News Item

Young dancer opens her own studio

A YOUNG dance teacher from Crosby is getting into the rhythm of business after opening her own studio in Seaforth.

Abbie-Lou Austin, 19, has opened ‘Simply Dance and Fitness’ at Stella Precinct, on Seaforth Road, after completing a Talent Match young enterprise course run by business support agency Regenerus and Merseyside Youth Association.

She has been dancing since she was three years old and is a former world and European freestyle disco dancing championship finalist.

After also teaching dance for six years, she has decided that the time is right to establish her own centre rather than to continue using a range of hired premises.

Simply Dance and Fitness offers a wide range of dance and drama classes for children aged 12 months old upwards, as well as competitive dancing opportunities and dance-based birthday parties and other celebrations.

However, Abbie-Lou is also introducing new classes for adults including zumba, glow dance, dancercise and ‘legs, bums and tums’ fitness sessions. Abbie-Lou has also benefited from being a graduate of the Talent Match course which helps young people to turn their business ideas into reality by offering a start-up grant, one-to-one business advice and mentoring from a successful entrepreneur.

She said: “Before going on the Talent Match course I only knew how to teach dance but now I feel I know how to run a small business as well.

“My aim is to get more local people of all ages involved in dancing and appreciating the benefits it can bring in terms of fun, friendship and fitness. I’m really grateful to all the children’s parents who have supported me and enabled me to get this new venture off the ground.”

Eve Money of Regenerus added: “Abbie-Lou is absolutely passionate about all aspects of dance and her expertise, experience and enthusiasm are a great basis for this new business.

“She’s put a huge amount of time and effort into the project and deserves to do really well in the future.”