Teen-Entrepreneur Jemma Tells Frank How She Started Her Dance Empire at 16!

Jemma Nicoll, from NSW

Age: 17

How do you describe your business to people who ask what you do?

My business ‘Inspire’ is a local community dance school, however with a slight twist! Inspire’s motto “dance to a different beat” sums it up perfectly. My aim is to provide an uplifting, encouraging and fun atmosphere where kids of all ages can come and just be…kids of all ages. No stress of competition, and certainly no worry from parents about what sort of music, movements and costumes my students will be exposed to. I want to inspire, motivate, and empower my students to grow to love the art of dance as a means of expression and creativity.

What inspired you to take action when you were just getting started?

I attended a dance conference run by Project Dance, a New York Company who shares similar visions and values as I do. I found it so different to the stress and competition I’d felt in dancing over the years, and discovered how my community was lacking in places where dancers could just come openly and dance without intimidation and competition. My desire to see a break in traditional dance culture, and my passion to fuel a change in my community turned my passion into an action…and Inspire was started!

How long have you been working on it?

I began Inspire in February 2008; so we have nearly seen an entire year through! However it required a couple of months of planning beforehand in regards to certification and legal requirements, so it was from around December 07 that I began to seriously work on commencing this business.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

Combining a business with the completion of my HSC was a massive challenge! The HSC is strenuous in itself, so balancing this with the maintenance of a dance school provided mixed responses when I told people. However I knew I was organised and had good time management skills and it was time to put them to the test. I had a great support network of family and friends too. Of course there were times I wished for more than 24 hours in a day! But when it’s something you’re really passionate about, the obstacles become somewhat exciting to overcome because you know it’s something you really want to accomplish....a little challenge can’t get in your way!

What do you like most about being in business?

I love people- I love working with people, getting to know and understand people. The great thing about being in business is that there are so many opportunities to develop a wide variety of relationships.

I also love the fact that through being in business, I can bring impact to those around me and pass down my knowledge and passion for the creative arts. Starting a business is allowing me to inspire many young dancers, and setting an example and providing a role model figure for my students is just such a rewarding experience.

What do you like least about being in business?

This past year, the thing I liked least and continually became frustrated with was that I could not spend all my time and energy into growing Inspire because of my HSC! However I guess this takes a positive turn- I have graduated now and can now focus everything I have into planning the year ahead. But business itself…there is nothing to dislike!

How do you market your services?

Inspire has printed out flyers, posters and business cards. I’m currently in the process of sending out an official letter to all the local churches in the area with plans for 2009, as well as printing a small ad in school newsletters.

Inspire had its first concert recently which drew quite a surprisingly large crowd. It is these sorts of events that incites the masses and brings about the power of word of mouth (a very handy promotional tactic!). One of my younger students who is in kindergarten, took her dance music in for show and tell and ended up performing to her entire grade, which got me thinking how powerful that would have been in inspiring more people to come!

How do you keep your creativity flowing?

It’s important to continue drawing inspiration from everything around you. I try and grab hold of every possible opportunity- whether it is attending dance workshops and business seminars/forums, or talking to people already in the industry who may give a fresh spin on ideas and new ways of thinking. With dance, you can keep your creativity flowing just in your every day life. As things happen and events unfold around you, you can learn to adapt these things to dance. For example, my latest dance work was a piece inspired from the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunamis. I like to draw my inspiration from real things that happen and try to interpret them.

How have The FRANK Team helped you to make your ideas a reality?

The FRANK Team is certainly a wonderful source of inspiration, motivation and encouragement! They are the reason why many of these young entrepreneurs we hear of have begun their pioneering pilgrimages, and successful ones at that! Ignite provides the exact support all entrepreneurs are looking for, and also provides golden opportunities of all sorts. For example they featured the 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurial Business Awards, so I took the chance to apply and Inspire ended up as a top finalist. So I can undoubtedly say thank you to FRANK for that!

What advice do you have for young people out there trying to start a business or community project?

Embrace every opportunity, and don’t allow yourself to be discouraged by difficulty. View the obstacles as learning curves and a chance to grow, not a chance to shy away. True confidence is living and acting boldly in the presence of fear, so if you can do this you can do anything! Be very clear on what your aim and purpose is in starting the business or project, and make sure you can effectively communicate this to those you come into contact with.

CONGRATS JEMMA!

To learn how to start your own business, use The Frank Team's Business Break it Down cards. http://www.frankteam.com.au/entrepreneur/start-up-business-cards.html