Positivity helping students step up
FINDING your rhythm in business can be tough but Gold Coast dance instructor Caitlin McMahon believes she has the right steps for success.
That path isn’t predicated on notions of her students topping medal tallies either.
Ms McMahon, who at 27 boasts an impressive CV, believes an inclusive approach is what sets her school apart from the dozens of other studios on the Gold Coast in the fiercely-competitive dance world.
She launched Dance
Mafia in 2017 after years spent performing overseas on cruise ships and in West End shows.
Between 2010 and 2014 she performed in Europe and the Americas on Royal Caribbean cruise liners, frequently as ‘dance captain’ in aerial and dance acts.
“I travelled the world, I’ve been to pretty much all four corners,” she said.
She then moved to London where she performed alongside English comedian John Bishop and took part in the Thursford Christmas Spectacular.
After stints in Germany and Macau she came home to Australia in 2016 and the following year decided to set up her own dance school: “I wanted to create a studio that would help nurture and encourage kids rather than push them.
“A lot of dance schools are all about results and winning. We’re all about being inclusive of everyone and having that positive atmosphere. We have goals, but fostering a love for dance is more important.”
Ms McMahon started with two students and in a few short years has built that into a studio with 130.
The studio began offering ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, tap and acrobatics classes and has since added aerial silks, singing and musical theatre as well as boys-only classes.
Ms McMahon said there were “massive challenges” at the start.
“We had to build it from scratch, we had to build our clientele and persuade them to come to us.
“The biggest feedback is how nice our girls and boys are, how encouraging they are. We are doing five competitions this year. We got the spirit award at a competition last year because the conveners noticed our students were complimenting dancers from other schools.”
Ms McMahon said her students were increasingly asked to perform at events.
This weekend a group will perform at the match at Cbus Stadium between Gold Coast Titans and Penrith Panthers.
“The kids are so excited to be performing in front of so many people.”
She said the studio made a profound difference in the lives of its students.
WE’RE ALL ABOUT BEING INCLUSIVE OF EVERYONE AND HAVING THAT POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE