Sisters takes centre stage with new community dance studio
Two sisters have turned their life-long love of dance into a thriving new business after launching their own community dance studio in Sunderland.
Supported by the Enterprising Sunderland programme, Natasha and Isobel Hair have set up Inspire Studios, offering inclusive dance classes for people of all ages and abilities, from baby classes to adult sessions, private lessons and a jam-packed timetable of ballet, tap, jazz, acro and more.
Both well-versed in performing arts, Natasha trained at Performers College, earning her degree in Dance and Musical Theatre, and has since gone on to perform professionally in multiple productions, as well as featuring in the film Better Man, a biographical musical drama based on the career and life of singer Robbie Williams.
Isobel boasts six years of dance teaching experience and has trained across a wide range of curriculums such as the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), British Theatre Drama Association (BDTA), International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA), and Northern Counties Dance Teachers’ Association (NCDTA). She is currently studying at the University of Sunderland and serves as a committee member for the university’s dance team.
However, it wasn’t until their dream studio space became available in the heart of the city that the stars truly aligned and the pair decided to finally explore how to turn their love of dance into their dream business.
They discovered they were eligible for free specialist support from the Enterprising Sunderland programme, funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. That’s when the pair were introduced to Business Adviser Hina Joshi from the North East BIC – who’s “encouragement, expertise and patience” they described as being “key to helping us navigate every step of setting up the business.”
Isobel said: “The support we’ve received from the North East BIC has been nothing short of incredible. As first-time business owners, we came to the BIC with a dream but no idea where to begin on the business side of things. Thanks to their guidance, we’ve been able to turn that dream into a fully operating dance school – and we truly wouldn’t be where we are today without them.
“Our business adviser, Hina, has been amazing. Her encouragement, expertise and patience have helped us navigate every step of setting up Inspire Studios. The BIC has provided us with invaluable resources, including one-to-one mentoring, access to funding opportunities, and free workshops that gave us the business knowledge we needed to get started and grow with confidence.”
Natasha added: “What sets the BIC apart is not just their expertise but their genuine care. They are always there when we need support, and the team has made us feel welcomed and encouraged throughout our journey. We are eternally grateful for everything they’ve done for us and couldn’t recommend them more highly to other aspiring entrepreneurs.”
Another motivating factor behind the launch of Inspire Studios was an unfortunate event in 2023 when Natasha suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and it resulted in her living with a pacemaker.
“2023 was a really difficult year for us, so when the opportunity to own our own studio came about, we jumped at the chance and decided to make the most of it. It sparked the beginning of Inspire Studios, something we’ve dreamed of for as long as I can remember,” Natasha said.
“We sat together just last year and sketched out rough ideas for a name, logo and ethos, but we didn’t think we’d be able to own our very own studio so quickly.”
Now up and running, Inspire Studios is already giving back to the local community by hosting its first school show, entering local and national dance competitions and offering performance opportunities to students from all backgrounds.
“We’re so excited to introduce fresh ideas and a new creative space in the heart of Sunderland, making dance more accessible to all, building confidence and supporting the community, whether that’s in our studio or through collaborating with small businesses or charities across the region, we’re working to bring people together.”