ROLE: DC Fit Teacher
Dance Experience
I’ve been dancing, on and off, since the age of 5. While I’ve tried other styles of dance over the years I’ve always come back to tap, and worked my way through tap exams up to teaching levels.
Teaching Experience
I taught for over a year at other studios and independently before I had children. It turns out parenting is busy. (Who knew?!) After a long pause, I started teaching with Dance Central in early 2019.
Q&A with Isobelle
What got you into teaching?
Purely selfish reasons. It hasn’t always been easy to find other adults to dance with. I wanted more people to be able to tap with me!
What styles of dance do you teach?
Tap
What is your favourite group to teach?
Adult classes have a great energy and spirit. Some students are returning to a childhood interest, or finally trying something they always wanted to do. Everyone in the class has their own special motivation and has put other things aside to make the time to be there. This comes through in the way the class feels.
What is your style of teaching?
Friendly and encouraging, technical, maybe sometimes a bit silly!
What inspires you when it comes to choreographing?
Different things inspire me for different pieces. Usually it’s an idea about a rhythm and a shape, or a pause full of anticipation.
What do you love most about dance?
The escapism and creativity of being part of the music, especially in tap where you are both a dancer and a musical instrument.
What do you love most about teaching?
I love seeing the ‘aha’ moment when suddenly everything falls into place and a new skill is achieved. I’m usually more excited than the student!
What are your top tips for students to get the most out of class?
Ask questions, and give it a try even if you think you can’t. You may surprise yourself!
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Potato chips. Lounging around in bed reading. Tap dancing all over the house.
What’s your favourite quote?
If you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. (Groucho Marx)
Where would you go on your dream holiday?
A family history based trip around England, Scotland and Ireland. Sadly, I burn too easily for a beach holiday to be my dream.
