We recently had the chance to connect with Alice FitzGerald and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alice, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
One of the privileges of my 20 years in dance education has been meeting families from all walks of life. Over the years, I’ve noticed how many mothers quietly struggle with self-acceptance and belonging. I often wish they would only speak kindly about themselves and could remind each other that they’re doing an incredible job as mothers and as women in the world. Part of my mission in starting my business was to cultivate inclusivity, kindness and acceptance in kids, so that as they grow, they can continue to lift one another up remembering that we’re all just doing our best.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, I’m Alice, but many kids in L.A. know me as Miss Alice. Our dance school is based on the West Side of Los Angeles and is built on kindness and support, valuing progress over competition. We provide multiple, age-appropriate dance classes and performance opportunities to dancers 1.5 to 13 years. We instill confidence, teamwork and a love of dance- in all our students. Above all, we want every child who leaps with us to have a fun & positive experience with dance.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My childhood home in Sydney, Australia was filled with music. Both my parents loved music and my father, a Television Producer, even created what’s become the longest running music program on Australian T.V, This early exposure turned my bedroom into a stage and the mirror, my audience. Whether I was the pop star or their backup dancer, the power of music and dance always made me feel good, both in my body and spirit.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
In July 2020, with the world feeling uncertain, I almost moved back to Australia. But instead of leaving right away, my entrepreneurial spirit decided to try something new. That leap of faith became an outdoor dance studio which thrived through covid and created so much joy, fun and community for kids, parents and teachers alike.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
My passion and drive for creating Dance with Miss Alice was to give kids a really positive experience with dance. One of the reasons I left the professional dance world was seeing too many dancers weighed down by outdated ideas that harsh criticism was the key to improvement and that physical appearance mattered more than ability. My years of experience have shown me that success as a dancer comes from consistency and determination over talent or genetics. I wish more dancers realized their uniqueness is an asset.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Dance and music are woven into the very fabric of who I am. Even as an adult, I’ve tried stepping away over the years, but no matter where life takes me, dance always finds its way back to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dancewithmissalice.com
- Instagram: @dancewithmissalice
- Facebook: dancewithmissalice
- Youtube: @MissAliceKidsTV
Image Credits
Katie Nolan, Robbie Ryde
