Tina Arena - Now I Can Dance

In 2012 my family and I moved from our home in Paris to Australia for six months. While I was down under, I appeared as a mentor on a family entertainment TV show called Young Talent Time . The show featured a team of kids performing popular songs, as well as children from all over Australia who appeared as contestants each week. My job, alongside dancer and choreographer Charles Chucky Klapow, was to help and advise both the YTT team and the guest performers.

It was a wonderful time. My little boy, Gabriel, attended the local primary school and had the chance to experience Australian life. He loved every minute of it, and so did I. It was great to be back in Oz, and it was great to give back. It was also a trip down memory lane in a lovely way. Because, of course, my career as a singer began on a show called Young Talent Time.

I was only eight years old when, in 1976, I joined the team on the enormously popular show hosted by Johnny Young. Dubbed Tiny Tina (Ive always been vertically challenged!), I appeared on that show every Saturday evening right up until two weeks before my sixteenth birthday.

For many years after, I felt like I couldnt escape from Tiny Tina, that I was dragging her around like a ball and chain as people struggled to accept me as an adult performer. But eventually, I not only broke free from Tiny Tina but came to appreciate Young Talent Time for what it was innocent, joyful family entertainment from another, simpler era.

As it turned out, YTT was just the beginning of my career in music. Or should I say careers sometimes I feel like Ive lived seven lives and had at least seven careers! Ive sung onstage and in the studio in English, French, Italian and Spanish; Ive written songs with all kinds of artists; won awards; performed in musical theatre in the West End of London, and around Australia; and Ive performed onstage all over the world. Ive been pretty busy since I first appeared on Young Talent Time singing ABBAs Ring Ring all those years ago.

In fact, in my early thirties, while at the top of my game, I left Australia for success in Europe. There, I fell in love. So to find myself back in Oz, working on YTT mach II, made me realise that things had come full circle. And as I reflected on the past three and a half decades, I had to admit it had been an amazing ride. Thereve been incredible moments, funny moments, and some tough moments. Ive met and worked with some extraordinary people, including brilliant musicians, writers and visionaries. Ive experienced the gifts of love, family and children. And, of course, Ive been blessed to have a wonderful career that allows me to do what I love to do, which is to sing and make music.

It was time to tell the story, to try to make sense of my colourful life so far. Its the tale of a young girl who lived to sing, and a woman who, whatever the cost, tried to stay true to herself and her vision of music. Its taken faith, hard work, courage and a thick skin! But finally, here I am, in a happy place, humbled by and grateful for my past and excited about what lies ahead.

So here it is. Sure, you can find out on the internet just about anything you want to know about me, but its not the same as hearing it from the horses mouth. If you really want to know who I am, and what made me who I am, you need to read this book.

But be warned. Ive still got a lot to do: more albums, more concerts, more dancing, more joy and more stories, of course. So there may be further instalments down the track. I just hope you enjoy this one.

Melbourne, September 2013