Educator and Dance Education Small Business recognised for nurturing education, confidence, diversity and creativity through dance.

Sutherland Shire, 28th August 2020, Amy Tasker always wanted to become a school teacher or a dance teacher. She completed a science degree and worked at the Department of Forensic Medicine. Yet somehow, she was always drawn back to the dance studio.

Amy is a finalist in three categories (B2B, Creative, and People’s Choice: Education) in the 2020 AusMumpreneur Awards. She founded Groove Nation in 2012 as a sole trader and now employs up to ten staff. She is also Mum to two little ones.

Amy says: “Groove Nation was established to provide ALL Australian students regardless of their background, ability or location, quality dance programs in their primary school. These programs align with the curriculum, foster diversity, support school teachers, and inspire creativity.”

Amy completed a Bachelor of Teaching (Dist) so that she understood the curriculum and could ensure that her dance programs met the required outcomes.

Amy adds: “I wanted to ensure that our programs aligned with the curriculum and that we could support teachers and schools appropriately. We work with students all over Sydney in mainstream and special needs schools. “

Groove Nation also works with charities to make a difference through the art of dance.

Grove Nation worked with The Nicole Fitzsimons Foundation.

 

Amy says: “Through this partnership and a grant from the St George Foundation, we were able to provide free dance programs for mainstream and special needs students in areas of need across Sydney. We reached 1000 students through this particular grant. One student in particular, who refused to come to school, ended up being an undiscovered talent.

 

We were not aware of the background of this student, however, their natural talent and focus during dance were very apparent to us and we selected this student for a featured role in their year group performance with their peers.This student, who may not have otherwise had opportunity to dance, found acceptance and renewed confidence as a result of the program.  We are now continuing to offer this free program, ’The Help Project’ using grants and profits to fund free programs in areas of need. “

“We have a big goal to continue ’The Help Project’ for schools in need throughout Australia to reach schools in all areas, regardless of location. “

Groove Nation faced challenges this year due to the pandemic. They were ‘locked out’ of schools and had to pivot and take their programs online.

Amy concludes: “We started two new programs when COVID hit Australia. One is our online program, which served over 10,000 students during remote learning. This online program now reaches schools across NSW and we have students dancing in remote locations where they would not usually have access to our programs. We also began applying for grants to allow us to offer this program for free to schools in areas of need (e.g., drought-affected, bushfire affected, families with financial hardship, etc.”

“We are also hopeful that restrictions will ease slightly to allow our first ever ‘Combined Schools Concerts’ to come to life (even if this means with a virtual audience and live streaming direct from schools). These concerts so far have entries from 32 different school performance groups and we are excited about the range of possibilities that technology can provide to still allow these concerts to take place, even though it won’t be in the traditional way!"

-ENDS-

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Media Contact:

Candice Meisels

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0481 369 484