TWO passionate young dancers are proving age is not a barrier when it comes to following a dream, launching their own dance studio to keep people moving with style and creativity.
Seventeen-year-old Lacey Duguid and 15-year-old Imogen Longhurst recently opened Li.dancestudio offering classes in Canowindra and expanding into Eugowra after receiving strong community interest.
The pair were inspired to create the studio after the closure of their previous dance school, Alikinetic, leaving many young dancers without a local place to continue learning.
“We thought we wanted to finish off the year for all the younger girls as well,” Lacey said.
“We had all these girls who loved dancing and we wanted to keep that going for them.”
Both Lacey and Imogen have spent most of their lives immersed in dance, Duguid began dancing at five years old, training in ballet before exploring a range of styles, while Longhurst started dancing at just 16 months old and later completed dance teaching qualifications under her former teacher.
“I started teaching in Year 7 with Ali and I got all my certificates for dance teaching,” Imogen said.
“When the studio closed down, I thought, well, I already have all my qualifications and things, so I might as well keep teaching dance and doing something I love.”
Li.dancestudio now offers classes for children aged two to 13, including ballet, jazz, contemporary, fusion and hip-hop.
The studio has already attracted many returning students, as well as new dancers from across the region.
“We have lots of little girls,” Imogen said, although boys are encouraged to join too.
“We have all the girls that we used to teach, and then lots of completely new girls too.”
The young teachers said one of the most rewarding parts of running the studio has been watching students build confidence, friendships and a love of creativity.
“We just wanted to be that person for the younger girls,” Duguid said.
“Growing up, we were very close with our dance teacher, and we basically told her everything. We wanted to be that support for them.”
The pair believe opportunities like dance classes are especially important in regional communities, where activities for children can sometimes be limited.
“It’s definitely a great service,” Longhurst said.
“We’ve had parents saying they were so happy we opened it up again, just to get the kids off the screens for a little bit and interacting with each other.”
The studio has also welcomed students with additional needs, with Lacey and Imogen adapting classes to ensure everyone can participate.
“To see something that they struggle with and be able to help them do something they love at their level, and adjust things to help them, is really inspiring,” Longhurst said.
While both are still completing school, the young dance teachers are already planning their first end-of-year concert, with a theme chosen and preparations underway.
“We’re unbelievably grateful that we’re able to do this,” Lacey said.
“We’re thankful for all the mums and the community who have helped us become this, because we are very young and there have definitely been a lot of people who have helped us figure things out.”
With strong community support behind them, Lacey and Imogen are excited to continue building Li.dancestudio and providing local children with a place to dance and have fun.