Ms Astley went through the gruelling audition process for the anticipated smash hit series So You Think You Can Dance, which is due to hit Australian television screens in February.

She came in the top 60 competitors for the show and said it was a great experience, but not one that everybody would necessarily enjoy.

“I think it is very important to be focused on how tough the audition process is,” she said.

“But different judges are looking for different things and it is important to understand that is how it works.”

Ms Astley teaches at Colour City Danceworks and started dance lessons at the age of six in Dubbo.

Her passion for dance led her to full-time studies at the prestigious Brent Street Studios in Sydney, which is often a stepping stone to performance in overseas companies.

Ms Astley now teaches in Sydney and Orange and said any young dancer intending to make a career in the highly competitive field needed to keep their options open.

“It is a hard industry to get work, and for me I have gone in the direction of teaching, which I really love,” she said.

Ms Astley said discipline and goal setting were important for any dancer wanting to pursue a performance career with a company.

She said it was also important to be realistic about the opportunities available in the field of dance.