Meet the Teachers: Miss Lucy McDermott

We can't wait to introduce you to our next teacher in the 'Meet the teachers' series of blog posts, the wonderful Miss Lucy.

Lucy has been part of the JOKSOD family since she was 4 years old and is an incredibly important member of the teaching team. She teaches many of our junior school classes in all styles and genres and is also a fabulous support to Joanne O’Kelly. Lucy is also Cecchetti Ballet trained at licentiate level and is a fabulous technician, she has an incredible eye for detail and creative choreography.

Here's more about Lucy....

1. Where and what age did you start dancing?

I started when I was 4 years old at Joanne O’Kelly School of Dance.

2. When did you know you wanted to become a dance teacher?

From a very young age I’ve always wanted to be a dance teacher even more so than becoming a professional dancer! I feel like it's always been part of me, even while I was dancing at JOKSOD I was always so passionate about helping younger students.

3. What’s your favourite style/genre of dance and why?

My favourite style has always been ballet. I think that comes from the feeling I would get when I was dancing ballet and it’s the style that felt most comfortable in my body. I also appreciate the hard work the goes into the pursuit of technical perfection and how the artistry of ballet is so moving and beautiful.

4. What do you love most about teaching?

I think knowing how much dancing and my teachers shaped my life at a young age there is something special about knowing that I may be a small part of that for the future generation of students. I’m so passionate about helping dancers achieve their goals no matter how big or small and helping them be the best they can be.

5. What do you do when you’re not teaching at JOKSOD?

Lately I have been busy renovating my house and on the weekends I love spending time with my closest family and friends.

6. What is your favourite day out?

Good weather, good food, good company and a good live dance performance!

7. Do you have any pets?

Yes I have two Yorkshire terrier dogs named Ernie and Betty.

8. What is your favourite time of year at JOKSOD and why?

Easily concert time, the buzz around the studio is the best and theres nothing more rewarding then seeing a whole years work come together on stage.

9. Do you still take dance classes and where?

I don’t take dance classes anymore but I do pilates every week to keep conditioned for teaching.

10. What are you hopes and dreams for the future as a dance teacher?

There are so many things I could say for this! I want to continuously keep learning and improving my teaching for my students as I believe you can never stop learning and theres always something to improve on no matter how many years you’ve been doing something.  I want to always ensure I create a safe and encouraging place for dancers to learn and grow no matter their ability. The ultimate goal for me would be sitting in the audience for a ballet company or musical theatre performance and watching a past student as a professional dancer.

11. What do you love most about the JOKSOD community?

For me what I love most is that JOKSOD has always felt like a second home to me and I know it has been the same for many other students. Also the special friendships that are made that continue for life not just with the students but the parents and teachers as well.

12. Where do you look for inspiration for choreography?

Mostly from music but also from tv, film, photography and live performance. I’m also inspired by a students strengths which will usually determine the piece of music or the style of the piece I give them.

13. What is your favourite dance you’ve ever choreographed and why?

This is a really hard one to answer for me as I like different dances for different reasons. One that comes to mind that is a current JOKSOD dance is Snoopy, the 8 and under Jazz Troupe. This is because Snoopy was an Idea I had when I was about 16 and was one of the first solos I taught at JOKSOD so it holds a special place in my heart. I think the dancers enjoy dancing it too which helps!

14. What is your favourite theatre show?

I have two, Wicked for the Production Value and Music and Cats for the technical dancing.

15. If you were not a dance teacher what would you be doing instead?

I can’t ever imagine not doing something that has to do with dance. I’ve always loved dance fashion so maybe I’d open my own dance shop.