Amy Greaves: The Real Dance Chat

The Crazy Things I Do That Actually Make My Dance School Work 🤷‍♀️ What if some of the things we’ve always been told are essential to running a successful dance school… actually aren’t? In this episode, I’m sharing some of the things I do at AGSOD that might seem a little crazy from the outside — from choosing not to do competitions , to not correcting every single mistake , accepting that not ev...

“You’re Too Good to Teach Beginners?” Is teaching beginners and little ones somehow beneath you? In this episode of The Real Dance Chat , I’m sharing one of my biggest dance-teacher unpopular opinions: I don’t understand the attitude that teaching advanced dancers is more valuable than teaching beginners. Every advanced dancer was once a beginner. Every confident performer once had their first cla...

A little peek behind the scenes with the AGSOD team! 💜 In this episode, we chat about our team, our experiences, what we love about working together, the highs and challenges of the job, and what makes AGSOD so much more than just a dance school. Because behind every class, every performance and every student is a team of people who care deeply about what they do. ✨ Come and meet the people behi...

Just Chill Out! Sometimes you just need to stop. Take a breath. Switch off. And… just chill out. In this episode, Amy steps away from the usual dance, business and life chats for a bit of a reset. No big lessons, no pressure to be productive, and no trying to have everything figured out — just an honest, chilled-out conversation about slowing down, taking a break and giving yourself permission to...

Back to Class: The September Reset 💜 September is here, and it’s time to get back into the studio! In this episode, we’re talking all things returning to dance after the summer break — from those first-day nerves and getting back into routines, to finding your motivation and remembering why you started dancing in the first place. Whether you’re a dancer, teacher, parent or dance school owner, Sep...

What’s it actually like being married to someone who owns a dance school? In this episode, I’m joined by my husband for a very honest (and probably slightly dangerous 😂) conversation about what it’s like living alongside a dance teacher, business owner and someone who apparently never really switches off . From late-night parent messages and endless WhatsApp notifications to dance-school admin cr...

My Dance Icks & Green Flags 💚🚩 Every dancer has them… those little things in the dance world that make you think “please, just no!” 😂 In this episode of Amy Greaves: The Real Dance Chat , I’m sharing my biggest dance icks and green flags. What makes a dance school feel like somewhere you belong ? What instantly gives you the ick? And what are the green flags that tell you you’re in a genuin...

Episode Title: How It All Started: The Story Behind Amy Greaves School of Dance Every dance school has a story, and this is mine. In this episode, I'm taking you right back to the beginning—how Amy Greaves School of Dance went from a dream and a handful of students to the thriving community it is today. I'll share the highs, the challenges, the moments I questioned everything, and the mi...

 Dance education has come a long way—but is it keeping up with the needs of today's dancers? In this episode, I explore the changes I believe our industry needs to make, from putting wellbeing before perfection and creating more inclusive environments, to preparing dancers with life skills beyond technique. This isn't about criticising the past; it's about starting honest conversati...

Welcome back to The Real Dance Chat ! Today, I'm answering your questions—the ones you've been sending in about dance training, mindset, confidence, teaching, performing, and everything in between. These episodes are always some of my favourites because they're driven by you, our dance community. Let's get into it!

Did Bad Bunny just change the Super Bowl forever? When Bad Bunny took to the Super Bowl halftime stage, he didn't just perform—he made history. As the first solo Latino artist to headline the show with a performance that was almost entirely in Spanish, he brought Puerto Rican culture to one of the biggest stages in the world and sparked conversations far beyond music. In this episode, Amy exp...

If I could sit down with my younger self for just one conversation, what would I say? In this episode, I reflect on the lessons life has taught me. This isn't about changing the past—it's about recognising how every challenge has shaped the person I am today. Whether you're at the beginning of your journey or simply need a reminder to be kinder to yourself, I hope this conversation...

How do you grow a dance school from a single location to 20 venues and 800 students? In this episode of The Real Dance Chat, Amy sits down with Cheryl to discuss the realities of building and scaling a successful dance business. Cheryl shares the lessons she's learned from leading a large team, managing multiple locations, and creating systems that allow a dance school to thrive. We also dive...

Are ballet traditions helping your dancers thrive… or quietly holding them back? In this episode of The Real Dance Chat , I explore some of the long-standing traditions in ballet training and ask the difficult questions. From outdated teaching methods and rigid expectations to the pressure of perfection, are some traditions no longer serving today's dancers? This isn't about dismissing b...

What does it really take to build a successful dance school in today's world? In this episode, I'm joined by Louise, The Dance Business Coach, for an honest conversation about the realities of running a dance business. We dive into leadership, growth, creating a strong studio culture, and balancing passion with profit. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your dance s...

This week on the Real Dance Chat Podcast, I'm joined by our wonderful drama teacher, Rebecca, for an inspiring conversation about her journey in the performing arts industry. We dive into Rebecca's training, how she built her career, and the experiences that shaped her as both a performer and teacher. She shares her approach to teaching, the values and ethos she brings into every class,...

This week on the Real Dance Chat Podcast, I'm joined by Ellis Jay, whose dance journey has come full circle. Starting with us as a Diddy Dancer, Ellis Jay grew up through the school, developed her love of dance, and is now making the exciting transition from student to teacher. We chat about her experiences growing up in the dance school, the lessons she's learned along the way, and what...

In this episode of The Real Dance Chat, Amy sits down with Dakota to talk all things aerial dance and the journey behind creating our exciting aerial programme. From building confidence in the air to the strength, artistry, and trust that aerial work brings, we dive into why this programme is so much more than just tricks and technique. We chat about the vision behind the classes, what dancers can...

In this episode of The Real Dance Chat, I sit down with Philip Joel — dancer, choreographer and casting director — for a real, honest and inspiring conversation about the dance industry. From his journey through the industry to the lessons he’s learned along the way, Philip shares invaluable advice for dancers navigating confidence, growth and longevity in such a competitive world. We also talk ab...

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Becky to talk about her inspiring journey from dance competition star to studio manager . Becky shares how she competed at championship level , developing the dedication, discipline, and performance mindset needed to succeed in the competitive dance world. After her success in competitions, she chose to expand her training by retraining in ballet, ja...

In this episode, we’re joined by the amazing Kate Farmer, sports massage therapist, to talk all about injury prevention for dancers. Kate shares her expert advice on how dancers can look after their bodies, reduce the risk of injury, and build healthy habits that support longevity in dance. From the importance of recovery and strength work to recognising early warning signs, this episode is packed...

Feeling stuck in your dance progress can be frustrating — especially when you’re showing up, working hard, and still feel like you’re not moving forward. In this solo episode of Amy Greaves: The Real Dance Chat , Amy talks through five common reasons dancers feel stuck in their training, from comparison and perfectionism to burnout and overwhelm. This episode is a reminder that progress in dance i...

In this episode, we sit down with Megan Haynes, an experienced performer, dancer, and highly respected educator whose career has spanned both the stage and senior leadership in education. From performing professionally to becoming Head of Department, Head of Performing Arts, and now Director, Megan brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into the world of dance education. We talk to Megan about h...

In this first episode of The Real Dance Chat , I’m debunking some of the biggest myths in the dance industry—from body shape stereotypes to the idea that dance isn’t a “real” job, and the misconception that dancers aren’t intelligent. I share honest insights and real experiences to challenge these outdated beliefs and celebrate what being a dancer truly means today.