LIKE many young girls, Esme Barr dreamed of becoming a dancer. Years of competitions followed, and aged 12 she achieved one of the top accolades in Highland dancing, winning her section at the world renowned Cowal Highland Gathering.
Early on Ms Barr realised she had a talent for teaching as well as performing, impressing so much that her first job real job was head dance coach at South Lanarkshire Council.
But she also harboured ambitions to run her own dance school, and earlier this year the 22-year-old took the plunge, setting up The Dance Academy in her home town of Helensburgh. Only a few months later it is already going from strength to strength, offering an ever-expanding range of classes for children and adults, from tap and jazz to hip-hop, attracting more than 65 regular dancers.
She also does a significant amount of work for Glasgow City Council, providing dance opportunities at schools and clubs throughout the city, encouraging children to live healthier lifestyles.
As anyone who runs a business knows, keeping all the balls in the air can be challenging, but Ms Barr - who is also about to embark on a part-time degree course with the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance - wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Having a dance school of my own is genuinely a dream come true,” she explains. “I’ve been dancing since I was two years old and the passion never leaves me.
“Setting up on my own was a bit daunting and I thought I might struggle to get teenagers interested as they always seem so focused on their smartphones and tablets. But my classes have been so popular that I’ve had to keep them going all through the summer holidays. All 18 girls come religiously every week - it just goes to show that young people love being active when they enjoy what they do.
“My plan is to grow the school and one day have my own dance studio.”
Performing used to be the ultimate buzz, says Ms Barr, but now she gets a kick out of helping others discover the joy of dance.
“It’s amazing to see how dance can improve confidence in even very young children,” she says. “I get wee ones who refuse to take part at first but they watch from the side and a couple of weeks later they just join in after seeing how much fun it is. They overcome their shyness.
“You create such a close bond with the young people you work with and they look up to you so much. It’s such a privilege to do what I do.”
And the young entrepreneur admits her own confidence has also soared since she set up in business.
“Being your own boss is really rewarding,” says Ms Barr. “I never thought for a minute I’d be as successful as I have been. I made things happen for myself and that’s a real confidence boost. Two years ago I was really nervous about being a teacher. Now I can stand up in front of anyone and teach a class of 20.”
She also credits Glasgow Clyde College, where she gained an A-grade one the HND Dance Artist course, with giving her the skills to succeed.
“The lecturers are at the top of their game across every style and genre of dance,” she explains. “The practical training is the best in Scotland, but it’s also challenging in an academic sense, too. When I was told I’d got an A-grade I cried because I knew what a big achievement that was. It’s a tough and rigorous course, but it’s also unbelievably good.”
Ms Barr is now keen to encourage other young people to take the plunge and become their own boss, and she has a raft of good advice to pass on.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you can do anything when you put your mind to it,” she smiles. “Believe in yourself and never give up. Go with your own instincts and focus on the positives. Work hard and don’t forget that for every bad day you have, there will be many good ones to come.”
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