Two sisters have turned their life-long love of dance into a thriving new studio with the launch of Inspire Studios in Sunderland.
Founded by Natasha and Isobel Hair, Inspire Studios offers 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. She 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 singer Robbie Williams.
Isobel has six years of dance teaching experience under her belt 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.
With a passion for dance and giving back to the community, the sisters approached the North East BIC to help turn their dream into a reality after a studio space in the heart of the city became available. Providing one-to-one mentoring, access to funding opportunities and free workshops, the BIC equipped Natasha and Isobel with the fundamentals to establish and help grow their business.
Natasha said: “Dance has always been more than just a hobby for us, we’ve performed side by side for years. It’s boosted our confidence massively, shaped who we are and helped us build life-long friendships, so we’re eager to create a space that enables others to experience dance in the transformative way that we have.
“2023 was a really difficult year for myself as I suffered a serious illness. So, when the opportunity arose to open our own studio, we jumped at the chance. It sparked the beginning of Inspire Studios, something we’ve dreamed of for as long as I can remember.
“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.”
Isobel said: “We’re so grateful that we have the opportunity to do this and the BIC has been invaluable throughout the whole process. The entire team made us feel welcome from start to finish and we’d encourage anyone who’s dreaming of starting their own business to reach out and see what support is available.
“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.”
The start-up support from the BIC forms part of the Enterprising Sunderland project which has received £523,541 from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme, managed in Sunderland by Sunderland City Council on behalf of the Sunderland Partnership.
Now up and running, Inspire Studios is already making a positive impact in the local community by offering beginner dance classes for adults, helping those who once loved to dance rediscover their passion, participating in dance competitions, planning future performance opportunities for students of all backgrounds and building a friendly, supportive environment where children can feel safe, grow, and express themselves through dance.
Cllr Kevin Johnston, cabinet member for Housing, Regeneration and Business at Sunderland City Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see two young entrepreneurs channelling their passion into something that will provide opportunities for people in communities across Sunderland and beyond.
“Inspire Studios is helping people of all ages discover the joy of dance, while contributing to our thriving creative scene and thanks to the Enterprising Sunderland programme, we’re able to support initiatives like this which really lift the aspirations and lives of our residents.”
To find out more about Inspire Studios, follow them on Facebook and Instagram