Beyond the Studio Walls

When I look back on my dance journey, I can see clearly that it wasn’t a straight line — in fact, it was very zig-zagged. It was full of detours, stop-starts and moments where I had to figure things out. I was lucky to have people encourage me along the way, but what I didn’t have was one consistent person, someone who walked beside me through the ups and downs, guiding me through the industry and helping me make those big decisions. I often wonder how different my journey might have been if I’d had that one steady voice in my corner.

That experience has shaped the kind of teacher I want to be. I don’t just want to teach steps and syllabus work; I want to help my students find their path. For me, that means showing up for them in ways that go beyond the studio walls.

If you want to help your students navigate becoming a professional dancer, you have to be there for them in the little ways that matter most. That might mean sending through an audition notification, taking the time to watch a showreel, writing a reference, answering questions honestly, or simply listening when they need someone in their corner.

I know from my own journey how isolating the industry can feel without a steady guide. And while the zig-zag path I took taught me resilience, it also taught me what was missing. That’s why I make it my responsibility to fill that gap for my students — to be the person who believes in them consistently, not just when they’re paying fees.

Pursuing a dance career is full of knock backs and missed opportunities. It’s not a straight climb to the top, it’s auditions that don’t go your way, jobs that slip through your fingers, and opportunities that pass you by. But the truth is, it’s the getting back up again that makes the difference. The ability to keep going, even when the answer is “no,” is what ultimately leads to a sustainable and successful career.

To be an artist is to live in a world of constant feedback, often judged subjectively. One panel might love you, the next might overlook you. That doesn’t mean your worth as a dancer changes. It just means you have to develop resilience, self-belief and the determination to keep showing up.

I’m not an “industry expert,” and I don’t have a famous profile. But what I do have is an unwavering belief in my students — a belief that they can achieve anything if they’re willing to put in the work. This consistent belief in my students is also a big part of why I think they’ve been so successful.

I’ve seen so many talented dancers over the years who didn’t quite reach the finish line. Not because they lacked ability, but because they didn’t have that constant support — that person in the background encouraging them to keep going when it got hard.

For me, that’s what teaching is about: not just shaping great dancers, but being a source of belief — helping, guiding, and encouraging them for as long as they need.