In The Club - The Kids' Activity Business Podcast
In the Club is your go-to podcast for growing a kids activity business. Whether you run a dance school, manage a football academy, or operate a gymnastics club, we share practical strategies to help you thrive.
Hosted by the team behind ClassForKids—the award-winning class booking system trusted by 4,500+ children’s activity providers—each episode delivers expert advice, marketing tips, and real success stories from across the industry.
Discover how to boost bookings, streamline kids club management, and improve parent communication with insights on everything from dance school marketing tips to holiday camp software and gymnastics waitlist management.
Tune in monthly for actionable ideas, inspiring interviews, and answers to your burning questions. Subscribe now and join thousands of providers transforming their businesses with smarter systems and strategies.
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In The Club - The Kids' Activity Business Podcast
EP 25: Uplifting Stories of Dance, Empowerment, and Mental Health
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TW: This podcast contains conversations about mental health and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.
This month we take In The Club on on the road as we step into the heart of Dublin's Perform Island, where the rhythm of dance beats strong and the spirit of performance art is palpable. Join Steven and Rebecca as they converse with the radiant Miss Universe Ireland, Aisha, who shares her transformational journey from ballet to the crown, opening up about the personal growth and purpose she discovered along the way.
And meet “Ireland’s own KEN” who helped choreograph and also starred in the hit Barbie movie alongside Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
Some deep chats and amazing initiative were found on our furthest road trip yet.
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Exploring Perform Island in Dublin
Speaker 1Where are we today , becca ? We are somewhere very new to us . Stephen , we are in the city of Dublin , at Perform Island . Yeah , we are . It's a brand new event to us , so I don't know if our viewers and listeners know that you are the events manager .
Speaker 2I am the events manager .
Speaker 1So this is a new event that you've scoped out for us and we are very excited to be here and to see loads of amazing dance schools performance academies performing today and getting to catch up with some lovely dance school and performance arts academy owners too .
Speaker 2So what do you think the event is all about ? It's getting very , very busy . The place opened probably about half an hour ago .
Speaker 1I mean we haven't even talked about the fact that we're bringing the podcast live on the road .
Speaker 2We are normally standing in the class for kids , should we ? Okay , we're live on the road .
Speaker 1Here we go . I've got access to all the buttons .
Speaker 2Oh , dear , dear , dear , we need to take that access off for a thing . Yeah , this is quite interesting because , look , that's not real .
Speaker 1Yeah , I was joking with Stephen earlier . I've been like oh , let me just put my coffee on the shelf .
Speaker 2Yep , we created the studio from back in the HQ here to bring it on tour for the first time .
Speaker 1Which is very exciting , because now we can take the podcast on the road , I mean , we could go around the world with this podcast . I think we will .
Speaker 2I think that's going to be the next move . So today we're going to talk to lots of performance arts teachers , studio owners and dance teachers , so let's go and have the first conversation . Okay , let's get to it , stephen .
Speaker 1So I am sat here with Miss Universe , aisha , how are you ? I'm good . How are you ? I'm good , thank you .
Speaker 4How are you enjoying Perform Ireland ? It's amazing , honestly . It reminds me of my childhood , because I used to do ballet , I used to do performance arts , I used to do battle on to Ireland as well , so it's actually just a blast from the past A bit nostalgic , taking you back to your childhood , it really is we're obviously I've mentioned already that you're Miss Universe , so we're both going to do it at the same time .
Speaker 1You ready , one , two , three . Here we go . Look , there's the crown . There it is . So you're here today . Are you doing workshops ? Are you talking ? What's what you're doing here today ?
Speaker 4Honestly , I don't know . Being Miss Universe Ireland , you're just told to show up at certain places and do what you're told when you get there , so I'm just going with the flow right now .
Speaker 1I like that . You don't know what you're going to do today . You just turn off at places . You go to the floor . You could be up there dancing and you don't know . I'd love to , Can I ? We'll go and find Paul , the organiser . We'll go and see if you can . So tell me . You were Miss Universe . What was the journey like to getting there and what have you been doing since you've won the competition ?
Speaker 4So I first entered Miss Universe Ireland when I was 18 years old in 2018 . And I just fell in so much in love with the performance aspect of it , but also the depth of it as well . So since then , I have been working so hard to try and do it again and hopefully win and I'm grateful to say that I won when I applied .
Speaker 1She's done it . She's done it . Everybody got the evidence right there In 2023 .
Speaker 4And I went to Al Salle , the door to compete at Miss Universe as well , which was , honestly , the most amazing experience of my life .
Speaker 1And what does it involve in it ? And when you're sort of saying you have to apply for this and work through it , what does it take to apply for it ? Like , what's that pool ?
Speaker 4size like A lot of paperwork .
Speaker 4A lot of talent , like the judges about yourself , but I think the most important part of it is learning who you are , learning your purpose in life as well , which probably was the most difficult part for me to do , but I found my purpose in life and I'm really grateful to
Empowering Women Through Social Justice
Speaker 4say I have . I founded a non-profit women's social justice initiative to empower women in Ireland when I was 19 . And I've been working on that ever since . So tell us more about that . What does that involve ? So , essentially , it's a safe space for women in Ireland to feel comfortable , confident and aware , and we just raise awareness on social issues . And then we have a mental health aspect , where we host listening sessions for women who just simply need a listening ear , because a lot of people don't realize that sometimes all people need is someone to simply listen to them . And then , finally , we fundraise on different social issues , such as period poverty , violence against women and so much more . So there's a lot that goes into it , but it's honestly Such important topics as well .
Speaker 1I'm looking around the room . There are so many young girls here to date , so many and you know that's part and parcel of winning Miss Universe . Is that actually all of the impact that you can have in using your platform for good ? So is that what you're planning to do as we move into 2024 ?
Speaker 4Yes , 100% . It's . One of the main reasons I entered into Miss Universe again is to be able to further my platform on a larger scale , and even just simply having the privilege of being in this perform festival is honestly just part of continuing what I'm doing already .
Speaker 1Well , I use that as being great to catch up with you on our podcast , and I'm really looking forward to hearing more about the foundation that you started and seeing the impact that you have on young people across Ireland . So thank you for sitting down and chatting with us today . Thank you so much for having me . I am sat here with Josh from the Super Weekend .
Speaker 3Yes .
Speaker 1How are you , josh ? I'm very well , thank you . How are you ? Yeah , I'm good . So we were at an event with you back in December in Birmingham . Tell us how things went at that event and what you're doing here today .
Speaker 3Yeah , actually it was an amazing one . It was our second ever Super Weekend , so we felt like we learned a lot from a logistics perspective on how we would change things for this year , for 2024 , but on a whole , the feedback was incredible . We flew over the Royal Family from New Zealand .
Speaker 1Oh my goodness , I know they had such a huge present .
Speaker 3Yeah , which went down really really well . We've got some super exciting things in the pipeline for this year , which I won't tell you just yet because we've not released the dates public yet , but , yeah , really excited . And today I just came to meet Paul , because he's a lovely guy , obviously , a guy who runs , perform , yeah , and we're just just so support really , because there's only a few of us doing this kind of thing in the UK and Ireland . So , yeah , I'm going to come for the day , come and have a look , come and see some friends , and then I'll fly back to Manchester tonight .
Speaker 1I love that , that you've come across to what technically could be seen as a competitor right , you know , as a competitive event like that type of thing , and that you're actually coming across to show support and it just shows . There's a huge community here 100% and I actually text .
Speaker 3Paul said if there's anything that I can do this weekend while I'm here , please let me know , because I feel like it can sometimes be hard , can sometimes feel like I'm in this alone . But yeah , I think , because he's a he's a great guy . So if I can offer some support in any way , then there's such a huge community of dancers in the whole of UK so I feel like there's room for everyone to make it work and to provide incredible opportunities for dancers across all spectrum .
Speaker 1So , yeah , well , this is the thing , right . You know you're based in Birmingham . That's where it was last year . I don't know if that's where it'll be again in 2024 . But you know , it actually gives a community for the dancers to come to , so there's no limit on the number of events that they can attend , right ? They can attend five a year , if they wanted to Exactly that . And I think what you said . There is important that actually crafting out and carving out your own space , your own niche , your own USP is really important , because that's what makes you stand out , that's what makes Super Weekender Super Weekender .
Speaker 3Exactly .
Speaker 3And perform , perform , and actually there's room for both 100% and I think that's so key in moving forwards is sticking in the lane that we know . So my partner on the event is a guy called John Paul and he does lots of incredible shows across the UK . We do street dance competitions , so the two of us coming together , he's more the kind of like lyrical contemporary jazz world where street dancers are . So combining us together is what then brings the Super Weekender to make it as impactful as it can be . So , yeah , we're really excited for 2024 .
Speaker 1Okay , so what can we expect to see ? What can you tell us about Super Weekender 2024 ? That is public knowledge that's out there , and anything else that you tell us ?
Speaker 3There's actually zero public knowledge of what's going on at the moment . Yeah , so , but because we've only just confirmed the dates in the last week .
Speaker 1Right , okay , oh , so it's all very hot . When is this podcast coming out ? This podcast will probably be coming out . Where are we just now , fabri ? Probably the end of this month , beginning of next .
Speaker 3Okay , so second and third of November 2024 .
Speaker 1Oh , we hardly hear .
Speaker 5first , we really hardly hear .
Speaker 3first , so we've got the dates back at the NEC again . We're moving to two days this time . We learned from this last year until we feel like we've built the market with secondary schools and colleges better than we've dropped the Friday , and then we'll bring it back in the next year . So , yeah , we're going to go to two full days long days , but incredible days . We're flying over some more incredible people from the USA , which I think people would absolutely love . Yeah , classes , lots of . Yeah . I think the planning process started about three weeks ago , so it's still early stages , but yeah , we're on for a good one .
Speaker 1Listen . I mean we've been on the scale of events that you do . We have started dabbling and hosting our own events . So we're sort of planning , you know , at the end of last year for events this July . So you know , hats off to you guys that do this , because it is an absolutely incredible effort that goes behind hosting these kind of things .
Speaker 6Thank you , what's your event ?
Speaker 3in July .
Speaker 1We are doing a football event for a football academy owners called Future Coaches . And what we do is we create a space in place for football academies , because with dance , there's all these wonderful events around the country . There's sometimes networking events , but actually what we found in the football spaces there , just there wasn't that sort of space for men or women coaches to come together to network , to share experiences , to learn from each other . So we thought well , do you know what ? Let's try it out .
Speaker 3Class for kids going big .
Speaker 1Class for kids is going big . I love that . I don't know what I can say about Future Coaches . I was in Glasgow last year . Let's just wait and see where it's going to be this year .
Speaker 3OK , all that's exciting . Yeah , something exciting stuff .
Speaker 1So we're trying to give a little bit of information about our events . We'll be like , oh , I don't know , but it might not be , does it ? So what have you noticed in the dance space then , josh ? What's happening ? What kind of industry trends are you noticing ? What are school owners feeling ? How are things going ?
Speaker 3I actually feel like the back end of last year was a really good year for a lot of studio owners that I know . From our events perspective , we just had an event last weekend in London one of our regional street dance competitions and we sold out at that event . We got one in Wales in two weeks and that sold out as well . So I feel like dance schools are picking their numbers back up again after what was a really tough time , I do feel like the back end of 2023 and now 2024 .
Importance of Systems for Business Growth
Speaker 3That's really important for them to have systems in place which can really help drive their business . I mean , this guy , this guy I didn't even pay him , I didn't even pay you to see that in your seat . Give me a five euro afterwards . I don't know . You're absolutely right . I think you know what we're seeing is you know we're ?
Speaker 1working with dance schools that are customers , but also China . Health is really important for the kids . So you know , we're working with dance schools that are customers , but also trying to help educate people who aren't customers , because we want to help them grow their business . We want to help them achieve their goals right . So it's great this is . This industry is so important to kids' mental well-being , their health all that kind of thing . So actually their successes are success just as much as it is the other way around .
Speaker 1So I think we're kind of seeing that more businesses starting up in this space more businesses growing their program size , which is really exciting for us . So what do you think your biggest piece of advice would be to a one-顆 musicョ contractor providing you a small gift pick vulnerable training and minority standard training .
Speaker 3One Од 무 活 existed within your atmosphereологa . Your conditions need to be feeling those inimhesia перек saving because of them . Knowing who you need the person to . Kids want to heats , shine and pass to their players and just focus . That's my keyword .
Speaker 1I think getting that as a great input on that . And I think that's where Class4Kids does come in , because a lot of dance go-oners that we speak to it's like they can't get the time to step back and think about what do I want to do in this business ?
Speaker 1Where do I want to take it . What's the direction for the next six months , the next year , the next three to five years , whatever that is ? So , actually having systems like Class4Kids , where it manages your payments , your bookings , gives your parents a great booking experience . You can then look at your finances and say , well , this is where my revenue is coming from this is where I can invest off .
Speaker 1That's the key to Class4Kids and that actually helps with the focus and the growth . So , yeah , it's a really important part of , I think , any business owner and again , I think for us it's like how do we help these dance go-oners actually realise their full potential ?
Speaker 3and you know .
Speaker 1Yes , you love dance , but actually you're a business owner . That's who you are at heart . Yes , you dance and you teach that . You've got teachers that do it and coach , but actually this is who you are .
Speaker 3You're a business owner . Sometimes we forget that because I think the passion outweighs the business . I found that I had a studio myself for five years before the council knocked our building down and the Cp on the building . But I forgot that I was a business owner and I just done it because I loved it .
Speaker 3I still love young people now , and sometimes even now running HDI , my training camp . That I do I'm like I don't really think about . But then you have to get that balance right loving the young people and giving them the best , then also realizing I've got a family to feed and you know what I mean . So it's getting that balance , I think , is key .
Speaker 1And I think once you get that balance , actually you realise your full potential . You realise actually I've got a profitable business here . And for people who take payments via cash , still it's like okay , well , such and such didn't pay the full amount , but they're going to give me that and such and such . I need to chase them so actually you're losing that , going to huge amount of money .
Speaker 3I remember when I had my studio when we closed down , we knew like six months before we were closing down I was owed , I think it was £12,000 .
Speaker 1Oh my goodness , that's .
Speaker 3In fees , because I would always be like , oh yeah , just go in like , and we didn't have a system in place , there's paper . This is like what ten years ago now .
Speaker 1Okay , well , okay , class , because we were already for three years . We'll forgive you . We'll forgive you , okay , thank you .
Speaker 3Now I know , but yeah , it was owed so much money because we didn't have a system in place and it was just like piece of paper . How many people in the class ? So yeah , when I actually took the computer and looked at everything of what people owed , one family which had two girls in it owed 7,000 just them , oh my goodness , because they'd be like oh , my mom will pay tomorrow . My mom will pay tomorrow . Yeah , no , we're just going to class , going to class .
Speaker 1This is what I mean 12,000 pounds .
Speaker 3That's a huge amount of money .
Speaker 1We're not talking 20 quid here . No , yeah .
Speaker 3But yeah , I think having systems is so kind .
Speaker 1Well , that's because you can actually hit a button and see if they automate that and send out a payment reminder Exactly , and that can sometimes get a little bit awkward , can't it ?
Speaker 3Especially with your build good relationships with your families and you know they're going through tough times and stuff like that . But I think , again , they respect you , they need to respect you . You respect them and you're in your business and you understand . So I think having things where it's not like having awkward conversations , but if it's an automated payment email goes through to them saying you owe this , and it's the tracking of it becomes much easier , not going right , okay , this spreadsheet had that and I wrote that down in that piece of paper .
Speaker 3It eliminates all of that kind of handy , my bad business practice , how it used to be . So yeah , I think how it used to be .
Speaker 1That is the keyword .
Speaker 8It's not anymore . You can run an event like that .
Speaker 1Imagine that you're like literally all right . Well , that vendor was me .
Speaker 7That's how I did it like .
Speaker 1that kind of thing We've got a lot better now .
Speaker 3We probably over the course of a year we probably see 10,000 people off our regional events and obviously then at Super Recender , which then doubles that . So we see a lot of people now . So we couldn't do that kind of scale now , but then it was like 200 kids . But now it's a different game .
Speaker 1Well , josh , thank you so much for coming on our podcast . I am going to be keeping an eye on your social media channels to see who the exciting acts or people might be that are coming . And we will , I'm sure , see you very soon .
Speaker 3Great catching up with you , josh , thank you .
Speaker 1Bye .
Speaker 2We're here with Adam Fogarty . How are you doing ?
Speaker 8I'm doing good . How are you ?
Speaker 2Very well , is this your first time at Perform ?
Speaker 8This is my fourth year .
Speaker 2Fourth year .
Speaker 8Yes , bit of a veteran
Dancer's Journey and Mental Health Initiative
Speaker 8here at Perform .
Speaker 2Excellent , and obviously you were taking a class .
Speaker 8I was . I was just teaching an amazing solid-air class . I'm very grateful for it Went very well . My voice is a little hoarse , as you can probably tell .
Speaker 2I think it's the same here We've been shouting you end up leaving these things and you're just completely like you've got a voice to you .
Speaker 8Of course .
Speaker 2So your background .
Speaker 8Yes .
Speaker 2What got you into dancing ?
Speaker 8I have honestly been dancing from as early as I can remember , which is probably the most common answer . I was probably about five , my sisters used to dance , I used to stand in the corner and just really got into it and found a love for it and I think just had a bit of a natural flair for dance , I guess . Okay , it's just kind of snowballed from there .
Speaker 2Did you have any dance teachers along the way that inspired you and really made you want to pursue that ?
Speaker 8For sure I think any that saw something in me . I kind of clinged to them a little bit . They definitely were the reason why I kept going . Also , some dancers as I got older , when I was 17 , 18 and dancing in the UK . There were some teachers that definitely inspired me a lot and were the reason that I went into the commercial world Excellent .
Speaker 2And what was your first upon the commercial ? What was your first venture into that then ? What was your first paid gig ? Is it where ?
Speaker 8Okay , my first big job when I got signed was with the Black IPs .
Speaker 2Oh , right , okay , it was the .
Speaker 8UEFA Champions League final . So I don't know a thing about football , but I know it was a big . It was a big show .
Speaker 2I know nothing about football , so that's good . I would enjoy the dance more than I would have the ball .
Speaker 8Perfect , well there we go . Yeah , so that was my first big one and that was like my first foot in the door , essentially with the commercial world in the UK , and then went on to work with a few other people and , yeah , it was pretty great I heard you described as the first Irish Ken Apparently . I will take that title . Yeah , so how ?
Speaker 2was it working on that ?
Speaker 8Working on Barbie was incredible . I think nobody obviously knew what it was going to be called . I think we only would have potential . But just even on set I've been on set before but like being on set for Barbie , you know you're walking around catering and everyone's in these costumes and it's just everything's pink and it's just beautiful . It was an experience .
Speaker 8It was amazing Wait wait , wait , the shoot is out . So I was working over in Warner Brothers in the UK . Okay , yeah , so that's where I was based for a couple of weeks when we were working on those numbers . Yeah , and you started out . They were there , the stars , they were there . They were there . They were rehearsing .
Speaker 2They were like green screened in .
Speaker 8No , not at all . They were there yeah .
Speaker 2That's amazing . That's some actually doesn't it . Yes , and so what's next then ? I mean that's , you've been in the biggest film of the last 10 years . No pressure , when can you go ?
Speaker 8Honestly , I think everyone would probably relate . As a dancer , it's very difficult to know . I think you like right now I could say next week's looking quiet for me and something will come up and you're like okay , that's me for three weeks . You know you'll be on a contract and I think that's kind of the beauty of it as well . I am quite a control freak and I'd love to be able to control what's coming , but I just don't know . I think sometimes better it is better , because amazing things can come .
Speaker 8I was working on the Euro song last week with Erica Cody , one of the entries for Ireland for the Eurovision , which was amazing and that was great . So I'm still coming off the back of that . We had a great time . I work online as well , with brands . So I'm working with a lot of fashion brands at the moment , so creating content for them and things like that .
Speaker 2So , yeah , it's all good , all is good , I think we need to talk to you in that space as well . Okay , okay , thank you so much . I know you've got a meeting very shortly . Yes , I do so .
Speaker 8We will let you get back to that but thanks for taking the time to talk to us . Thank you very much .
Speaker 1So I am sat here today with Keaton from Move your Mind . How are you doing , Keaton ?
Speaker 5I'm doing great . How's you ?
Speaker 1Yeah , I'm good Second day here at Perform . Were you here yesterday , or was it your ?
Speaker 5first day . No , no , I was here yesterday . Yeah , we came down the road from Belfast at about quarter past five , about here at half seven and then early set up . It's been a long day , but I'm here exhibiting with the brand , where we've got some merchandise , and I'm also delivering to wellbeing workshops . Well , I've already delivered them .
Speaker 1You've delivered them already . Yeah , yeah . How are you finding your day here at Perform , then ?
Speaker 5It's great . Yeah , A lot of people , a lot of talking , a lot of high energy stuff , and no , I love it . It's brilliant the support that Move your Mind has in the dance world , in the performance world .
Speaker 1It's incredible so you've just mentioned Move your Mind . Yeah , so that's the company that you run . Can you tell us a little bit about who Move your Mind are , what you do and why you started the business ?
Speaker 5Yeah , so basically , I am Move your Mind . I designed a Move your Mind program . That's how the originally started . It was actually designed for my girlfriend , mariead . She was struggling with her mental health and there was very little help for her , so I decided that I would start piecing the gala a program to help her . Through a bit of a backstory , her mom passed away 10 months previous . She was really struggling with her mental health . She struggled from such a weak heart but it got really worse through grief .
Speaker 5I designed the Move your Mind program actually sat in hospital waiting rooms . We were there for that long and we didn't get . We were sent home with leaflets . It was very difficult . So she was due to start it in January 2019 , but it took her only two months previous , in October , and it was absolutely devastating .
Speaker 5I honestly don't know how I'm sat here , able to speak about it in such a way or deliver workshops at a massive event like this .
Youth Mental Health and Wellness Program
Speaker 5But what happened was I decided I would still launch the Movie man programme . I got that going around March 2019 after a tough couple of months , because I remember saying to my mum this in a month I'll be doing well , they make it to 2019 , that's how broken . I was , honestly , when you're doing so much for someone , trying to help them to stay here , to stay alive , and you've designed something for them that you know you could really help them from my own personal struggles and my own journey . I'll not get into it because we don't have enough time to talk , but I launched the programme and when it did , within six days , it was from Page of the Belfast Heligraph where I live , and hundreds of people reached out for help and I needed to find a way to help these people because I'd been in those situations where I was asking for help and so was Maria , and there was nothing out there . I decided that in order to the people that were asking for help a lot of them couldn't really afford a gym membership . They couldn't afford a PT session , as that's what my occupation was I was a personal trainer . So I had to find a way and what it did ?
Speaker 5I designed the Movie man as an active work merchandise brand and I gave it a percent of each sale to fund the free programme in the city in Belfast and pre-COVID helped hundreds of people and COVID came slowed me down what I was doing . I was partnering up with the counseling services , suicide awareness groups , things like that and it was going really well . But in two weeks there was 15 suicides in two weeks and it was all young people and it was like 15s to late 20s and it was really annoying me because Maria was only 21 and I know all age struggle and mental health . But just how I am as a person , my own personal struggles growing up and then meeting Maria and her struggles , that's where I needed to put on my focus . I turned it into youth movement and what I'd done during COVID , a girl that I helped on the free programme . She was really struggling .
Speaker 5She left the programme , she was in a better place , became a youth worker and then she invited me to start taking the kids on Zoom because obviously there was no access to schools . Youth clubs everywhere was shut up during the pandemic and I started taking these kids online . The feedback was great and then the education system , education 40 , put me within the schools and then I started getting the youth clubs and then it proper took off , while obviously things were slow on the clothing point of view and there was no access to the gym and everything else . I was just trying to help myself in the process and it sounds crazy , but those kids and young people that I was helping at that moment in time , even now they think that I was helping them , but they were probably helping me even more from my grief point of view and it gave you a purpose , right ?
Speaker 1You're open in to help these other people , and this is Maria's leg absolutely no doubt about it and I think that's it . It gave you the purpose to go in and be like I don't want anybody else to feel like . People feel things , don't they ? But you don't want people to feel that way and you're trying to bring something that gives them an understanding of how to better their mental health , because we all have mental health this is the thing and some days it's good , some days it's not so good , and then some days it's really bad .
Speaker 1So what you're doing is just trying to find where they are on that scale of how you're making your health and helping them out .
Speaker 5So the way that I actually designed the MoverMind program is I combine fitness , mindfulness and resilience . So I think that everybody should make the fitness or get an active priority in their life . Hands down , it's helping so much . And the mindfulness side of things especially young people everybody would associate mindfulness with like meditation , relaxation and all that self-yes . That's great , I'm certified . Not a lot of think it's brilliant , but a lot of young people that I meet , especially young people that are struggling with confidence or they're maybe confining themselves to others or they're rushing their life away . They can't wait to grow up . And then you realize when we grow up we do anything to go backwards .
Speaker 1Yeah , and you're like well see , I can't wait to become an adult . And then I don't like kids .
Speaker 5I try to let them know that , the importance of enjoying being young , staying in the present moment , and I'm really enjoying . You know your early years and then the Brazilian side of things . I teach kids that you know in life there's always going to be challenges . Let's take it in the dance board , for example , or performing arts . You know there's a lot of highly , highly talented kids in here . So it's impossible to come to these events and our win competitions all the time or be the best . But I always had to know it's such a cliche saying I always say like there's no such thing as losing you , only learning . And at times that's just those wee ones , I think . Are we small bumps in the road ? There's always going to be bumps in the road , but let's take , for example , a young person doesn't need to be a dancer , a young footballer , anyone in general sports player that , let's say , they lose their mum or their dad at early stages of life , or a brother or a sister .
Speaker 5I think grief's the hardest thing anyone will ever go through and it's a thing that we're all . It makes our all our problems seem irrelevant and some people get caught up in real things that are really tiny and don't really matter and then whenever the , whenever grief hits or something on that level , you realize that that's what life's all about . You have to learn to well the storms . I honestly don't know how I'm even here today after that . You know what ? The traumatic experience that I went through in the night that my girlfriend took her own life it's just crazy . But I'm here because I've created the Mover Mind program . I created my rates program . 10,000 people have now benefited from it .
Speaker 5Amazing , I've actually took it to Dubai and back . I was over there for three and a half months delivering the program in schools and you know I'm gonna , first time ever , gonna say this on camera , but I found it quite soulless . I think , like me as a person , mover Mind is needed and I am committed to making a difference in young people , children and young adults meant to help them . Well , being across the UK and Ireland , that's me , and if I people say if I can help this one person again , I think that that's selling yourself short . I think we can help many more and that's what I'm driven to do . Yeah , listen to weekends . They get so great for me to come in . I randomly have a conversation with you .
Speaker 1Now I'm sitting in your podcast to meet people and find out what they're doing in their spaces . So , and you're here , perform Ireland . You've done a couple of workshops . You're saying that you're working with dance schools , performing schools , and how do you ? What do you do in those sessions ? If you go to dance school , what does that look like ?
Speaker 5typical workshops are usually last for two hours and I could deliver them to primary set and primary workshop and secondary workshop . And again , combining fitness , my pollution , resilience we'll always start off on really high energy stuff . So , fitness , teach some points , exercises that are great for you know different sorts of things , and then we'll slow things down . We'll take them into some relaxation , breathing , how they can apply that to dance life , school life , regular life . And then the resilience side of things is a teach them how to learn to weather the storms . And , yes , kids , that aids my . Their storms might not be as big as some , let's say , an adult that's gonna be lost , a parent or things like that are struggling with great . So I just I'm a very that's a very highly motivated person . I'm a very positive person yeah .
Speaker 5I just I really feel for I don't know what it is about me I'm just very empathic . I really feel for people and I feel for especially kids , you know , I see there's a lot of pressure on the right so much pressure on them and I just I found that they're being , I feel like they're being so short .
Speaker 5I think there's there should be more help out there for them and I think the rise of social media is making them to have deteriorate even more . So I'm here spreading the really positive message so I can get into those dance schools or youth clubs or schools . That's when I feel most alive and I excited . I'm just , you know , I'm waiting for the next one to happen .
Speaker 1So for dance , teachers that are listening to this podcast , or maybe for a football academy or a gymnastics coach . What would your one piece of advice be to them if they're looking to look out for kids mental health in classes ? You know , what should they be incorporating into a class to make sure that they're catering for , you know , the building of the skill , but also with them out for their mental health communication .
Speaker 5You know , getting on that level , being relatable , being fun , but also being being real with them , being open and not letting the kids think of your you know you're not struggling just , or your some , you're different to them and so I think you need to see to be true , be authentic and , yeah , just just be yourself . I think a lot of kids necessary , especially when kids are very shocked when they see me . They see the tattoos , the muscles and then the quick me realize , especially the young girls , that the quick me realize well , and this guy's really here to help us . And that's what I try to do , you know , I want to let kids know that there people are about them , outside of their family or outside of the people that are really supposed to . And yeah , listen , you'd be surprised how many kids across the UK and Ireland who call me their uncle and he's in the LFU's and everybody got three biologicals but no , I just love it .
Speaker 1I swear it's the best thing ever no , that's amazing , and what you're doing is just absolutely fantastic , and I'm looking forward to see what you're doing in the future . And if anybody listening to this podcast wants to find out more about you , can they just head to your website by searching me ?
Speaker 5yeah , yeah so . So my website would be my mglobal . The main place that you'll find me and you'll see most of the stuff that I do with the kids would be on Instagram at my mglobal , and my personal Instagram is akitsmym . If there's anyone out there listening to this who is young let's say they're hitting the gym for the first time 15 plus the late 20s and needs any help at all with gym programs , anything like that , hit me up , I'll send them free of charge . I'm a personal trainer , a bike trailer , I've been in the fitness game for 10 years and , yeah , I just I love to help people . There's a lot of kids out there struggling can't afford anything like that or would struggle , and I'm here to help so I'm here with Rory from Phoenix Theatre Arts .
Speaker 1You've just had a fan squad . A cheer squad will pass you . Rory , tell us a little bit about what you're doing , because you've got what's ? The people coming over and shooting for you so I'm here with Phoenix Theatre Arts .
Speaker 6It's the number one college in Dublin for training students to go off to college , the UK , or if they want to stay in Ireland to train . I teach drama , ats , musical theatre . Sometimes I do dance and I shock them had I'm a dancer too .
Speaker 1So what you do here today . Are you performing today or yes ?
Speaker 6we just performed at the first slot at 10 am this morning . They did a fabulous job and we're just here to get , obviously to support perform festival in Ireland and also for the kids to train , get an experience with our teachers that are coming around from the UK as well as Ireland and is this the first year that you've attended the forum ?
Speaker 1have you been ? No , we've been here , professional we've been here before yeah okay , I don't know since the beginning and what you take away from days like today . I mean , it's an event . It's a non-competitive event . People get to showcase their amazing skills or talents , their abilities . What other things do you take away ? Are you looking at other performances and thinking about how you can incorporate those kind of things into your school ?
Speaker 6I like to support the other colleges and stage schools . Obviously it's more about the feeling of oneness of performing and when you're all together in this kind of space . It also teaches the kids how to perform on an actual stage as well , because I'm sure there's some stage schools that may not . There could be students that never performed on a proper stage . So they give them their first time before their stage school show to be actually on a stage .
Speaker 1So it gives them experience and I think you know I had another sort of interview you on this podcast earlier than a day and she said also the same thing about that kind of oneness . So again , it's that kind of non-competitive element that gives people and kids a space to come and actually just have a fun day where there's no pressure on them .
Speaker 6Yes , there's the pressure of performance , especially if they have friends in other schools . It's always about coming together and actually taking class and supporting each other when they're performing and stuff and I think that's amazing to see in the dance and sort of performance art space .
Speaker 1And I just had Josh on who runs an event called Super Weekender and that happens in Birmingham every year and so that happened in December of last year and he came over today to support Paul with this event and I was kind of questioning okay , so why is it that you came to to support what could be seen as a competitor ? And he's like well , because actually we're so different and what we do is so different and how we run is so different that there should be that space that we can support each other yeah so I guess it must be the same with the colleges and perform is the only festival here that is in Ireland that gives this opportunity for dancers and performers to have experience .
Speaker 6Yeah , otherwise they have to go to move it or to the I guess Birmingham to the event , like that and what was the inspiration behind starting Phoenix Theatre Arts in why ?
Speaker 1why did you start that ?
Speaker 6well , terese is the owner and she started it because her children three of them actually were performers and she'd kind of felt that there wasn't anywhere for them to go to . That that will launch them towards the training that they desired . So her and our late partner unfortunately passed away started at seven and seven and a half years ago , okay , so that they could get that kind of training . So if they want to go to the UK because obviously the UK is the the bright shininess to them there are programs
Opportunities and Skills in Performing Arts
Speaker 6in Ireland . We're trying to make it more distinct for diplomas programs in Ireland , yeah , but that's something that we have to change in Ireland is the opportunities for them because if they graduate they still have to go to the UK .
Speaker 1I mean that's quite exciting . I mean it's a challenge . Right , it's no easy task , but who likes easy things ? So if you are able to craft and create this space in Ireland . I mean , think about the opportunities that's gonna open up to so many young kids here who can . I mean there's nothing wrong with moving away and going out and experiencing the world , but actually if you have things on your doorstep , why not try ?
Speaker 6and do them there . So we have the talent , but they need the opportunities , especially musical theatre .
Speaker 1There's not enough here , so and what do you think it is that Phoenix Theatre Arts gives children ? So we obviously know that there's the skill and the talent there , but I mean beyond that , what kind of foundational skills comradery , life skills , communication skills .
Speaker 6I think any , anybody , any kid that goes through a drama program . Let's be honest . It sets them up for empathy , confidence , compassion . It sets them up for any type of career that they want to go into . For example , I could become an agent . They could be casting director within the theatre community . They could become a journalist as opposed to they could be on TV and communications . They could be behind the scenes . If they don't want to be on camera or they don't want to be on stage anymore , they can go behind stage and they love that as well .
Speaker 1And I think that's so important as well , because I think you know , with this industry also , there can be that pressure that if you don't perform on stage or you don't do something like that , there's the question of , well , did I do a good enough job ? Did I fail at what I set out to do ?
Speaker 1and actually no , because there's so many career paths like you just named about five or six there , and actually they're the really exciting ones too . Like I think you know , if you're performing and you're doing that , that's amazing , but actually being behind the scenes , you're getting to see so much more like of what's been going on .
Speaker 6And I'll also add any kid who's listening to this , any student , I should say I can only say kid now because of my age . Any student out there if because you know a lot of them aspire to be Broadway , West End , all that kind of stuff , you know it can happen in time . But don't beat yourself up because you could still be on a UK West End tour . That's still the same thing . You could be working in Birmingham , you could be working anywhere in Manchester . That's not the West End , but it's still you . If you're still working and being paid as an actor , you've made it .
Speaker 1I like this analogy of like you know the West End's like . Let's say there's five stepping stones in a performance sort of career path , if West .
Speaker 6End , is like step five you can't jump from the first stepping stone , step five , unless you're like you know the Chris , you know Chris and Chenoweth that you know auditioned for , you know Guru , your good mentor , arielle Brown and those shows and you're like , oh yeah .
Speaker 1You know these opportunities are few and far between , but actually taking the stepping stones to get to step five . They're the things that teach you the most . They're the things that give you all of the , the skills , the values , all of that type of thing that actually builds you up to be the star that ends up there and if you don't step on stepping stone five , you didn't fail , you've got a different career path and that's what you're successful .
Speaker 6And the beauty of that is like I love I . You know , I was in New York for nine and a half years and there's people that I auditioned with that just made their Broadway debut .
Speaker 1Amazing .
Speaker 6Probably 15 , 18 years later and still going and still performing . But then they just made their Broadway debut and just seeing that is so heartwarming and that hard work and dedication to stay in it . When sometimes I was you know me I was like all right , I need to break . And then I changed career path by teaching and doing some other stuff but equally rewarding , right ?
Speaker 1I mean I know Broadway teaching , but actually they're equally rewarding because you're setting up the next generation . So you can see that as your claim to it is , if somebody in your school ends up in Broadway . Actually you've done a lot of that work because you're the one that's done all of the skills all the training , yeah .
Speaker 6So I'm watching all of the graduates currently . I'm like , okay , who's getting ? I was like , ah , what are they working on ? And a lot of them are starting to work , which is so exciting . Cruise ships , you know , the traveling ships , whatever , what was it ? The Danube ? A lot of them are on that , but it's . It is exciting to watch them after they've graduated from the UK colleges that they went to and it's them starting to book work , which is like so exciting or you know Panto , the first professional Panto experience .
Speaker 6I actually spoke with a previous student on Instagram and I said he's like oh , back to London . And I was like once you've done Panto nine to 14 shows a week you can do anything .
Speaker 1I know that's it . That's like the foundation skill , isn't it like ? If you can do it nine to ten times a week ? Like you know , shoot for the stars sometimes it's 13 a week and you're like exhausted .
Speaker 6But I was like eight shows a week will be nothing compared to 13 . Well , exactly , I know it's like . Look at the silver linings .
Speaker 1Ah , you did 13 , that eight's . Fine , you can do it . You can do it okay . Rode before we wrap up this section of the podcast , what would your top piece of advice be to somebody out there who's listening to this podcast , who runs a dance school , a performance school ? They're maybe struggling with focus what they should be doing . What would your top piece of advice , or your top two pieces of advice , be for them ?
Speaker 6oh , that's a very deep , hard question . That's what we do .
Speaker 1That's what we do , we wrap up with this , this kind of sentimental yeah kind of advice . Well , I . I also run boom Broadway official online masterclass where okay , we didn't get to chat about that , okay , so let's talk about it here .
Speaker 6Let's get out so kids are , students , are able to go on to boom from boom masterclass com and they can take all of our archive as a member . So there's classes the dance classes , acting classes , design , lighting classes , acting classes and it's all created from covid technically , um , obviously the world shot the world .
Speaker 6I know , um , from the shutdown of the world , I gave a platform to my friends who were out of work to teach online , um , but that's , yes , it's in their living room , but there's 150 plus classes now , um , that we are uh , that our members are able to access so they can take the class , pause , rewind , from any time anywhere . Um , and then this summer we're doing our third in person New York City summer intensive . Wow , and they have to audition for that there's only there's limited spaces for that .
Speaker 6And then we're doing our first London summer intensive . So it'll be in June in New York and it finishes with a showcase at one of the premier cabaret spaces .
Speaker 1Wow go , you go , Rory , no wonder you have the cheer squad going by .
Speaker 6It sounds like there's lots of exciting stuff happening there , london , will be our first , and it'll be a week in August .
Teaching Dance and Managing a Business
Speaker 1Then I guess , with that kind of class content planning , I guess , like from a teacher perspective , how important is it to get these lessons planned to develop kids , but also how important is it to work on the business side of things ? Because I think you can stay so focused on the talent and the skill , which is right . But what about for the person out there who's like I don't know how much I processed and revenue last month ?
Speaker 1I don't know where my bookings are actually coming from , so I don't know where to put my budget to allocate to marketing . What would you say to those people ? What would your advice be ?
Speaker 6As everyone always says , is knowing your numbers , and that's always a hard thing , especially when you're doing yourself .
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah .
Speaker 6That's a big one , and just being real and remembering why you started something as well for any business . Why the real big reason ? Why is like for me , for with Boom I'm like . I know I will become the Netflix for Theater Education in the future .
Speaker 1I like it . You heard it here first .
Speaker 6Yes , so that's my ultimate goal is really creating that . Where do we go and train ? Besides , in person ? I need some extra help . Go to Boom and you'll be able to help get classes that way .
Speaker 6And , backtracking what your question was about , what would you impart with the focus ? All that I would definitely say to students is , as someone who grew up performing , is ask why , more Really , try to focus on yourself and not others . That's a huge one and what you want in your career , and don't compare yourself to others . That's a . Unfortunately , that's still a problem to say , especially with social media . I definitely wouldn't have wanted to be a kid growing up with all the social media in front of me and being like comparatively . So you really got to develop the skills to go .
Speaker 6No , I'm working on myself . I'm working on my own confidence , my own empathy , my own compassion , my own training , so I can get where I want to be and you do your own path as opposed to . I mean , of course , there's stars that you want to idolize and you want to maybe follow in their footsteps , but do it in your own way and not compare yourself in that respect . So like , look at Chris and Chenoweth and Wicked and Ariana Grande , who saw her when she was 10 , and now she's doing the film Chris and Chenoweth . You know there's conversations with her saying you know , I'm your inspiration . Yes , thank you . Now take this and do it your way , you know , with your knowledge which is what I think kids really need to understand as well .
Speaker 1Some great parting pieces of advice there from Rory , so thank you very much for coming on our podcast in the club . You are so welcome and we can't wait to see the future of BOOM .
Speaker 5Yes , ok , take care , rory thanks , bye , shout out .
Speaker 1You're here at Perform Today . First of all , what are you doing here and how are you finding it ?
Speaker 7OK . So my kids are performing , so I , 40 girls and boys up on the main stage at five o'clock . Yeah , super excited . And then I'm teaching a ballet and technique workshop at half past five here , wow , so your hat's twofold .
Speaker 1today . You come as a proud dance school owner and senior kids perform on stage , but then you're taking a workshop . What can you tell us about the dance that we're going to see from your kids ?
Speaker 7So the team is Freedom and the Skies , the Libet , and it's a contemporary piece in the second half and it's about transformation and butterflies and lyrical movements . And then the first half is about feeling good . So we're using a bit of Michael Buble Nice , yeah , he's a feel good Ken again , and it's smooth jazz in the first half and then going into the lyrical and contemporary in the second half of the performance .
Speaker 1So it seems to be kind of a big theme today , and from dance school owners that we've talked to previously , around really having kids express themselves in these classes and dance being the core skill that they're learning , and you know that's the foundation of it all . But actually you're teaching so much more in life skills , communication , teaching them how to be in team , being players , all of that kind of stuff . What balance would you say is important for you , to have sort of that ratio of teaching the physical dance versus actually teaching these extranet skills ?
Speaker 7So I'd say it's about 60 , 40 . So what I get the students to do is I get them to sit down and listen to the music , first of all , and I get them to feel the music and then I get them to talk about what feelings are coming up . Is it sad ? Could they relate to something sad in their life to bring it to the stage ? And we go through the emotions of the song , of the dance , of the routine . And then it's about lifting our spirits and working in a positive way to bring everybody up , no matter how bad they're having a day at school or a parent , you know , having anything at all like trouble in them , and then coming in and just letting it go . And I always say to the kids let it go , dance it out .
Speaker 1When you're in here , you're in a safe space , you're giving yourself an hour to take away all your worries and that's so important , right with the ongoing pressure in school , and I mean depending on what age range you're teaching , I still think it's important for my young age to learn those skills . So would you say that's kind of part of your mission for your dance school and what was the inspiration behind starting your dance school ?
Speaker 7And 100% . That is . The mission of Lanceture School of Dance is to create a safe environment where kids can just express themselves . Yeah , I work a lot with autism and kids on the spectrum , so to me it's something about . It's just about releasing the energy and the negativity , so it's a healing process .
Speaker 1You know that's amazing that you've started this business and you're seeing it actually impact the mental health and well-being of so many kids . So you are one of our first class for kids customers on the podcast .
Speaker 7Oh , that's exciting . So let's tell a bit about that ?
Speaker 3How long ?
Speaker 1have you been a class for kids ? Customer Three years .
Speaker 7Oh wow , you're a veteran , then that you're an MUB to the system .
Speaker 1No , Okay . So what was the decision behind getting class for kids ? Why did you choose a booking software ?
Speaker 7I decided to go with class for kids off my colleagues' recommendation . Her school loved it . There's one of my kids .
Speaker 1I'm so happy to have you here .
Speaker 7Yeah . So I heard about it and I was like that's amazing because I'm struggling with my class growing and not having time to go from teaching a class to getting the money from parents , to registering , to getting all the child's medical details , where I could just be like here's a booking link , you fill it out , I can see if they want their photographs taken , if they have any medical conditions . There are one , two , three lists of emergency numbers . So it's absolutely amazing to have the software just to take the pressure off .
Speaker 1And so you talked a little bit there about . You know you really wanted to be able to grow . The dance school has using class for kids helped you grow . Amazing it has . Yes , it's amazing . And what kind of growth are we talking here ? I mean , where are your numbers at now versus then ? Like double , double .
Speaker 7It's on where it's not worth . It's amazing , and I think the parents find it as well , really , really useful , because they don't have to be , you know , struggling to be like , oh I need to do this or what time is that after ? Even summer camps ? I find it so useful for camps .
Speaker 1Well , it benefits you and you're right , it does benefit the parents because they can book and pay for classes on one go and , depending on how you run your payments , they can either pay that on a tournary basis or they can do the subscriptions benefit , which is basically where they pay for classes over either a 10 or 12 period 12 month period . So it makes things more affordable and actually what it makes them realise is , you know , these kind of features make them realise the business that you are and it makes you kind of stand out from that space . So if I had to ask you to describe class for kids in three words , what three words would you use ?
Speaker 7to describe it ? Okay , putting you on the spot . Oh , okay , um organisation that's leased .
Speaker 1Oh , no , okay , I'm going to give that a clap . Thank you , organisation , that's leased . I think that might just be our new tagline , and we're going to credit you , shauna , for that .
Speaker 3Thank you so much . Organisation that's leased , don't forget me , I would , it's been great to have you on the class for kids podcast .
Speaker 1Thank you so much for having me , steven , you look a little bit different today .
Speaker 2I don't know what you're talking about , maybe it's your t-shirt colour .
Speaker 1How have you found Perform Ireland's .
Speaker 9You've known me for five years . I don't know why you would say something like that .
Speaker 1It's just the colour of your t-shirt . It's changed , Steven .
Speaker 9I understand that here we are matching today . After all
Positive Vibes at Perform Convention
Speaker 9. I've had an amazing time . An amazing time here . It's been so good talking to lots of club owners , lots of parents . It's been an amazing relaxed atmosphere . All the people I spoke to it's just been such a friendly vibe First time in Ireland . But one of these things I really enjoyed that side of things I've had lots of conversations .
Speaker 1Obviously , Steven , I was doing the podcast . I don't know what you were doing here , Steven . I'm not sure .
Speaker 9I just my usual .
Speaker 1I've been chatting to lots of people on the podcast this weekend . It's been great to hear their experience of Perform as well . For them , I think , it's more about the non-competitive element of it . It's been really nice . Kids can come here , have fun , I think . For the teachers and owners as well , I think it just feels like because it's a family-oriented environment . Actually , it's just a really nice weekend to come and hang out with your friends . Lots of amazing performances on stage . Obviously , our conversations have been really good .
Speaker 9I've noticed that relaxed atmosphere because obviously I work in sales . Now We've to sales .
Speaker 1Steven yeah .
Speaker 9I've got a sort of uncanny ability with it . But yeah , you've noticed that in the quality of the conversations the parents are a lot more relaxed , the club owners are a lot more relaxed . The quality of the conversation has just been so nice , so casual . That's what Classwork , kids , is all about at the end of the day Keeping it casual , just informing people .
Speaker 1I hope our listeners have really enjoyed this podcast . I had lots of fun doing the interviews . It was really good . Now that you've moved to sales , do you remember how we sign off on this podcast ? I think so Because you normally lead it , I don't .
Speaker 9I work in sales now , so that's all I want . I'll count it down and you know how we end it , we're going to look
Speaker 1at the camera We'll do this Three , two , one , bye .
