Debbie Noller

Owner and Teacher Academy of Dance What gave you the idea for your business? I have been a dance student since a young child and have never thought of teaching dance as a business — it is a passion that turned into a business, as it takes so many hours of my week. I have been self-employed since the age of seventeen, and don’t know what else I would enjoy doing. What were the early years like? I certainly had to work outside my dance school in order to live. I taught every student myself and had a personal relationship with them all. Now I have other teachers in the schools, as it is not humanly possible to teach every class and genre myself. I love having ‘old’ students come up to me saying ‘you taught me when I was six’ and they now have grown-up children. Looking back, what advice would you give to your past self? It was a different time in the late 70s and people appreciated your time and efforts much more. However, I understand that life is quicker and people expect everything at the push of a button. Kids tend to want it all without passion or effort. What have you learnt from the experience? Children still just want somebody’s time and attention, but they have so many activities to choose from. To choose an activity or hobby and stick to it long enough to gain the rewards is not as common. No screen can give the high or physical challenge of music and dance. How do you juggle work and home? It’s easy now, but when I had four children at home on a farm, they were all good cooks and problem-solvers when mum spent time with other people’s children. What do you do for enjoyment away from the busy workplace? Home and family time is still the best. I vary between a quiet read to chasing cattle around on a four-wheeler bike. Where do you see yourself in ten years regarding your business? I hope that the student teachers I have been mentoring can eventually be a better version of me, but hopefully I can still be interested in dance teaching.