our website's called www.hayleyandchris.co.uk, and it's coming soon.
How do you find balancing your personal life with work?
Well the great thing is, my fiancé was in the business as well - he was actually in The Bill for nearly four years I think - so he's been in the business and he understands it, and I think that's really important.
I don't know how people can be in the business and have a partner that doesn't quite understand what you're doing every day - that must be really strange - but working together we've really just meshed. Our ideas and everything are very similar. Obviously we have a few hiccups, but nothing that makes me wanna back out of it anytime soon! (laughs)
Is there anything else you have in the works that you can share some details about?
I can't share many details but I am gonna be doing another video, with another artist after Move It, but I'm not allowed to say who that is right now.
So yeah, it's very much business one end, and choreography the other which is great. It's a good mix.
Check out behind the scenes footage from Hayley Newton's work with Pixie Lott on the 'Nasty' music video below.
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