Estelle O’Keeffe has been REBORN

“I’m predominately a dancer, I’ve danced all my life,” she said.

Shortly after studying psychology at Deakin University, Miss O’Keeffe received a scholarship to study in the United States.

Her home city rallied behind her, holding a benefit under the stars to assist her with moving to another continent.

“Shepparton funded me to go to America to live my dream,” she said.

Miss O’Keeffe lived and worked in America for three years before moving back home.

Last year, Miss O’Keeffe met Luke Blaze, and they have been working together ever since.

She is now his main assistant and dancer, along with Kimberly Causevska.

They will embrace Mooroopna’s WestSide stage on Saturday, September 2, with their show, REBORN.

“What we do is quite rare — there are elements of music, humour and dance, as well as magic, illusion and escape,” she said.

Mr Blaze is Australia’s youngest current underwater escape artist; however, the last time he attempted the water escape, he was unsuccessful and had to be rescued by the crew.

Shepparton will be the first audience to see his underwater escape since the failure and it promises to be a tension-filled experience for those on and off the stage.

“There was a bit of a fear of it afterward, but I’m ready for the Shepparton audience to see me succeed,” Mr Blaze said.

“We’ve seen it done before but it’s scary for me still, it’s very real,” Miss O’Keeffe said.

The show centres on escapism, not only though Mr Blaze’s underwater escape, but also for the audience, he said.

“The show incorporates something that almost everyone will love, from close-up magic to stage illusions, to the impossible water escape and fire eating,” he said.

“I perform so I can help people forget their problems for a bit.”