Fredi Magazine Special Digital Edition 2017 | Page 17

ONE ENTERTAINER who is benefitting
from this tool and using it to its
fullest potential is multi-talented
Taveeta Szymanowicz, widely
known to her fans simply as
Taveeta. Crediting her popularity
to her television characters on the
hit teen series, The Next Step and
Make It Pop, her online presence
captivates young audiences na-
tionally and across the globe.
Toronto-born and only 21 years
old, the spirited actress, singer,
song writer and dance artist is al-
ready well-accomplished. “I start-
ed dancing when I was six. I was
super hyperactive! I stopped for a
couple of years, did sports instead
and then went into jazz class,”
explains Taveeta. “From there I
was instantly hooked and trained
excessively.” Her love of dance
eventually led her to Toronto's
Cardinal Academy of Arts where
she delved into all spectrums of
the performing arts, collaborating
with fellow students and mentors
who would help hone her skills as
a multi-genre entertainer. “Iʼd be
walking the halls and there would
be singers hanging out and sing-
ing at the top of their lungs...both
musicians and actors. It was re-
ally nice and motivated me to try
other things,” she says, describing
what could easily be a scene in the
80s art school film, Fame.
“SO I USE MY
PLATFORM
TO HAVE A
VOICE AND
COMMUNICATE
MY THOUGHTS
TO PEOPLE IN
HOPES THAT
IT WILL MAKE
A POSITIVE
IMPACT.”
– TAVEETA
Inspired by her surroundings
Taveeta graduated with honours,
subsequently auditioning for the
acclaimed Canadian series, The
Next Step, with hopes of scoring
a dance role on at least one epi-
sode. Instead, her wildest dreams
were realized when, only after her
very first-ever audition in the en-
tertainment industry she landed
the principle role of Thalia. “It
was actually through word of
mouth that I learned about the
audition and from there I knew
that I loved being behind the cam-
era. It felt normal and I was not
really all that nervous,” she smiles
remembering the pivotal moment
in 2014 that would put her face
on the Family Channel and on
television screens nationwide. As
a rising star, it didn't take Taveeta
long to hit the US market after
acquiring the role of “mean girl”
Valerie in the world-renowned
Nickelodeon television series,
Make It Pop. “I auditioned for
that and it was so much fun be-
cause it was completely different
from my character in The Next
Step. Valerie was mean and a
Queen Bee. I thought, ‘this is fun.
I get to be someone completely
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