Hundreds of local students will celebrate twenty years of memories when Stepping Out Dance Factory holds a glittering concert this December.
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Stepping Out Dance Factory began in 1998 by passionate dancer Rikki Slack-Smith who first started performing as a child after her mother enrolled her into dance classes.
“So much of who I am today is a reflection of my dance training and the joy that teaching brings me. My love affair with dance has been a life long one,” she said.
After Ms Slack-Smith’s husband, David, encouraged her to follow her heart, the dance studio was established.
“Initially, Stepping Out represented to me a means by which I could share my love for children and dance,” Ms Slack-Smith said.
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“I never had any assumptions that it would grow into the large school it is today and still remember how incredibly chuffed I was when I sold nearly fifty tickets to my first show.”
The dance school is approaching its end of year concert, ‘Step Back in Time - Celebrating 20 Years of Stepping Out Dance Factory’, where close to 1500 people will see three inspiring shows.
The studio has more than 275 students who will all be starring in the end of year production at Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre on Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9.
Ms Slack-Smith said the people have made Stepping Out a special place and it is a special place.
“Stepping Out will always be my first baby and I am so proud of how it has grown and aided in the development of so many remarkable people,” she said.
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“So much of what we do is produced through the mighty efforts of team spirit and I couldn’t be more grateful for the team that comprises Stepping Out.”
“All of our staff are former students which is again very special.”
Ms Slack-Smith said it was incredibly humbling to have been embraced by the community of Dubbo.
“And the enormous trust placed in us in the care of so many children and their hearts, minds and bodies,” she said.
The studio has undertaken three overseas dance tours in its twenty year history with each tour travelling to the USA and performing in LA, Disneyland, on board cruise ships and New York.
They will be undertaking another trip in 2021.
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“The tours are such an incredible way for the dancers and their families to take classes and perform with the world's best and we always come back hugely inspired,” Ms Slack-Smith said.
“I am passionate about broadening our student's horizons and want to displace the notion that country kids are disadvantaged.”
The lessons they learn within the dance studio are crucial to not only their dance training but in empowering them to reach for any heights in any career path they wish to pursue."
Ms Slack-Smith said they are incredibly proud of not only the dancers the studio has produced but the people they’ve aided in fulfilling their highest potential.
While some of the students do wish to pursue dance as a career, Ms Slack-Smith believes it is the life lessons they learn at dance including discipline, co-operation, persistence, self belief, creativity and friendship that propel them the highest.
“This year Emma Duffy was a finalist in the International Contemporary Grand Prix and Madeline Gibson was invited to join the prestigious John Cranko Schule in Stuggart, Germany,” she said.
“These successes certainly inspire us and the students at Stepping Out but we are also inspired everyday by the little moments and the children blossoming before us.”