More About Episode 31 - The Dance Studio Owner

This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Lianne Clark, the owner of West End Dance studio here in Brisbane. Lianne's journey from professional dancer to studio owner is incredibly inspiring, and her daughter Lottie's astronomical ambitions will have you reaching for the stars!

Let's start with Lianne's story. Like many dancers, she initially saw teaching as a step down from the glitz and glamour of performing. But after running her own dance photography business and observing other local studios, Lianne realised her opportunity to create an inclusive, nurturing space for West End's young movers and shakers.

Taking that leap of faith, she found the perfect studio location and signed the lease within a week! Talk about jumping in with both feet. From those humble beginnings, West End Dance has flourished into a creative hub with over 300 students across all ages and styles.

Running a studio is no easy feat though. Lianne wears a million different hats - event planner, curriculum developer, production manager, you name it! From scheduling classes to choreographing routines to organising the annual concert, her passion and eye for detail have been key to the studio's success.

While Lianne found her calling in studio life, her daughter Lottie has her sights set on something a little more...out of this world. This multi-talented dancer with skills in ballet, tap, contemporary and even circus has a true calling to become an astronaut!

Can you imagine - one day Lottie could be dancing...IN SPACE? Her fascination with exploring the great unknown, searching for extraterrestrial life and being part of future Mars missions is driven by a curiosity and determination that's truly out of this world.

Lottie knows the intense training and skills required, but she's ready to take on the challenge. From excelling in STEM subjects to believing in herself, this ambitious dancer-astronaut isn't letting anything stop her interstellar journey.

As a veteran dancer herself, Lianne understands the intense physical and mental tolls a professional dance career can take. The relentless rehearsals, the pursuit of perfection, the pressure to perform - it's a lot! But she also experienced the indescribable joys and camaraderie that make it all worth it.

That's why cultivating a supportive, nurturing environment at West End Dance is so important to Lianne. By creating a space where students feel empowered to be themselves and believe in their abilities, she's helping ignite their passion for dance and whatever other dreams they want to chase.

Whether it's owning your own studio or reaching for the stars, both Lianne and Lottie's stories show how crucial it is to believe in yourself and find the right environment to thrive. Lianne's advice? Trust your gut, don't doubt your talents, and let your passion lead the way.

For Lottie, making friends as an adult astronaut-in-training could be tough. But with her determination and self-belief, she's got her eyes on the prize - exploring strange new worlds and boldly going where few dancers have gone before!

So to all you aspiring dancers, dance teachers or even astronauts out there, take it from Lianne and Lottie - chase those dreams fearlessly and create the supportive, empowering environment you need to make them a reality. The dance world and the great unknown are waiting for you!