After a career in ballet that took her from New Zealand to London a Wollongong mum is sharing her experience in a fun learning way with Illawarra infants.
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My Tiny Dancer founder Stephanie Perrett has developed a unique program for toddlers where they learn dance moves and their names without them even realising. It means when they have a great start if they decide to learn to dance seriously later. But most importantly it is about them having a good time.
The classes are so much fun many mums can't resist joining in. As a result My Tiny Dancer is growing quickly and recently expanded into Shellharbour. It now operates in Corrimal, Figtree and Flinders catering for different age groups between 18 months and five years.
Rebecce Raschilla said it was her four year old daughter Scarlett’s decision to come.
“She came for a couple of trials and the reason why she likes Steph is she makes it fun and teaches all kinds of dance moves through story telling. Scarlett has been coming for a couple of terms and has such a good time. She calls it her ballet day and really looks forward to it and tells everyone she is going to dance with Steph”.
Mrs Perrett has two children under three and less than two years after starting what she calls her “business in a box” has had 390 students. Her innovative dance school has grown so fast it already employs five tutors. The maximum class size is 10 children.
She grew up in New Zealand and her husband Mark Perrett, a digital marketer, is from the Sutherland Shire. They met in London where she danced between 2001 and 2006 before working for a corporate hospitality company and then moving into corporate relations with the Australian Ballet Company. She relocated to Wollongong when she was on maternity leave in 2014 and loves the city and what she has achieved. “If just keep it fun, enjoyable and beautiful so by the time they get to school and they want to take dance lessons they have a bit of a background”.
Mrs Perrett said she does not want to make prima-ballerinas. She just wants to introduce something for parents and children that is very uncomplicated and was recently told by one young student “you’re not our teacher..you just dance with us and have so much fun and make us do Angelina Arabesque every now and then”.
Mrs Perrett said “that is what I was aiming for. I want to foster a love of dance. It is then up to the children whether they want to do something else in the arts or sport”.
Whatever they decide to do she hopes they will always have fun memories of My Tiny Dancer. “For my 30 minutes they are here just to lose themselves in music and movement. It is only for preschoolers. All the classes are during the week. The policy of the company is no concerts, no exams and no stress. You will not have to come anywhere where you have to search for a park or can’t roll a pram”.
Mrs Perrett said parents don’t need to find a babysitter because siblings are welcome. Children are also encouraged to run back to their parent at any time for a hug. “I don’t just teach them. I dance with them and they follow me and try and copy me. It is absolutely beautiful”.
My Tiny Dancer Facebook videos:
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
