Running a successful business and becoming a mum

My dance company is in it’s 9th year, which means SK Dance is going to be 10 next year! Wowsers!

After having my little boy back in September 2017, I wasn’t actually sure if I would have a business to come back to. I found some wonderful teachers to run my classes in my absence and was just hoping I would break even during that time. My maternity came to an end in April 2018 and I was already straight back to it.

I had my first wedding couple booked in when Ezra was 5 weeks old and I took him to their house for their sessions. Surrounded by a dog, and two cats there was me, swinging my baby in his car seat and working with this very sweet and understanding couple. I managed to create a fun, upbeat and showstopper style routine for their first dance. A wedding first dance teacher is one of my favourite jobs. I just love creating bespoke routines, personalised for each individual couple.

My classes came back slowly, after 3 months I got back to my Zumba Fitness and by 6 months I had returned to Zumba Gold and Zumba seated. I had even managed to pick up a few extra sessions where I had either found childcare for, or took baby with me!

I was determined to continue running the business as best I could, as I knew the competition around me in the area was good. That fear of missing out and losing my loyal customers if I had stayed away too long, was unbearable. I had spend 6 years building this baby up, I wasn’t going to lose it. I knew it was going to be tough and although my new baby was more important, I had decided to manage both of them.

My clients embraced the experience, as did I. From timing a nap in the pushchair, to dancing with him in the sling and finally playing in the travel cot, this poor kid was learning to dance, whether he liked it or not. However, knowing it wasn’t going to last forever, they were all very supportive and loved having him in the class.

Eventually, it become more about my child and his well being, than it did about me and mine……or them and theirs. He had taken all their attention and mine and after a whole 12 months, he was ready for more time with the childminder…..and so was I.

That was 8 months ago and I thoroughly miss him. BUT….as a dance teacher, I have my identity back. I have managed to continue most of the sessions and create new ones. I can now focus on each dancer in the room and they can focus on me! Every now and again I do still have to take him and its wonderful to see their faces. Seeing their reaction to him is heart warming and he acts so natural within that environment.

He has some great moves and is very sociable, which I love, but would I do it again????