21 November 2017
The principal and founder of Dancesteps Studio reflects on how far she’s come in the world of dancing, entrepreneurship and motherhood.
A dancer’s life is not for the delicate soul, something Shirena Hamzah is not – save for the tender look in her eyes as she proudly observes her students dancing their heart away, on our recent visit to her second new studio in Plaza Arkadia. Even her affection for them is a fierce one, matching the passion dedicated to the artform. With the help of her fellow instructors, Shirena is all about nurturing confidence and discipline in her young wards, training them for exams, annual concerts and even routines as performed at the Malaysia Tatler Ball 2017.
Warm, encouraging and dependable, Shirena is the kind of dance teacher students and parents are instinctively drawn to, and with good reason. The dual fellowship alumna in modern dance and tap dance from the coveted ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) Academy of London is growing strong on her journey building Dancesteps Studios, for 18 years now.
Today, she has expanded to a second spacious studio, but above all, devoted mother of three. Despite her family commitments, Shirena is deeply involved in her students’ progress, teaching classes and conducting exams. “At some point I will touch base with their progress and dancing and how they are doing in the school,” she shares, of her personal relationships with her protégés.
“It’s nice to have that culture of lifting each other up, reinforcing each other’s strengths,” she notes, summarising how she continuously breathes her heart and soul into the positive world of dance at Dancesteps Studio.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.