Recently something unexpected and incredibly humbling happened: The Dance Centre was nominated for not only 1 but 2 Telstra Business Awards.
At first, I honestly thought it was a mistake… or maybe even a scam! But when I walked into our local Telstra store to check, they confirmed it was real. I still don’t know who nominated us but from my heart to yours, THANK YOU.
I completed the paperwork, thinking how incredible it was to be considered. Then somehow out of more than over 20,000 applications, The Dance Centre was one of the very few to make it through to Stage 2.
Stage 2 involved filming video answers about our business — reflecting and responding to deep questions about our vision, mission and the impact we make.
The whole process peeled back so many layers for me. It wasn’t about just discussing business strategies or studio numbers. It was really telling the story about why The Dance Centre exists at all… and how we’ve survived and come this far.
When I was asked to share why I started The Dance Centre, it was not a simple answer.
I never considered myself an entrepreneur who just had an idea to open a studio. Starting The Dance Centre was an organic process and personally it was driven by purpose never by profits.
Dance for me wasn’t just an extra curricular activity that I did. Sure it may have started that way when I was 5 years old but as a child who grew up in a hostile home environment filled with fear and uncertainty, I learnt quickly that dance was an escape.
I remember so vividly when I was around 12 years old, closing the front door of our house and whispering to myself, "You leave your problems here. At dancing, we forget everything."
Without knowing, it became my mantra and now, it's something I share with every student who walks into our studio.
The studio isn’t just a place to learn dance. It’s a safe haven. A second home.
A place where children can be themselves, be free, express what words cannot and find connection with those that share the same passion.
I learnt movement moves feelings and that dance kept me distracted, disciplined and dedicated. Instead of focussing on ‘life and school problems’ I put all of my energy and effort in to dance.
I hate to imagine how different my life would have been if it wasn’t for dance.
When the previous studio that I worked at sold, my former students began reaching out. They missed our classes together, seeing each other regularly. Parents contacted me too, urging me to open a studio or start classes somewhere local.
I booked our local community centre, offering casual drop-in classes. I was so scared no one would attend. I didn’t have a business plan. No plan at all in fact. No business strategy.
There was no social media to spread the word. We had 24 students attend but week after week, classes grew. Students were spreading the word, bringing their friends and cousins.
In 2012, The Dance Centre was born.
Starting the business wasn’t easy. I had a toddler, a husband working long night shifts and no family support. I had people telling me the market was saturated, that there was no space for another studio. But deep down, I knew I was building something special. Not just another dance school, but a place where wellbeing, life skills and empowerment would be woven into every class.
I was not only a Dance Teacher but also a Personal Trainer and Yoga instructor at that time. I saw huge benefits incorporating these types of training in to my week, that I knew I wanted to create a dance program that offered Holistic classes.
Owning and running a small business became more than a job — it became a calling.
I threw myself into learning everything I could. I knew that all skills learnt could be shared with students and with teachers. Together we could create something magical.
Despite how it may look from the outside, It has not been an easy journey. Every business owner can share the sacrifices you have to make personally and financially. You doubt your decisions almost on the daily and mum guilt cripples you. Throw in a Pandemic, uncertainty and chaos and it all truly tests your ‘why’.
I came close to giving up. I remember sitting my family down and telling them ‘ I dont think I can do this anymore’. We were in the middle of the Pandemic, had just lost a warehouse, signed a new lease, opened for 4 days then another lockdown, open for 7 days then another lockdown, open for a couple of weeks and our roof collapsed. My daughters cried and said ‘ Mum where will we all go?’. I still get teary thinking about their little faces looking up at me.
I dug deep, drew strength and self belief from my daughters and focussed on the mission.
Continue to create the studio, community you needed when you were young.
Every decision I make. Every student I support. Every class taught.
No matter how many business or personal challenges I face.
I show up for the kids that need Dance the most.