In episode 18 of The Real Smile Podcast, Sharon is joined by Helen Jones, founder of Funky Feet School of Dance, for a lovely conversation about her journey from a young dancer with big dreams to performing around the world and building her own dance school.
Helen and Sharon look back at their early days in dance, the teachers who shaped their journeys and the friendships and memories that have stayed with them over the years. Helen also shares how her family made sacrifices to support her training, including the moment she thought she might not be able to attend dance college when her funding was refused — and the teacher who stepped in to help.
After graduating, Helen landed her first professional job with Celebrity Cruises, taking her to the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii. She talks about leaving home, the excitement and challenges of life at sea, and the opportunities that followed, including performing at the Millennium Dome and working on the MTV Awards in Liverpool.
They also chat about the beginnings of Funky Feet School of Dance, which started with a small weekly class in a social club and grew into the dance school Helen runs today. She shares the realities of being a dance school owner, the long hours behind the scenes and why creating a supportive, family-like environment has always mattered to her.
There are some lovely emotional moments too, including memories of Helen's dad, watching her dancers perform in Las Vegas and discovering an old college statement in which she'd written that her dream was to become a professional dancer and one day have her own dance school.
Sharon and Helen also discuss balancing family life with teaching, the importance of having a team you trust and why it's important not to compare your journey with anyone else's. A warm, nostalgic and heartfelt conversation about following your dreams, appreciating the people who help you along the way and finding happiness in doing what you love ❤️
Brought to you by Smile Productions
