“It is a safe place and a happy and special place in our community where everyone can enjoy the love of ballet.”

This is how Amy Fisher describes her Bexley ballet school, Miss Fisher’s Ballet Academy, which seems to have struck a chord with children and adults.

“Taking the plunge and starting with just one student enrolled, a year and a half later we now have 120 lovely students,” said Miss Fisher, a former professional and local St George ballet dancer.

“We have about 12 boys, we have a group of women over 60, and we have 18 month old children – we are addressing everyone.”

Miss Fisher started ballet lessons at the age of two and at 16 she was competing internationally. Ballet became her career and she danced in 15 countries in some of the world’s most famous operas, including with the Bavarian National Ballet and the Hungarian National Ballet.

She said she wanted to share what she learned with her students because the discipline would prepare them for life – both physically and emotionally.

She said the ballet taught skills such as “good posture, balance, coordination, love of music and movement, confidence, self-esteem, positive body image and acquisition. independence “.

It also taught resilience: “You’re not going to be good right away – you have to come back week after week and practice. “

“If the students want to get off the professional ballet floor, we’ll do everything we can to support them, but more often than not the kids don’t. [want to become professional dancers], and their training in the discipline of ballet will help complete everything in their life, ”said Miss Fisher.

Along with her male students, she tries to “break the stereotype” that boys can’t – or shouldn’t – dance.

“We try to get the boys involved before they have these preconceptions that boys can’t do ballet,” she said.

We try to get the boys involved before they have these preconceptions that boys can’t do ballet.

Amy fisher

Nova Chen, a ballet mom from Kogarah, said her five-year-old daughter Freya “loves” going to Miss Fisher’s house.

“I think it is [Miss Fisher’s] the passion for what she does has moved her business forward, ”said Ms. Chen.

“She’s very patient with the kids, and that’s what I love about her.”

Miss Fisher’s Ballet Academy is a finalist for the 2021 St George Local Business Awards and is this week’s Leader Local Business Champion.

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