Page 49 - Port Douglas Magazine 27

SASKIA TURNER hat were you doing in your 20s? For Saskia Turner, the culminating moment
in taking stock of what had been achieved at such a young age came last year
PRINCIPAL Won an empty stage 24 hours before her dance school’s end of year production.
With over 350 students involved, a year of planning choreography, six months of rehearsals
BODIES IN MOTION and two sold out shows, it was the rare moment of silence that took her by surprise.
DANCE SCHOOL “There was no one else around. Everything was set up for the show, and I was doing
odd jobs on the stage,” Saskia remembers. “I looked out to the empty audience and had
goosebumps - almost disbelief - that I had put all
this together.
“The feeling is indescribable. The genuine
excitement from the dancers and enjoyment from
the audience is extraordinary, but it’s everybody’s
hard work that makes this moment amazing. It
makes all the crazy hours worth it.”
Saskia started dancing at Mossman’s Bodies In
Motion Dance School at 14 and passed her dance
teaching certificate with Southern Federation of
Dance at 19, receiving Honours with Distinction,
the highest mark possible, placing her at the top
1% of students tested nationally. After completing
a year at the esteemed Brisbane RAW Dance
Company, an unexpected opportunity came up
to take over the principal position at Bodies In
Motion.
“I always pictured owning BIM, but not at 20
years old. My goal was to experience city life as
a dancer, rather than a teacher. My year at RAW
was amazing, but the audition circuit can be cruel
and I realised it wasn’t where my heart lay. During
my year away, I came back several times to teach
for specific routines or shows, and each time I
returned that connection I had with the students
became stronger. “When eventually given the
proposal, it felt right,” she said.
“In running a business, I learnt along the way - it
certainly wasn’t an overnight thing. I had a few
of the foundations, but mostly I simply had great
support around me. The BIM office manager, Jody
Pitt, who has been there almost since day one and
is an excellent asset. At the end of the day, I know
what my strengths are and what I enjoy doing, and
it’s not sitting behind the desk.
“I think the business growth I’ve had in the last
seven years has an intrinsic link to me actually
teaching, doing what I love; sharing my passion. THE DANCER
Talking to other dance school principals around
the country, I know that there are few teachers who
“The genuine are on the floor as much as I am. My aim is to continually grow the BIM culture, grow the
community and our dance family. I invest time and energy into my older girls who I’ve
excitement from taught and are now themselves teaching,” she said.
the dancers and The future is bright for this extraordinary force with the creation of a new series of
workshops dedicated to dance teachers in regional North Queensland. “Over the years
enjoyment from the as a dancer, teacher and now studio owner in a regional area, I have travelled south many
times to attend dance workshops with industry professionals”, says Saskia. “It’s because
audience is extra, but of the time and money associated with travelling to such events, that I decide to launch
Dance Collective FNQ.
it’s everybody’s hard “The idea is to build inter-school relationships for students and create opportunities for
collaboration, inspiration and learning for teachers, and bring dancers together simply
work that makes this for the love of dance. The first event was in September this year, and now DANCE
COLLECTIVE : FNQ – PART II is currently in the works for mid-January 2019…
moment amazing. “ stay tuned!”
PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 49