A group of mums with a shared passion for dance is up for an AusMumpreneur Award after launching a popular dance business.
Dance teachers Natalie Ettingshausen, Jade Barnes, Belinda Agostino, Priscilla Severino and Glenda Yee used to compete against one another – running their own dance schools in St George and the Sutherland Shire.
However, they started working together on different projects in 2010 and became good friends. In 2015, they launched a dance program and business called Ready Set Dance.
The program, targeted at children aged 2 to 5, was first piloted in their own dance schools. Word quickly spread and it is now being used in about 100 dance schools across Australia and New Zealand.
“We realised that there was a need to start a new, pre-school program for both boys and girls,” Mrs Ettingshausen said.
“We met up with a children’s music writer who works with Nickelodeon. We created our own music and our own syllabus and product and vibe. And more kids got the magic of dance really.”
The success of the program and business has seen the group named as a finalist for two awards at the up-coming 2017 AusMumpreneur Awards.
Mrs Ettingshausen said the group were planning on heading along to the awards night on Friday, August 25 in Sydney and they were rapt to be recognised.
“We have become good friends because we have a common interest and passion,” she said.
“And we are all very motivated and driven women. We are mums but we also have ambition to make a difference.”
Mrs Ettingshausen, who has two teenagers, said while she loved teaching dance it could get hectic juggling a family and business.
Mrs Ettingshausen currently runs Ettingshausens in Kirrawee, Mrs Barnes runs Planetdance in Menai, and sisters Mrs Agostino and Mrs Severino run All Starz in Peakhurst. Mrs Yee has since sold her school.
