In episode 14 of The Real Smile Podcast, Sharon is joined by Emma Fletcher from Danza to talk about her journey in dance, from starting as a young child and performing from an early age, to travelling the world as a dancer and eventually building Danza into the school it is today.

Emma shares how her own experiences shaped her approach to teaching, including the importance of giving young dancers opportunities to perform, creating a strong sense of community and making sure dancers always feel that the door is open.

They talk about Danza's growth from just 11 dancers to almost 480 students across two bases, Emma's ability to retain teenage dancers, and the team she has built around her — many of whom started their own dance journey at Danza.

Emma also opens up about the loss of her son Billy, the incredible support she received from her dance community, and how difficult it was returning to the dance school and telling the children what had happened.

The conversation also covers confidence, being comfortable in your own skin, age-appropriate choreography, balancing work and family life, and Emma's advice for anyone thinking about starting their own dance school — including working hard, setting boundaries, doing your research and believing in yourself.

A warm, honest and personal conversation about dance, family, confidence and the journey behind Danza.

Brought to you by Smile Productions