Miss Zoe’s brings fun and joy to dance without the pressure of competing. Photos: Miss Zoe’s School of Dance.
An inclusive, award-winning studio is celebrating 20 years of bringing movement to people right across the Illawarra, with Miss Zoe’s non-competitive and non-selective philosophy helping those of all ages and abilities to find joy in dance.
When Zoe McCarthy launched her dance school in 2006, she never believed it would become her full-time career.
As a psychology student who went on to study primary teaching, Zoe thought the business would be a fun way to share her passion for dance with young people in the Illawarra while she worked towards another profession.
“I’ve always been someone to just do things on a whim and that’s what I did,” Zoe said.
“A little Coniston community centre is where we were first; I just hired there a couple of afternoons a week.
“I think I taught seven classes a week to start with, and now we teach over seven classes a day in multiple places.”
The studio started with only a few classes and a small group in 2006.
From the very beginning Miss Zoe’s School of Dance was centred around inclusivity and community rather than competition, which was inspired by her own experience with dance growing up.
“I grew up doing ballet mostly and my studio didn’t do exams or anything but my teacher was just the most beautiful woman in the world, inside and out,” Zoe said. “She was so supportive and I was a larger girl and that never ever made a difference.
“I think that really resonated and made me fall in love with it because it so easily could have been a very different story.
“That really paved the way for me to be how I am.”
The concept proved to be something highly sought-after in the region with her student base quickly climbing from the 20 she started with.
“From there the next year the numbers just doubled and it just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger and I was like, ‘Oh, OK, people want this.’
They outgrew their location and moved to the hall at Coniston Primary School, then to their own studio in Wollongong in 2014.
In 2018 the school expanded to Kiama, then to Coledale in 2019, with Calderwood classes starting this year.
Now there are around 500 to 600 students taking classes from 12-month-olds to others in their 80s.
“We have ones that can’t even walk yet and they just come in and shake a pom-pom,” Zoe said.
“Sometimes if I sit back and think about it I get a little bit overwhelmed, because it’s really showing that dance is beautiful for everyone of all ages.”
They also cater for students with disabilities or who need additional supports in all their classes, with many other students helping out to welcome newcomers.
“I think having those options for people is just so special,” Zoe said.
“Everyone deserves equal opportunities and we do everything we can to make that possible for people, so if that means they need a parent or a carer in class all the time then that’s what can happen, if they need extra assistance we can put on an extra teacher to help them.
“And just making sure that everything’s accessible for them.”
The business has found success with many awards, but that’s not why Zoe does it.
While the studio has found success and been recognised with multiple awards, the highlight for Zoe is watching her students grow as people.
“I think it’s all the personal milestones of the students that’s really important,” she said. “That’s what I get the most satisfaction out of.
“It’s seeing the kids grow and mature and achieve things they didn’t think they could achieve and just playing a part in that.”
Many are now teaching the next generation and keeping the core spirit of Miss Zoe’s going.
“Most of our teachers are ones that grew up in the studio and started when they’re like two and now they’re 18,” Zoe said.
“It’s lovely because then they really, really understand what we’re all about because they’ve lived it themselves and then they can pass it on to their own students.
“It’s just like this really beautiful cycle which is really, really nice.”
Those who have helped build Miss Zoe’s are set to join the festivities this year as the studio marks 20 years, with the milestone set to be celebrated right throughout the year, with a big party being planned for August and an epic end of year showcase.
“I am thinking that we will do a mega concert with all the studios all together which we’ve never done,” Zoe said.
“I would love to bring them all together and do a highlights of the past 20 years.
“So find all the old videos and do it like we’re looking through a yearbook and do dances from all the past 20 years – I think that will be fun and massive.”
And while Zoe doesn’t know how much the studio will grow and change in the next two decades, she just hopes that it continues to be a place for the whole community.
“I think the most important thing is to keep the feel of Miss Zoe’s; I never want to lose that because that helped us get to where we are.”
To find out more or to register for a class visit the Miss Zoe’s School of Dance website.
