Unknown Speaker 0:00
Hi friends, Amanda here. Welcome to a very special episode of the dance principals United podcast. So last night knife back, and I had the absolute pleasure to attend the dream dance companies a new era show, it was the last show that they did in Sydney. And oh my god, it was incredible. It was so much fun, so much talent on the stage. And it was so amazing to see a full house of predominantly young people that were there to support the next generation of dancers to support our industry, and really be inspired by these incredible dancers. On the stage, which was so so amazing. As a bit of a special treat, we thought that we would share some of the recording of a dream dance companies, two of the cast members. Surya is a potter, and will Dyson as well as Marco pan zyk. And that interview that we had at dance teacher Expo. Before we get into that, though, we wanted to talk about our three biggest lessons that we learned from the incredible show that Marco and the Dream Dance Company team put on last night. Now, look, we did a great podcast before on this back and I wrapped it all up. But you know, all the audio fun. We have accidentally deleted that and it's not worked. So we thought that I would just do it again. So please bear with me. But there were three incredible lessons that we learned from the show that we all kind of discussed after the show as well, because Marco does it so well. He does marketing really, really well. And there's so many great tips that you can take back to your studio. So lesson number one.
Unknown Speaker 1:42
It was a short, snappy show. And that was amazing. I think sometimes the studio owners, we think that, you know if the shows too short, or the parents don't want to pay the same amount for the concert tickets. We hear that quite a lot from studio owners. But you know what, people love a short, snappy show. You know, I believe it was just under an hour that show and that was a great amount of time. For me. I am an absolute lover of dance, but just under than an hour was the absolute perfect time because much more than that. And we all get a bit squirmy let's be honest, we all have short attention spans. And anything you know more than that. We're all like, Oh, is there an interval, you know, I need to go get another drink. I need to go the bathroom, whatever. I love the feeling of being left wanting more because the show finished. And I was like, Ah, that was incredible. That was amazing. Oh my god, I can't believe it's done already.
Unknown Speaker 2:39
And that's exactly what you want to leave your audience with. Right? So, you know, if you are running your concerts and organising your concerts, our lesson to you is make sure that it's a short snappy show leave the parents wanting more, don't feel like you just have to add to it just because there is absolutely no reason people don't see more value in that by any stretch of the imagination. So that was Lesson number one from the show. Lesson number two was allow people to film oh my god, we were sitting I think front row, second row back. And we had Baxter with us as well as a whole crew from pause studios as well. And they were all filming and living their best life. Which is fantastic. Because what does that do? It creates hype. And if you are a dancer, if you're in the dance industry, or a teacher, you would have seen some of the students Instagram videos, some of the young people's Instagram videos, some of the teachers and studio owners Instagram videos over the weekend of the show from the audience. Now, I think sometimes as studio owners, we get, you know, really like caught up in the old fashioned rules of not allowing the audience members to film and what if my, you know, this and that, and what if they post this? You know what, all that does is create more hype for your studio. It leaves people going, Oh, I wish I've seen that show. Oh my god, that looks amazing. Oh, I didn't know so and so when and so and so went and so and so when you know, it's such a good thing to create hype. So allow your audience to film why not? You know? Yes, we all used to have those days where theatres didn't allow that. Most of that has changed now. So definitely, you know, we are big believers in allowing your audience members to film because any publicity is good publicity. Right? And that takes us into lesson number three, which is around creating hype. Now Marco and the Dream Dance Company do this incredibly well. They create so much hype, you know, for months before the show starts. But you can do this too as a studio owner. You know, what we saw from Marco was a whole heap of Facebook posts a whole heap of really great content in the lead
Unknown Speaker 5:00
Get up to the show. And, you know, sometimes we find that studio owners, you know, they're like, oh, tickets are on sale, I did one post, Why did no one buy tickets? Or what are you doing to create hype, not just to your parents, but to the, you know, the greater community, you know, really building up lots of content to put on your socials about that's great. But also posting about it in community groups, which is no different to how Marco was posting in dance teacher, Australia, or any of those other dads, principals, United Facebook groups, right. You know, there's so much way to create hype in your community, also inviting special guests. You know, I know this is something Marco did. You know, there was some awesome special guests from the dance industry that was sitting in the first few rows? How ever are you doing this in your studio? Are you you know, inviting and gifting tickets to members of influence in your community? Whether that's the local mayor, whether that's a Member of Parliament, the school principals, or, you know, Mom influences in your area, it would be the mommy influences that I'd be all about, you know, how can you create hype around your show, sending emails, socials, you know, all the community outreach stuff, that is all really important to sell tickets, not just sending one email to your current parents, you know, trying to sell tickets to the wider community is a really great thing.
Unknown Speaker 6:25
I hope, you know, that gave you some value because drone dance company did an amazing job of, you know, selling their show and doing a great job of creating hype. And I think we can always look at shows like Dream Dance Company, or Taylor Swift or, you know, whoever the latest pop stars tour is, and take some of those lessons back to our studio and back to our concert and how we can create the same kind of hype around our ticket sales, which is so so important. Hopefully, I did a good job of wrapping that up. I'm so sorry. We lost the audio with Beck and I chatting about it, but I hope you love it. nonetheless. Now this incredible interview that we have coming up from you. Coming up for you now is a recording from dance teacher Expo. We had MarCO will Dyson answer Ray as a partner on stage and there are some incredible insights into studio ownership into what we should expect from our teachers and what young dancers want to see from their teachers and how they want to be inspired. It was an incredible, incredible interview I was blown away especially by Will and Surya has answers to some of the questions and how succinctly they put some of their answers that really, you know, hit home for all studio owners and teachers there were so many nodding heads anyway. enough for me. I hope you love this interview. It is incredible. Let us know what you think. Make sure if you do love this interview, you click that little subscribe button. You know the little tick on Spotify or Apple it really helps us be seen by more people. We so appreciate it. Enjoy the interview.
Unknown Speaker 8:07
Hello friends I'm Amanda bar. And I'm Rebecca Lew Brennan and welcome to Dance principles united the podcast. Together we are passionate about helping studio owners with the business of running their studio. Join us as we talk everything through marketing systems studio culture, motherhood, life and everything in between. This is the dance principals United podcast
Unknown Speaker 8:33
how are we you're feeling good this morning?
Unknown Speaker 8:37
Absolutely. Did some of you just have the pleasure of taking Marcos class who's just had to have a quick drink? Get it already. Amazing. I hope you all had an amazing day yesterday. It was so great. And the the level of excitement yesterday was so good. So hopefully we're all still feeling bright enough today and not too exhausted or anything like that. But we're super excited to have you at this session. Now. I'm going to do a bit of a bio read. Just a little one. We have the extraordinary Marco pentik along with the lovely some of the cast members of new era, Surya anwil
Unknown Speaker 9:18
I'm so excited to see a new era I heard that it's been amazing.
Unknown Speaker 9:25
Because you guys all know Marco. He has been a multifaceted career spitting creative director, choreographer, producer and dancer.
Unknown Speaker 9:34
And he has an incredible credit list topping in the country and he's also an amazing, amazing human. And that is what I love. And that's why I'm so excited to be presenting this session. And we really want to talk about growing, growing kids from the ground up and creating a new era of dancers like these amazing dancers here. So
Unknown Speaker 10:00
We're so excited to get into it. Thanks, Marco.
Unknown Speaker 10:07
Can you hear me?
Unknown Speaker 10:10
Yes?
Unknown Speaker 10:18
Hi, are is that better? Okay, I just hate my voice. Hi guys. We're gonna keep this real relaxed and calm and a nice conversation. I thought this would be a great time, together with people as yourself, teachers, character has everything to talk about more. So the side of like, I was saying, like developing the dream in a sense of like, you know, we all see the success of what we feel dancers are or a career in the arts is and it's kind of what steps has different people taken? How can we, in the classroom at at our studios encourage and support dancers into a possible career? Or if it's even not about a career, different avenues? I think dance can add so many notches to not only a dance career, I think dance is so important across so many parts of just even life. So I think we have an important role as educators in dance as much as it's just movement or people go arts dance. And it's such a it's a really it is we are a weird world because you can't explain it to anyone else outside of the world. Because when they say what do you do dance? They're like, what does that mean? But then when you're in our world, it is huge, and it's growing. And we can all feel that Australia is growing at a rapid pace. In dance, I can definitely say in the last, I would even say once COVID ended, there was this, like gates of
Unknown Speaker 12:03
everything went from zero to 100 Really quick, which is really exciting and amazing, but also frightening. Because there's so much now. And as educators, we really have, you know, the responsibility to guide and mentor our students equally into what they need, if that makes sense. Because I'm sure as teachers, you get kids all the time going, I really want to do this, how do I achieve this? Did it and it's always, it must actually be a really tough job because especially in that age time of full time. And the time of deciding I really want to take that leap and understanding that investment. There is a lot of discussion that isn't discussed, you know, I feel we get
Unknown Speaker 12:55
going to be very candid guy for it. We love that. But I feel like we do we there's a lot of selling the dream. And not my company's called the dreams. I'm not saying that. But I'm saying there's a lot of selling the dream into investing big money into having a career. And I think the thing that isn't discussed is what is the reality of a career. And actually, how much money can you make from a career and what tools you need to be able to have a career in dance, you know, because people are laying out 10s of 1000s of 1000s of 1000s of dollars now, and years of time into a dance career. And as much as that's exciting and great, we need to be making sure that we're actually educating these people to go somewhere, not to go through a machine to out the other left stranded in that.
Unknown Speaker 13:54
That makes sense. So I think this can be a nice conversational point. Because it also I just believe with the rapidness of Australia growing, we need to as a community, understand how to maintain it together, but still allow it to grow because growth is amazing in terms of business, but it's kind of the conversations you have to have with your clientele, how much there is now and guiding and all of that. But we'll get that down the track. Hi, I'm Marco. That's the little oversight. I wanted to bring these two amazing human beings Surya and will along to this discussion because they're currently in the Dream Dance Company were literally in the middle of it. And next week is like a massive week putting everything together and then we open in what day is it today Sunday will be at our final shows in two weeks. So it's and to think like what can be achieved in time? Let me tell you, it's amazing. So we've got a lot of work to do still with the show, but it's very exciting. And I wanted to bring these two because they come from two completely different backgrounds in there.
Unknown Speaker 15:00
training in their experiences through the dance world. But also, I think it's great to hear. I also find, say, with my programme show business, what I love about it is I learned so much about the industry through the eyes of this generation. And I think that has always been something that I constantly, I grow more with what's coming, rather than what's been as such. And I think it's really important to understand this generation to then the next generation to understand how we can support it, and understand it and build around it. Rather than trying to have everyone has to fit into because the world is changing. So I think it would be great to have these two insight into topics that arise because I think it's fun to you know, hear from me. You know what my view is, but then to hear people that are still amongst it and having the career and doing the work is really important. So, Surya will do a little snapshot of your little journey for like, a couple of minutes. You can tell him about your tell him about the array.
Unknown Speaker 16:10
This own Oh, yeah. Hi, my name is Surya. Like, where do I start?
Unknown Speaker 16:16
I grew up in a small town called woollen Gong, who you might know.
Unknown Speaker 16:23
I started at shows modern studio when I was very little was there for a while. Went through a couple of studios down in Wollongong, they all shut down, which was devastating. But all led me to come up and train at village for a few years. I started there when I was 16. And I was lucky enough to then graduate from that studio did full time for a year there. And just since then, I don't know.
Unknown Speaker 16:50
So I really got to say, Well, you've spent a lot she's building like she's a little jazz queen here. If you haven't seen Surya amazing jazz teacher, and also choreographer, and I'm such a jazz lover. So like when I see this generation do jazz, great. Do y'all know everyone in here who loves jazz? So Ray is amazing. Thank you. Thanks. And a great teacher, which is really, really special. Thank you, Mark.
Unknown Speaker 17:22
Hi, I'm Will. I'm 19. So I started dancing when I was seven in a small town called Maitland, it's like inland from Newcastle. And I grew up dancing in a small studio there for a few years. And then I moved to a studio on the Central Coast. And I was travelling three hours a day an hour to school and then an hour from school to dance, and then an hour home every day to go to the studio. And I did a lot of heavy ballet at that studio. And I did full time ballet when I was 15 Maybe. And then I moved from that studio up to the Gold Coast to dance force, which is where I did full time when I was 16. I did full time for two years there. So I did full time when I was 16 to 17 and then 17 to 18. And then I went away on a contract with a Royal Caribbean for a year. And then I just got back about six months ago. And I've just been teaching heaps, which has been super good because the younger generation is amazing.
Unknown Speaker 18:22
See already two very different journeys as well, which would spark a lot of interest in conversation. I have actually some questions. I'm going to ask these here and then I'll take over at some point we're going to share this interviewing. Yeah, I love it. I'm just gonna I want to ask these guys a few questions for my own self. I was just like, I want to know these answers.
Unknown Speaker 18:47
This is an interesting one. So like as a dancer growing up, how did you feel like best supported like How was your support system growing up as a dancer? Like what was that to you?
Unknown Speaker 19:03
I felt best supported. I don't know if this is like off the tangent. But honestly,
Unknown Speaker 19:09
the actual way I felt best supported was through words of affirmation through my training 100% through everything I feel like anytime I had
Unknown Speaker 19:18
a teacher because I went through a lot of studios, unfortunately, like I said, a lot of them shut down and will and gone. When I had like a teacher told me that we're just proud of me while I was doing a good job. And I heard those words the words that I remember for the rest of my life. So yeah, it's quite simple. But that was honestly the best way I felt supported was just hearing words from my teachers and the people that I looked up to the most and my mentors so
Unknown Speaker 19:44
mine would probably be like
Unknown Speaker 19:48
yeah, words of reassurance. I'm definitely someone who likes to be reassured in something like it's going to be okay, keep working hard at it. It's all going to work out the way it's supposed to. And as well like my friends that I was surrounded with and I
Unknown Speaker 20:00
feel like it's super important for like, the studios to nurture the relationships between the students to keep that strong, because at the end of the day, having a great network around your friends is like, honestly, all that matters, like dance is such a big thing. But you need your social aspect with your friends, and you need to build a good group. So I think, like, having that nurtured around you honestly was like the biggest help. And I had such a great supportive group of friends and my family to like, great.
Unknown Speaker 20:28
I love it. But that is that leads to amazing that they both said it, but how much what we say affects and I think now with teaching especially it's I'm I feel I get the most out of my classes, because not even from the steps I teach. It's because of communication and the personality I put into my class, I always growing up, remembered that as a teacher that when I walked into people's classes, and I felt them invested in communication first was more important than the dance steps. And I think that's something we really need to as teachers encourage and build that it's just about the combo, what it gives what we have as leaders, as of teachers, to have such, you know, to amazing dancers who have obviously gone through a lot of teachers, but you remember things that your teachers said to you. And I think sometimes as teachers, we can forget what the impact our words have. And we're too busy getting the quarry out, we're too busy polishing that routine, or making sure it stays ready, or whatever that is like it's such a power that we have 100% 100% And that is like it's such a big thing and teaching that as much as what you're teaching in the steps. What are you communicating through that class? You know, I think a dance class is an experience as a teacher,
Unknown Speaker 21:51
I feel you get the most out of and you will build clientele and you'll build a class by the performance you put in into your dance class. I think people forget that being a teacher at being a teacher is a show. I will never forget the first when I was 19.
Unknown Speaker 22:10
I'd what I'd do to go back I remember 19 And going to LA, I didn't do full time my choice was to get overseas and train and learn from back in those days, you you wouldn't even do just have to like, Who's that dancer behind Britney, or who's that behind Janet, and then you'd find them in a way and then you'd get there. No, never forget Bryan Friedman's class when I was 19. And it was that he had his curly hair and everything. And I remember when he walked into that room, and he started teaching it was it was literally like he walked in so normal, you would just be like, and I thought it was the coolest thing like so nothing, nothing. And then when that hour started, so hits a 10am. And that music started, he put on a white shirt, and he literally went volume. And for that hour and a half you were in his presence in a performance and the whole class. What you got out of that class is because he was there looking at you, he was there correcting you all eyes, everything. It was a show it was game on it was boom, boom, boom, boom, put like, and that is something I have always loved. The teachers that and I think watching teachers teach, improve you as a teacher. Like there are moments in my life that I always remember what I felt when I walked somewhere. I remember being on a convention and me and Michaels was teaching. And I'll never forget that class. Because I am such an observer. I'm like, I'm one of those people that will travel to places and just watch people because I love it. But I'm not Madonna, me like watching as as humans, what you watch and observe can inspire you more than what you actually do. And I'll never forget the way she could hold a room without showing one step. And just communicating what the fit like she would play. Like I was in tears like I wasn't even in the classes I was in the corner like having tears going. Because she took you into this world, and the power of a teacher and what you can get out of it. And this is what I always talk to people when you're building your brand as a character if you want to be a character. If you want to be a teacher, if you want to be on the world stage as a teacher, if you want to be respected as a teacher, it is your choice to start your own show. And you have to have your own brand that it becomes. This is the Marco pansy show. You know when you come into I know. Trust me, you wake up in the morning. We've all been there and you're like, I don't know how I'm going to do this like today was hard. I was like, Oh my God, I've got so much going on. And I know when that time starts and I walk into a room and I go I know my teacher Alter Ego
Unknown Speaker 25:00
It kicks in. And I'm, Hey, guys, let's go. Because I know if I'm not present, if I'm not there, if I'm on this vibration, if I'm not steering the ship, if I'm not, you're letting everyone down. And I truly believe and I've seen a lot of teachers in my time, I've hired lots of teachers. And I'm very big on the quality of a teacher I have in front of people. And I can tell you, I've seen brilliance in teachers that are there that are pushing. And I've seen hype teachers that we all love that just float by, and you're paying them so much money and their vibrations here and the kids love it, because they think they have to love it. But there's actually no vibe in the room. And it is such an input. And I will never hire I don't. As soon as that becomes if I know your motivation isn't in that room to improve people and to build people. And I don't it doesn't even come down to the steps. It's about that you're walking in, and you're going, I've arrived and I'm here invested. And this is why with teachers, that when they say I deserve this much money, or I deserve this, or I should be paid this or I should be paid that, you know, I'm like you should be paid whatever how good your performance is gonna mean, and I know this whole, it's an award way it's a disaster, all of these rates and everything that gets thrown around. At the end of the day, I would pay Harris Scoble, $10,000 for an hour and a half. Because I know when she struts into that room, she's a gonna sell out a room and make me a profit and do that. But she's going to be put on the best show that will change every single person's life in that room. So when your teachers ask you for things, or they have to show it in the room, you have to build your own fan club, your performance as a teacher. And when you want to travel around and you want to teach you better be building your own classes, because that's how I started as a teacher. My first aim when I started teaching was I'm going to make every kid love me. Because guess what, if everyone in that room loves me, and every kid and every student in that room loves me, guess what goes up my value?
Unknown Speaker 27:12
Hey, can I ask on that, that went really high because I love that and he started in this generation I get really frustrated sometimes because I feel like we're there's so many lazy friggin teachers out there. Boyle's Law, blood, I think I'm like teaching is such a honour, and you are not in, you're like, the money you can make as a teacher is ridiculous. If you're a good teacher, and you can build it and you have a performance skill, and you can sell it. But until you can do that, and have those skills, your value all all relies on yourself, your value does not rely on the studio owner getting you all the kids and putting the lights on and paying all the bills for you just to sit in a chair and have your smoothie and walk around and talk about your day. And then by 15 minutes in, you're still you know, not started the class taking your time. And that's
Unknown Speaker 28:10
absolutely and so many people in here would teach huge amounts of hours as to you. You teach huge hours and you talked about that performance quality. The second you get they you turn it on, you know it becomes the market. What like tips do you have and I know this is a little bit off topic, but what tips do you have for all the teachers in here who, you know, get in there and they're like,
Unknown Speaker 28:29
it's a big day, how am I going to do it? How do you how do you find that energy? When it's been a rough morning, you've got stuff going on at home? There's stuff going on in your social lives, you know, all of those things. How do you put that performance on? Do you know? Do you know what the magic? It's my first and foremost thing is dance only exists because of music. So first of all, and this is where everyone has a back to front. Everyone thinks dance exists. And then we add music. That's rubbish. We only dance because of music. We only dance because we love sound. And we love beat and we love things. So I don't care whatever mood I'm in like this morning here. Hearing Ariana made me happy. So I surround myself with music that brings me joy, or it makes me feel a certain way. I really believe in like, music has this power that like when I created that combo down when you create a combo and you work to something it's always a snapshot of that time. So even if I'm in a time of like, oh my God, I don't know if I can do this. Yes. And it's like I get transported back to that date. I taught it you know, a month ago that always brings me joy. So first and foremost you have to love music. You have to be so in and know your sound. What is your sound? What is your if you're the performer in that class, what are the songs what is like I love a female pop. Give me pop music Give me something that's a bit deep
Unknown Speaker 30:00
A little sassy give me a little, little kickball chat, like, Give me something that no, but yeah, if you have that music that drives you, you can literally, that's why even warm up, warm up for me, especially, you know, there's all these things of like, you don't really need to warm up and all that body thing and done it up. For me a warm up, even if, say we do workshops and Sariah does a class, I will still go in and do a five minute warm up, the warm up isn't to get the kids warm, it's to get you into the performance mode. So my first song is always the switch up have done, it gets a high energy, though, if I can get everyone on that vibration, and we're all there together. And I'm even because you know, it's that whole Tony Robbins secret, you can feel like this. And if you drastically change something and you change your rhythm or you change your movement, your mood can change. So you can walk into a room feeling like this. If I pump a club mix of a song, and it's, it's, it's forcing me to go for I just force the shit out of it to bring it out of me. So then in a room, I'm then in this vibration of like, okay, I'm going and everyone's with me. So the warm up to me is the like, such a great test Support Act.
Unknown Speaker 31:18
What would you guys say?
Unknown Speaker 31:21
I just think about how much impact I have on the kids every single time I walk in that room. And like you said, like energy is a gift. And it's an exchange, like dancing is an exchange of energy. And I think about all the times I came into the room and my eyes lit up and I was like I have this teacher today. I want to be that teacher for those kids, no matter how I'm feeling that day. And even to a point where I'm like, I might not fill up my own cup today. But I'm gonna fill these kids up to know because it's my impact that matters the most. So I just think of the kids so much amazing. Thanks. And if you have seen a survey a class like this is something I love about you know, you can be like kilometre away from the studio. And you'll still hear Yeah, like, and that's another I would say that's your motivation in like, the way you teach is so high energy that even your like, she almost brings it out of people because she's vocalising, how they should be feeling? Does that make sense? And then the kids, it's like you're a cheerleader, like watching you teach, it's like, you're literally on the sideline like Go, go. And then it's great though, because you can see that exchange of the kids are then getting that whole, they're feeling something from the teacher that I'm good enough, and then that changes a whole exchange. I think mine is definitely like, your class is a reflection of the energy you bring. So no one wants to teach a class that's like low energy, low vibe, everyone's like slogging around on the floor. But if you're bringing that energy, of course, it's going to transpire onto the kids because they're looking up to you. They're inspired by you. And if you're bringing that energy, it's not like it's not inspiring. So I think that when I go into teach a class, I'm thinking about what I wanted my teachers to be when I was in the kids position. So I will always go in no matter what how I'm feeling, I will always go in with a positive attitude. Because it's not about me, it's about the kids. Oh, well, that is incredible, and so insightful from a young head. And I think as studio owners and all young teachers in here, you know, it's rough, if you're taking the classes, low energy, it's a reflection on you. Absolutely. And to have that self reflection, you know, it's not about the kids, it's what you've brought. And that's exactly what you just hit the nail on the head if kids are dropping out of that class. It's not the studio owner, it's the teacher can't tell you that note, no one would leave a great environment. Does that make sense? And that's the responsibility that so much so many times it falls on the studio owner or something out, this is happening to them. And it's like, you're in your steering that ship. And that's your fan club at sea that eventually those 20 kids that are in your room and you're teaching them are your most loyal clientele for the rest of your life. Because when you want to, you know, become bigger and do your own things and get your name out there and you want to put an open class on who are going to be the first people there. That room. So I all always I always when I was coming up and when people say to me, How do I become like a Korg for like a well known, that's what I want to do. It's like you have to put in the work. You have to start the Marco pansy tour. You know, you have to start exactly like a musician. You have to play the small grounds. You have to do the you know, I still to this day, I don't and I don't like and not in a way of like, I am so busy. I do not have to teach in a way like there's so much going on. But I love teaching
Unknown Speaker 35:00
Teaching is something that when I'm in that environment and I'm in that room, it transcends me and makes me happy. Like, that's a happy place for me. And I don't even I, you could literally, I do not care, you could throw me anywhere and I could teach them. And how many teachers can you say that about? I love that about you. And I've seen Marco at Studio. You know, there are some teachers and choreographers that only choose the higher level studios to go to and I've seen you at all different types of studios because you're sharing your gift with so I prefer
Unknown Speaker 35:34
that like, I'm like, I'm not a hype chaser, like my favourite classes can sometimes be in the middle of nowhere regional, a class of just people who just love dancing, and you see that one kid that you go, Oh my God, you have something special and that is so gonna mean like, it's amazing. When do you find those little diamonds when you're teaching and you're like, gosh, and all they needed to hear is like you're really good. Because it happened to me. I was living in Perth. I had a dance studio. When I was 17 to 21 owned a dance studio on Perth. I thought that was it. My life was set. I'm going to be a studio. No, I'm staying in Perth with my Commodore. Yeah. And I my life is set WA and then I went to Melbourne for a workshop and this dancer who dance for Janet Therese Espinosa, and probably still to this day would never know who came up to me and said, You are really talented. Why aren't you doing this as a job? And my brain went? What do you mean a job? Because then it wasn't very, like, you know, I came from my dad's a boilermaker. My mom worked in a bank, it was very get a job get mad, like, what are you gonna do? What's dancing going to do? And that was an I'm someone that's very, I like to prove people wrong. So it was one of those moments that that power of just being told you should do this changed my life from one person that would never know, steered me to then a month later, sell that studio, get on a plane and move to Sydney. Like in that instant, and changed my life and wouldn't even know. So it's like, the power of words and the power of being an environment and how you can and do it positively is so powerful. It's amazing. Hey, can we jump back on to these lovely young peoples? No, that is not what I meant. Because there's so much value in what you're saying. But I'd love to talk about, you know, the training and how you guys feel, as you know, you're both recent issue of graduates of full time, and how the process has gone because probably there's been you know, you guys are both working, which is fantastic. And congratulations, but probably a lot of your classmates aren't.
Unknown Speaker 37:57
And I know that's a really hard thing, and how can we help, you know, best support? You know, we want to nurture everyone's dream. But we also want to be realist, because there are people that are coming through and not everyone's going to work. And if they love dance, well, that's fantastic. But there's got to be this happy balance, right? I don't know if you have any advice to teachers and Marko might even want to start this off. But how do we? Oh, nope, nope.
Unknown Speaker 38:23
It's a tricky question. But how how do we balance building people up but also setting realistic expectations? I guess?
Unknown Speaker 38:33
Hard question, I'm sorry to throw that too. I think it's being realistic like, but in saying that there's a way to say everything. So I think just don't beat around the bush be honest with everyone and what you think not everyone, like the Not everyone's going to be like backup debt for JLo and Beyonce and everything, like that's just how it is. But in saying that, I do think that the dance world, Australia a little bit small, but out of that there are jobs. And I think even if it's not in dance, it could be in TV sees it could be an acting now other things that other students can do. And I think it's being realistic with them and showing them the path that they can go down. And even if they don't work within the creative arts, what we do show so much discipline. So even if you don't end up working here, you're going to take what you've learned as a dancer into your next job, you're going to stand taller, you're going to speak louder, and I just think that that will help him prove like with everything that you will do in your life. I love that.
Unknown Speaker 39:35
Yeah, basically going off what will said there's room for everyone. And I actually do remember this is how powerful words that are in showbusiness Marco saying to our group, that dancing has so many branches and so many aspects and like well, we're saying TV sees everything even dance like makeup and hair like it teaches us so many skills and the discipline. I do believe there's room for everyone but it does get to a point where you do have to be
Unknown Speaker 40:00
realistic with the student and what they're wanting? And if if you think they're going to make it if you think what path to them is for is right, you'll be realistic. But I do believe. Yeah, like I said, there is room for everyone in this branch is that dancing can give you? Absolutely.
Unknown Speaker 40:15
I know that's such a tricky question, right? Because there is there is and you don't wanna put limiting beliefs on kids either, because you might, you know, they might go to that next studio might something else might click for that they might have that next teacher and all of those things, but it's hard also sorry, Mark is back.
Unknown Speaker 40:34
I feel like Kirsten week.
Unknown Speaker 40:39
I think as well, in full time in the system that we've created here, I definitely think we need to be more heavy on the education side, rather than the step side, I think if you're offering a year or two years, or three years of full time, and there's not theory elements, and you're not walking out knowing the bones in your body, and just how to do an invoice or how to write a professional email, or how to have business skills or how not to manage yourself, I think the biggest part of it, and I'm telling you now, we lose, I would say what 5% of full timers have the chance of a job.
Unknown Speaker 41:25
Pass reality 95% Don't. Why do 95% don't is because they're not taught any manageable how to manage themselves skills. So they leave a system that's already broken, because the arts world does not run by a schedule. We do not run by a timetable, never in my life as a creative and all of you would know timetabling a creative life does not exist, it is so up and down, it changes. So when you're formulated for a year, or two or three into a system, that's nine to four, and you're hand fed, and you can feel all these emotions and you go through and you're doing class class four classes a day, four classes a day times, five days is what 20, then how many weeks in it, that's a lot of content. Yeah. And I just think we don't know how to then leave that and be injected into a world to then survive to manage yourself. Because we're equipped with steps. We're not equipped to how to sell anything. And our job as dancers and creatives is to sell yourself, you have to be able to write an email to a studio owner, you need to know how to have the difficult conversations professionally. You need to know how to manage yourself how to hold yourself so much more is in the detail of managing than it is in the steps. Even when you work professionally as a card for on a job 5% of what you think about is the actual steps on stage. Everything else is emailing costuming, running around for that it's the same as when you're putting your dance concert together. I guarantee the dance steps on that stage come in less than all the managing side of putting that event on newsletters parents, everyone's got the whole inflammation. Does everyone at the ticketing that oh my god, the budget that did it like all of that, like even just starting to the zone of that full time as don't know how to spreadsheet is alarming? Because we need to know how to budget our lives. I want to move to London, how do you get there? How do you budget for that? What's the budget? How do I write a budget? How do I did it? These are the things that I do believe if we teach dancers more managing skills, we're not only going to have better dancers in the industry and out there getting more opportunity, we're going to have better teachers, because how many teachers are we all know, never respond to emails do not know how to communicate because they don't know how to manage themselves at all. Love that. Absolutely. And I've had the privilege of teaching inside your show business course. And Marco is so big about teaching that to all of his students inside show businesses, you know, teaching them different things besides just the steps. So I think that's so, so powerful. So coming back to nurturing the dream and how we build up these incredible young dancers. You know, let's talk about you know, when they start taking workshops, let's talk about you know, those kids that you know, when's the right age for them to start looking externally from their studio and how do we balance as you know, teachers for most of us inside a set studio, how do we balance the how many workshops is appropriate? What should they be doing? What age is appropriate that they start looking externally to their studio and you know, how do we kind of navigate that whole thing I guess, what's the best way? So my nightmare now I don't even know how you guys do. It's like seeing the dance calendar. Now. It is nonstop.
Unknown Speaker 45:00
And there's a million versions of everything now. So it's this whole quality control, trying to find where and I think, first and foremost, your clientele at your studio or your students or whatever relationship you have. I just hope there's a way of that you're communicating in a way that they come to you for advice and guidance do I mean, because I do feel like that lacks, I see a lot of the times, so many people just from January to December, dancing nonstop. And holiday programmes are brilliant, I run one in January. It's amazing. I love it. But I do believe dancers do need off time you need as children, there should be an offseason, the way AFL or any other sport that there's an offseason that you just also don't lose your childhood, just dancing 24/7 all year round. And also having that relationship with your teachers that you can be like, I'm thinking of doing this. So then at least you can be like, Oh, that's, you know, a great opportunity. But have you seen this something that you may see more value in? Yeah. And also, sometimes, and this is really hard, because with a lot of the dream stuff, it's very audition based to get into dream. And my only reason for that is because a lot of the times, you know, I would love to have even 100 More kids in the programme, it would be great for me brilliant, but I don't want to take money off people that should be putting money into your studio doing more ballet classes. And the problem is, and not that it's a problem. There's, there's something for everyone now, and that's great, but also takes away them training at your studio and investing their money in to you. And I'm not saying that in a bad way. But I just think, you know, yes, there's programmes that you know, back in the day with LZ ballet school and all these things that there was a I need to work hard to get to that. And I've seen the proof in it. I've seen with Dream, the kids I've said no to. And by the third time they've auditioned that they get in and the improvement in them. And the achievement of getting that
Unknown Speaker 47:30
is like something so special, because you know, as harsh as it is they didn't get in, it built a resilience and a work ethic. And I worry now that we we don't want to make the society of dance too much of if you can pay for it, you can do it.
Unknown Speaker 47:49
And I really worry with a lot of programmes that there's a big it's I feel like sometimes I'm watch, I'm up at 3am. And I'm watching the infomercials and people are selling me things. And here's the data did it and it looks shiny, and it looks great. And it looks beautiful. And all of that. And anyone we we want anyone. And that's beautiful. But what you're saying is we want anyone who will pay for it,
Unknown Speaker 48:18
unfortunately, but what I then see is that some people who are investing 1000s of dollars into other things that could be at your studio picking up tap could be picking up belly, because what they're doing is dropping other things that are then shortening their span of growth to do something else. And probably half the time these kids are you money and fees and they're out there doing something else. You're like, you can't even pay for your term fees. And I saw you at that workshop. Yeah. But I just I Yeah. And I just think that I think don't be afraid to have an open communication in your studio, that there's not a policy as such, but an open door that it's like we're here to guide you. We're here to help you if there's external things come to us. So we can, every kid is different. And every kid is going to want to do different programmes. And that's amazing and different workshops and different things. But it would be great for you to be on that journey to help guide them because it's the same then when it comes to full time. There's that smorgasbord choice of things that you'd I hope they would want to come to you and get your opinion. So they can move you into amazing I'd love to know Surya and will what hit you know from a from your home school, the teachers or the studio owners. You know what really hit when they were helping guide you that kept you there for a little bit longer. You know what works. What didn't Was it when they didn't want to have a communication about it? Is that what turned you off or I don't know. Have you got any insight to share on that?
Unknown Speaker 49:57
I think what helped the most as
Unknown Speaker 50:00
To do that I Yeah, trained up for the longest was just them being personable and approachable. Absolutely. And then being real humans, I got to an age where you can have different conversations with teachers when you get to an adult stage. But I think them being open about life experiences and all the things they went through us humans made me feel like I was a part of that. And I could be that too. And I think, but going off, this is like a bit of a tangent, but going off, like the offseason and stuff like that, I think that's a really important topic that needs to be vocalised a whole lot more. And I feel like what guided me and like helped me and supported me the most was being able to be a human and a dancer at the same time. And remembering that I'm sorry, first, and then I'm a dancer after that. And I feel like being able to experience life things and listen to my teachers speak about their life experience changed the way I danced, and the perspective I had on dancing. And if I didn't have all of that I wouldn't be the dancer I am today. So I think that's really, really, really important. I could become speaking completely off topic right now. I had to salutely.
Unknown Speaker 51:07
Um, I think for me, I definitely came from a studio where communication and approaching the studio owners wasn't really a thing. Like, I feel like I came from a place where it was very difficult to have an open conversation with the owners of the studio because there wasn't that level of like communication, or like, if you were to approach them with a question of, can I do this? Can I do this, it was almost as if they were offended that you were even considering doing something outside of the studio. And I think that I'm gonna speak from the dream creative. Doing that really opened my eyes into the fact that there was a life outside of my studio. I'm definitely someone who, when I'm in something, I'm in it. And like I have my blinders on. And I struggle to see outside of that, but going to doing going to do outside things like the dream creative was a positive thing for me, because I could see that, wow, there actually is a life outside of my own studio. And I think, as studio owners, when your kids are going to do things outside the studio,
Unknown Speaker 52:12
I think they're loyal enough to the studio, that it's not a thing as if are they going to leave? Or are they going to find things on on the other side, you know what I mean? And my studio was definitely one that was like, a bit cut if I were to go do something outside of it, but I was a loyal student. And I like it wasn't as if I'm doing this because I want to leave and move to another studio. I wanted to gauge experiences outside of the those walls. I love that you're so honest about that. Thank you for being so honest about that. And I think that that's probably a really good lesson, I think probably what you're both saying is that it's so important to have open and honest and create those environments for our students, where we can have those open and honest conversations about what they want to do and support them rather than putting the walls up and go, No, you can't go to that workshop. No, you can't do that. I know you're saying that on Instagram. But and and creating the conversations because I think it's also like self belief and your own product as well that their kids will return because as you said, you were so loyal to those studios. And I think that's really something to take away. And I think is what we'd dream creative. It's really like, like, I love that something I love about is there's so many different studios in that room. And this, it's so funny, because we see online, all these studios, and we have big studios, and we have and they all come together. And it's funny about the environment you create creates the environment. And seeing everyone come together it kind of like, I feel like because everyone's kind of their centre at their studio, they you know, and then you know, my I still remember the first dream LD muscles in the back row. And I was like, How does it feel owl.
Unknown Speaker 53:50
But I was like it was so important in that dream creative thing that all these kids that came from being the star at the studio they were experiencing, like you said, it opens your eyes to going oh my god look at and if it's done in the right way. And our whole motive is that at the end of it, you're returning to your studio to go, oh my god, I have so much work to do. And I want to continue working hard. And the thing is, and a lot of the kids that come they wear their studio with pride. And I love that I love you know, I've seen even studios just grow from their kids having that exposure and that belief and then they go back to their studio and we're like, we're proud to be here and then it builds that morale of the studio. And then people know that Stewart like it's a really fun and I think it's all about the environment you create and allowing kids to be kids and to tell the honest truth. I feel like dream creative. 80% of the best part of it is these kids just being kids and they get to a meet new people. And there's people now like you and Tiggy are best friends and they were in the first dream creative ever and 2018
Unknown Speaker 55:00
And it's like, I'm telling you now when I'm like, Okay guys, you've got lunch now. They're so excited about lunch because they all get to meet and they you see them that I'm just watching them going. They're just loving being kids right now. They're just loving being able to just be. And they're just does that make sense? So right and going off that, like Marco said, my bestest of friends are from the dream creative. And from when I had exposure outside of my studio, I don't have any friends from my studios anymore, because some of them don't dance. So they've taken a different avenue or they're overseas or somewhere different my bestest friends and my support network. Now that I'm at full time and I my own brand in my own business, the people from Dream creative or other people from different workshops that I've met from different studios, because I had that exposure to us from Melbourne. So now she has a place to stay in Melbourne at any time, like it's the best network, I always say, great, you're gonna meet someone in every state, you have somewhere to crush whenever you need for a job, or an audition, great networking for accommodation. I love that. And I love just allowing space. And that's what we can all do inside our own studios that allow space for those friendships to form those bonds to be created all of that.
Unknown Speaker 56:09
We are wrapping up on time not yet, because we just thought we'd like to talk but I thought we might just leave. Is there something that you would really love anyone to, you know, put out there, you know, how we can really create that new generation, the new era of creating the dream? What would be your best takeaways for these amazing teachers and studio owners and how they can best support their students?
Unknown Speaker 56:39
Oh, god, okay. I think creating an environment with the kids that super positive, as we've like said a million times up here, students hang off literally every word that you say. And I don't think that you truly understand that the things you say to the kids carry weight with them. I always I always say this, you if you were spoken to, by a superior in a different setting outside of a studio, let's say like, you worked at like woollies or something. And your superior was speaking to you. Sometimes the way that other teachers speak to their students, it wouldn't be okay. But why is it okay in a studio, it's not. And like, I don't believe in like attacking, attacking, attacking or screaming to kids get the best out of them. Because I'm definitely someone that will work harder for someone I respect. And for someone that I love, and I want to be in the room with rather than someone who's constantly putting me down, I don't want to work hard for that. But I will give my old to the person who is wanting to uplift me and is super positive around me. So I think it's just making sure that you understand the things that you say to the kids carries weight
Unknown Speaker 58:00
I would say just nurturing the love for dancing, for me personally is the most important thing. If you lose the love and you lose the little fire and the light that's within you, it's really hard to like back up again. And I think if you love it, and you can nurture the kids with their love, even if the loves different, the loves, like for the makeup or for the hair, or for the branches that go out of all aspects of dancing. I think if they can carry that love for the rest of their life, they're gonna make they're gonna make it and they're gonna make their dreams come true. If you love it, you can make anything possible and that's what I truly believe in. So nurture that Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 58:38
I'm gonna be really, really quick but this whole new era thing that and why I'm doing what I'm doing with this new show is because you know, back nine years ago now, when Genesis started the first ever dream, my whole motive was to put a lineup of you know, 12 amazing dancers that were fresh new. And I look at that line now of Lauren Siebel. Mikoto Meski Alex Medan ski, like if I went through that whole cars, they all still have a career as literally an Amsterdam watching gel behind Madonna. Going nine years ago, he was on the track. Yeah. And it's like you're watching these people. And for me, I feel there is and if you're a new person sitting here or you're a teacher that it feels there at the beginning, I'm telling you now there's a new era coming. And I think Australia needs a new insurgence of creatives and new people for kids to look up to and new relevant people. And I my first and foremost thing, my success is not the reason why the dream continues. Because it's really not about me. I hate when people talk about me. I don't want any accolade for what I do. My whole reason and motive for what I do is when I see people like this, and I find people
Unknown Speaker 1:00:00
like this that can go out into the world and shine and make a better community. And I can invest and be behind that, and push that. That's what will ultimately make the industry better. So this new lineup of 10 dancers, it's inspiring to me, it's very frightening, because it's a whole new thing. But it's also I want to introduce 10 new people into this industry that we can all look at and go, Oh my God, there's fresh blood that we can use and have new creators, new choreographers, new teachers, for our kids to look up to. Because if we keep going, without new inspiration, we're gonna see the same teachers over and over and over again, and it becomes stale, we need new and exciting teachers. And that is something that I'm really positive about. So please come and see the show. So how do we get tickets, we see these amazing Oh, the Dream Dance Company follow the journey of a new era. I'm telling you now, these dances are phenomenal. I would love for you to witness this live, I get the same, I get the same kind of nerves as I felt with Genesis because it was something new one that has never been done before. With this, it's very, it's very different. Every dancer has their moment in this show, it's going to be really, really exciting. So I'd love for you to come and watch it. And secondly, just remember your teachers. And if you're a teacher, that it's your show, and everything that you want to do, it's up to you, and invest in it and start putting the work in. Nothing, nothing comes too easy. It doesn't matter that we've chosen a profession that you have to continue to work upgrade upgrade. We are like the iPhone 2021 22. I'm telling you now I'm on software update currently down I mean, so it's like, we are currently always upgrading and if you can't upgrade and shift and move and relate to people and interchange relationships. And that's why you're all here to connect, get the information, but also take things back to your studio, and be selfish and invest in yourself and know you're worthy of it and put the effort in and enjoy it. And last thing, dance is truly an I have to tell myself this every day because I wake up very stressed lately, because I have like 17 million things going on at once right now. But every day I wake up and go, Okay, what am I what is what am I doing this for? And it's all to make people happy and to entertain people and to have fun. That is all we're doing all the other noise is just contributing to that outcome. So we've just got to remember that what we do is actually fun. So enjoy it. Amazing. Can we give a big round of applause to these amazing people. Now that I've heard a bit of behind the scenes of will and throughout I could not wait to see new era. It's going to be amazing. So make sure you grab your tickets. Thank you so much, everyone. How incredible are these three, if you'd like I'm sure if they have a moment we might move outside and have some photos and stuff if they would have mind that thank you so much guys. Big round of applause. You guys are amazing guys. Enjoy your day. Enjoy. I'll see you in two weeks in the audience, right? I'm a long wait or be shy
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