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'Effervescent' FKA Twigs' journey to Grammy success

Maisie LillywhiteGloucestershire
Reuters FKA Twigs, who has long, red hair and is wearing a brown outfit, accepts her Grammy on stage as she holds onto the award and a note book.Reuters
Known to the world as FKA Twigs, Tahliah Barnett's dance teacher said the artist's "charisma" was evident from a young age

Standing on a stage and clutching a Grammy as the world watches on is, arguably, the zenith of stardom.

But, as FKA Twigs referenced in her acceptance speech while picking up the best dance/electronic album award for Eusexua, her success took many years to achieve.

The singer, born Tahliah Barnett, is remembered for being an "effervescent" dancer by Corraine Collins, who taught her from the age of six at her Cheltenham studio.

"It was obvious right from the beginning that there was something slightly different about her," Collins said of the Cheltenham-born star.

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Collins said the Cellophane singer joined her studio to learn ballet, modern and tap styles of dancing, and her teachers quickly realised she had "charisma".

"You couldn't fit her into little boxes, there was definitely something theatrical about her," Collins said.

"I think I can tell fairly early on if we've got a child that's got potential to do something good."

A woman with long blonde hair wearing a teal jumper holds up a child's small pink leotard with ruffled straps as she stands in a dance studio. She is turning her head to look at the leotard as she shows it off.
Collins pictured here holding an outfit made by Twigs' mother for her first competition at the age of eight

Aged 17, Twigs moved to London to attend the BRIT School and, many years on from her time there, photographs of her during a jazz class still adorn the walls of Collins' studio.

While in the capital, the artist's attention shifted from dance to music.

And at the age of 22, she returned to Cheltenham to share some important news with Collins.

"This little face came round the door and she said, 'You won't remember me'.

"And I said, 'No, of course I remember you, Tahliah, come here' - we had a bit of a hug. She was in Cheltenham visiting some friends and thought she would come and let me know that she'd got her first record deal.

"She was very pleased about that. And so were we. We have lots of children who become artists in various avenues but she is our first pop star," Collins said.

A black display board holding a photo of 12-year-old girl wearing a plain black leotard as she holds her arms out in dance, her mouth slightly open. Her hair is tied back as she performs. Another dancer can be seen beside her.
A photograph of Twigs, which Collins said was taken when she was about 12 years old, still hangs in the dance studio

Speaking on stage at the 68th Grammys ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday, Twigs said she did not expect to win and "was just so happy to be nominated".

"I know that to a lot of people I may be new, but I've actually been doing this a really long time," the singer said.

"So to any artist, don't give up. Follow your vision. Because that's what's going to make the world fall in love with your art."

Collins said she was "heartened" by her former pupil's acceptance speech.

"I think that's a really great message because in this day and age, people want to get rich, get famous, quick, and you really need to go on a journey," Collins said.

"She said, 'I've stuck with it, and here I am'. And it's taken her a while, but good for her."

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