Have you ever had the urge to whip out a turn sequence in a grocery store? Or leap through an empty cereal aisle with abandon? 20-year-old Natalie Sterling feels that way too. A Trader Joe’s team member, she’s built a social media following based on footage of her dancing at work (after hours, of course).
Maybe you’ve seen her energetic, high-jumping rendition of Wicked’s “Dancing Through Life” choreography or her impressively clean 32 fouettés done entirely in sneakers. She’s part of a new generation of dancers who, while still attending countless auditions and honoring the traditional route, have decided to use social media as a tool in making a name for themselves.
Dance Spirit caught up with Sterling to talk about her audition life, dream roles, and her favorite TJ’s snacks.
Training and Dance Life
Born and raised in Phoenix, AZ, Sterling performed in childhood theater productions before starting competition dance, which she participated in throughout her teen years. She’s trained in a multitude of styles, including ballet, Latin ballroom, and hip hop. Since August 2024, she’s been pursuing dance full-time in NYC. Sterling spends her mornings auditioning and her afternoons taking class, specifically in theater jazz. She didn’t learn this style growing up, so she’s thrown herself into it in New York. “It’s been a fun challenge,” she says.
Twirling at Trader Joe’s
So what inspired Sterling to start dancing at work? “Those aisles are so wide, and there’s always music playing!” she says, adding that she posted her first video just for fun. “I was like, ‘You’re telling me no one’s ever done this?’ Well, I’m gonna do it, then!”
Here’s how it works: Sterling is a closer, and she dances once all customers have left the store. Her co-worker and close friend Emily films all of her videos. “She knows all the angles. She’s got all the tips and tricks. I genuinely would not have been as successful if it wasn’t for her.” All of her co-workers are supportive of her videos, and many of them are aspiring artists in the theater and film worlds themselves. “It’s nice because you have those people to lean on […], that community that you can relate to in what you’re working towards and your actual work.”
On the Dance-fluencer Lifestyle
“I didn’t expect so many people to like it so much […] It’s been really cool to see how many people can be supportive.” In a remarkably negative era of the internet, Sterling has managed to cultivate an audience who yearns to see her succeed. One scroll of her comment section reveals followers who firmly believe she’ll make it to Broadway—and when she does, they say they’ll be in the audience. For dancers who want to grow on social media, Sterling recommends finding a niche that reflects your life as it is—kind of like dancing at your place of work. “You don’t have to make up a part of yourself to do it. If you’re doing what you love, that translates through a screen […] People won’t be able to help loving it too.”
Broadway Dreams
Sterling’s dance goals for the future are varied—she’s just getting started, so TV, film, Broadway, and commercial opportunities are all on the table. But for her, the greatest achievement would be to dance on Broadway. “That’s the big dream, and that’s what I want to do.”
Her Snack Recommendations
We just had to ask. What’s Sterling’s favorite food to eat from Trader Joe’s? That’s a difficult question, she says. “When I’m working, I’m literally always snacking.” She narrowed it down to two items: the Dinner Rolls and the Maple Leaf Cookies.
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