On 20th birthday, Miss Zoe's School of Dance steps up for charity

For two decades, Miss Zoe’s School of Dance has provided a space for Illawarra dancers to embrace the joy of movement without the pressure of competition.

Founder Zoe McCarthy said she set up her school in a small community hall in Coniston in 2006 with a simple idea: a non-competitive dance model.

“We really want to make sure that everyone feels happy and included and safe, and that's the biggest message for us here at Miss Zoe's … everyone is welcome,” Zoe said.

“All abilities, all ages, from one-year-olds all the way up to older adults, we cater for.

“We're a really inclusive, friendly, fun dance school. We don't do any competitions or exams or eisteddfods or anything. It's all about just providing a safe, inclusive space for everyone to learn to dance.”

Having grown up in dancing in Jervis Bay, Zoe is grateful for her teacher who valued inclusion and felt a calling to pass on that same positivity to the next generation of students. 

“I danced right through my childhood and absolutely loved it,” she says.

“I had a beautiful teacher who was similar to me, so I felt very safe and included in class all the time, and that's what I wanted to pass on to my students.”

After moving to Wollongong for university, Zoe opened her own studio and studied psychology and primary teaching. Her studies informed her work as a dance teacher, focused on the developmental and emotional benefits of dance.

For Zoe, the technical aspects of dance, pointing toes and hitting marks, are secondary to the life skills students gain in the studio. Her school aims to build self-esteem and equip students with social skills to help them to succeed in all areas of life.

"It's not just about the dancing. It's about the friendships you make with the people in your classes. It's the increased self-confidence and self-esteem,” she says.

“Dance is really teamwork, as well – you want to make sure you're standing in the right position in the dance and doing the best you can to work together."

Last year, Miss Zoe’s School of Dance was recognised for the third consecutive year as a finalist in the champion performing arts category for the 2025 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards. But Zoe says that the most rewarding feedback comes from students' parents who see the effects of her efforts at home.

“It’s about the students who have maybe struggled, whether it be with their confidence or if they have a disability. When parents have come back and said, 'we really appreciate how included they felt in class’,” she says.

“They can see such a difference in behaviour at home; a lot of people have said that the impact in dance class can be seen beyond being at dancing.”

Former students who grew up in the studio are now returning as adults, bringing their own children to experience the same supportive atmosphere they enjoyed. 

“We've got people that have been with us for nearly the whole entire time we've been open – we’ve got students that have gone through dancing and now they're returning, bringing their own children to classes, which is incredible to see,” Zoe says.

“A couple of students have come all the way through from when they were little, and then they became teachers themselves.”

Like most small businesses, the pandemic was a major bump in the road for the school, but today it’s thriving. Now, Miss Zoe’s School of Dance offers classes across Wollongong, Kiama, Coledale and Calderwood & Tullimbar. As the school community celebrates its 20th anniversary, Zoe says the key to longevity in the arts business is all about the people involved.

"For us, it’s about the community that we build and the support we’ve had from past students and teachers and everyone around us. It’s shown in the families that keep returning to dancing, their kids that keep coming back … It’s about the community that we create, and how happy and supported they feel here,” she says.

This year, the school is looking forward to expanding classes and giving back, supporting the Cancer Council through Stars of Wollongong and Relay for Life.

"It’s been a fantastic journey. I’m so glad that I’ve embarked on it and it’s worked to where it is today, and hopefully into the future."

To learn more about Miss Zoe’s School of Dance, visit the website.