“Wicked” Dancer Aims to Inspire Through Plus-Size Representation

Tegan Browne-Winter, a plus-size dancer featured in the upcoming “Wicked” film, has expressed her desire to motivate others to pursue their aspirations. Ms. Browne-Winter, who grew up in Watford, Hertfordshire, recounted facing discouragement from entering the arts and being advised against continuing her dance education due to her physical appearance. She shared her past experiences, stating: “People would tell me I was a good dancer but the recurring message was I needed to lose weight, was too big or did not look the way the industry wanted.” Ms. Browne-Winter added, “I hope me and other plus-size dancers can be the beacon of light for young people to not listen to the hate around them and actually know they’re good enough.” In 2022, at the age of 23, she participated in dance workshops. During these workshops, a choreographer involved with “Wicked” noticed her talent, leading to an offer for a role in the movie. A video featuring Ms. Browne-Winter dancing with star Ariana Grande during the song “What Is This Feeling?” has achieved widespread popularity on social media platforms, with enthusiasts replicating and sharing the choreography online. She commented on the experience: “Some people from my dance company went to watch it yesterday and, when they came in, they were like, ‘Can you teach me that dance?’.” She further elaborated, “All I know is, I had to hold a book and make sure everything was clean and technical… Obviously we’re not able to see what it looks like when it’s being filmed, to see the vision come to life is unbelievable.” Additionally, Ms. Browne-Winter’s presence is visible in other sequences, including the performance of “Dancing Through Life” by Jonathan Bailey and scenes taking place in the Ozdust Ballroom. Reflecting on her performance, she stated: “I’m looking at my face and thinking, Tegan you could’ve done so much better there. I’m so critical of myself in this film.” Ms. Browne-Winter expressed commendation for her fellow cast members, particularly Ariana Grande, with whom she filmed scenes. She recounted: “She was really involved in our rehearsals and nice and friendly, and spoke to everyone, I was so surprised.” She added, “Every morning she would be the first person to go around and say hi to people. I had to not freak out every time she walked into the room.” According to Ms. Browne-Winter, the filming of her scenes occurred at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire and in Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire. Describing the filming environment, she remarked: “It honestly felt like we were in a different world. You couldn’t see over any of the sets or anything, so you’re in this vacuum space of Oz.” The dancer commended the production for its inclusion of performers from varied backgrounds, noting she was “beaming” upon discovering the presence of other plus-size dancers in the cast. She commented: “There’s always a certain look when it comes to female dancers, to see another plus-size dancer in the room, I was so excited.” She also revealed, “There was a time I nearly quit dancing because I was so downhearted and didn’t believe in myself anymore. It had nothing to do with my talent.” Ultimately, she persisted with her dancing career, driven by the aspiration to offer the kind of representation she had not encountered herself. She articulated her goal: “I want to be somebody young people can look at. “If they’ve got the talent, the drive and work hard, they can make it in whatever they do.” Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.