When speaking to Nicole Cyrus, owner of and instructor at FootNotes Dance Academy, it becomes clear that, for her, dance is not just a way to keep fit. She trained in dance from a very early age and remembers that certain instructors had a huge influence on her, encouraging her to find her true self. “Around age 13, I found a studio that I really liked,” she recalls, “and where I clearly felt at home and I thrived. I started taking all the classes they offered ― the teachers were great; I felt welcomed and encouraged.”
Nicole’s dance instructors understood just how important it was to offer positive reinforcement to their students; they knew how crucial it was for a blossoming teenager to get the support she needed. “At other schools, sometimes you feel a little ignored or lost,” she confesses, “but at that school, I felt very welcome. And I think I adopt this teaching style, too ― every kid is unique and every kid is special, and they each need to be encouraged in their own way.”
