Will Jones
Cadence McBride was never originally on a path to becoming a celebrated principal dancer and instructor. Yet, her story is proof that ambition and purpose can take you from a small place like Ponoka, Alberta, to major dance centers like Vancouver and Boston.
Her professional journey reached a high point when she was signed by the American talent agency MSA, an accomplishment she achieved through her work at the CLI Conservatory. It was a significant achievement, as she was one of only five students in her class to sign with MSA. She also holds the distinction of being the first Canadian and the only international dancer to do so through the conservatory.
Gaining Strength through Challenges
McBride’s dance life began simply in Ponoka at age three. She quickly developed a burning desire for more challenging environments. Her drive intensified further after she was discovered by her current mentor, Royal Caribbean choreographer Joel Ronnie. He encouraged her to move to a larger city, which started her on a constant cycle of seeking out more demanding opportunities. Eventually, this led her to Vancouver and then to Boston, where her consistent commitment finally paid off with the MSA contract.
But what made her rise in the dance industry interesting was her unique approach. McBride took what could have been limitations, such as not having the standardized, early training of many of her peers, and turned them into advantages. Because she had to play catch-up in many ways, she became exceptionally observant, asked smart questions, and threw herself into betterment and growth. Her approach helped her cultivate her own distinct “it” factor rather than trying to fit a specific mold. Her combination of movement style and unique look has become her defining assets, helping her stand out in highly competitive audition rooms.
Mentorship and Growth
But beyond the MSA signing, McBride is returning to the CLI Conservatory as a principal dancer and instructor to build her place in the field. She brings several impressive moments. She has earned multiple national scholarships across hip-hop, jazz, and contemporary circuits at the “Break the Floor” convention. She also toured Canada and the US with the SGSD tour company.
McBride is quickly carving out a role for herself while questioning established norms. She focuses on interpreting movement and building a personal brand. She argues that these are more important than just executing perfect technical work. Moreover, her philosophy centers on constant professional evolution and her fight for recognition.
Dancing On
McBride often says, “Closed mouths don’t get fed,” and she believes that growth means leaning into sometimes uncomfortable situations. Now partnered with MSA, McBride is setting her sights even higher. She aspires to tour with major artists like Chris Brown and Justin Timberlake, choreograph music videos, and perform with Cirque du Soleil.
Cadence McBride holds to a philosophy that pure grit and an unconventional path, combined with relentless self-advocacy, can lead you to a distinguished career. And McBride is determined to run with it and dance to the top of the world.