How did it start?
Sophie, Chloe and Bonnie have been dancing from an early age. Starting off with Calisthenics before changing to Irish dancing at ages 7, 6 and 3 respectively. Irish dancing is a very disciplined sport and the girls practiced before school under the watchful eye of their mum, Pauline, a school teacher, who knew the importance of being involved and supportive of her children and encouraging them to reach their personal bests.
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While dance has been the enduring passion of the sisters and a space where they achieved outstanding successes locally, nationally and internationally, they have all been involved in a variety of sports as they grew up. The importance of trying different sports helped the girls to develop a healthy perspective value of exercise as a way to make friends and have fun without having to win every time.
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The dream of being a dance teacher has been the goal of both Sophie and Bonnie for as long as they have been dancers. Throughout their dancing careers they have experienced a variety of teaching styles and have been influenced by many kind and supportive people who have helped them in their careers. The opportunities to dance with a number of teachers in a variety of dance styles have provided Sophie, Chloe and Bonnie with extensive experience on what helps and what hinders dancers in their progress.
The beginning of the dance school
After returning from touring overseas with Celtic Legends, Sophie felt ready to pursue her dream of teaching dance. Sophie applied to sit her Irish dance teaching exams (TCRGs) with the Irish Dancing Commission in Ireland (An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha). Sophie and Pauline formed a company Phoenix Dance Productions and worked to write a dance program that could run successfully in any school through their PE or arts and culture curriculum. Theodore Primary School in the ACT were the pilot school and all the students from years 3-6 participated in the program. Sophie and Bonnie ran the program over a 10 week term teaching students the principles of ceili or team dancing. The program was a great success and provided valuable feedback for improving the program for the next school.
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Sophie also ran non-competitive classes at Theodore Primary in a before school program and with Bom Funk Dance School after school. It was at Bom Funk that Sophie was invited to join the school's elite Tap Kix performance tap troupe further expanding her performance experience. Meanwhile, Bonnie travelled to America as part of the Fresh Funk Masters to perform in the LA Carnival and do workshops with some of the US's most sort after hip hop choreographers.
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The success of the school program and the individual instruction classes confirmed to Sophie that she was on the right path. When Sophie passed her Irish dancing teaching exams she knew it was a dream come true and with the support of her family Phoenix Dance Queensland was launched.