My love of dance started early — I was just three years old in the little country town of Hastings, Victoria, joining my first Calisthenics class. I don’t remember every step, but I’ll never forget how it felt to be on stage — confident, free and completely in the moment.

Over my younger and teen years, I took any chance to dance — from sun-up to sundown. Dance and performance were my life, and no matter where I was or what stage I stood on, it always felt like home.

As life went on, that passion never really left me. In my 20s I found myself back in local dance studios, chasing that same spark of joy. Then along came Zumba, and that’s when everything clicked — the mix of fitness, rhythm and energy had me hooked.

When I became a mum in 2011, I pressed pause again. But as soon as my daughter Charlotte was old enough, I returned to dance through Hyfidelity Dance. That’s where I discovered the Adult Hip Hop team — a group of mums who weren’t professional dancers but loved to move and have fun.

What started as a casual class quickly turned into something bigger. We grew, competed, and before long, competition organisers had to create a 20+ Adult category just for us. Our team went on to become National Champions in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021, and undefeated State Champions — with a few international wins sprinkled in too.

That experience taught me more than choreography — it taught me confidence, connection and how powerful movement can be at any age. I wanted others to feel that too, so I took a leap and became a qualified Zumba and Dance Fitness instructor, holding a Certificate III in Group Fitness and Personal Training from the Australian Institute of Personal Trainers.

Now I get to share what I love every week through adult dance fitness classes across the Gold Coast, helping others rediscover the same joy, confidence and sparkle that dance has always given me.