Dance call for Kyogle
Starting a dance school just five weeks before the onset of a pandemic might have dampened the spirits of some new business owners, but Haylee Holliday took it as a sign that Ascent Dance Studio had to succeed.
“I knew there was a need and a drive from the parents and the community. I didn’t want to leave them hanging,” says the CEO and science teacher as she remembers how lockdown impacted her Kyogle dance classes.
“I tried to reason my way out, but I still felt really called to do it and I knew there was a purpose and passion there.”
It’s that sense of commitment to delivering a high quality, professional service to a regional town that has been her “driving force throughout,” says the Casino resident.
Haylee, 38, has been dancing since she was five years old, but teaching the art wasn’t high on her agenda until she was persuaded to give it a try two decades ago. Fortunately for her many pupils, who range from preschoolers to adults, she kept going, and when Kyogle’s dance school closed in 2019, she stepped into the breach.
It means juggling dance classes around her primary school teaching schedule, working evenings three nights a week to teach and co-ordinate her studio’s ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap and contemporary offerings like acrodance.
“I tried to reason my way out, but I still felt really called to do it and I knew there was a purpose and passion there”
With an eye for integrating tech into her small business – she was using QR codes long before they exploded in popularity – Haylee soon integrated Zoom classes into her offerings, delivering routine and exercise throughout lockdown. The classes gave her students a semblance of normality and stood her in good stead for the reverberations of 2022’s floods, which tore through the region and saw many of her students’ families involved in the clean-up and recovery effort. Maintaining weekly consistency and throwing a bit of fun into the mix has brought her even closer to her dancers, she says.
Watching the community pull together has convinced Haylee that she wants to make Kyogle her home, adding to the sense that “people are so invested in Kyogle. They love it and they want to see it grow.”
The same goes for her work. Haylee buzzes with plans for her business and her Community Performance Class dancers, who learn in a free class she holds for locals, will grace not one but two stages in 2022, performing at the Kyogle Rotary Bazar and the Kyogle Show.
Her next move is to secure a studio space for Ascent, giving it a permanent home, rather than using a local school hall.
She is happy to put more roots down in the region that has always been home, especially inspired by its thriving creative culture.
“I grew up in Murwillumbah and I always wanted to move out. Then I travelled around Australia and realised I lived in the most beautiful part of the country,” she says.
“This area pushes me to do better because I see the high quality and the love of the arts here.”
Share this story
Read more stories
Creativity takes flight
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Honey-Hunt_Jules-Hunt-scaled.jpg 2560 2560 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Honey-Hunt_Jules-Hunt-scaled.jpgHoney Hunt Style
Jules Hunt moved to Byron Bay with her family 15 years ago because she wanted to raise her children with a strong sense of community. It was by chance that this move led to the flourishing of her artistic career – and more recently to her turn as a successful business woman.
Farmers in the fields
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/E0A8334.jpg 2048 1366 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/E0A8334.jpgNorco Primex
Bruce Wright has made his career by bringing together and supporting many of the region’s farmers and primary producers.
effective creatives have all the fun
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/cumulus-vfx-byron-002.jpg 1000 750 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/cumulus-vfx-byron-002.jpgCumulus VFX
They’ve walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge with Hoges. Gone down the garden path with Peter Rabbit. Flown Katie Holmes over…
You can judge a book by its cover
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/CharlieFox-Co_Jess-scaled.jpg 1440 2560 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/CharlieFox-Co_Jess-scaled.jpgCharlie & Fox
When Jess Tunnage’s mother-in-law gave her a sewing machine for Christmas a few years ago, she had no idea how to use it.
lights, camera, action in ballina shire
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Byron-Studios-team-photo-scaled.jpg 2560 1750 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Byron-Studios-team-photo-scaled.jpgByron Studios
Northern Rivers has long been a hub for film makers and a popular backdrop for film and television productions. But there has been one thing missing to tie it all together…
Casino RSM Club
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/RMS-Club.jpeg 1360 906 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/RMS-Club.jpegCasino RSM Club
The 23 of March 2020 was the hardest day of Neale Genge’s career.
local, seasonal, transformative gem hits town
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/jane.jpg 960 639 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/jane.jpgGateway Fine Foods and Catering
Debbie McQueen has three words of advice for anyone starting a business in Kyogle: flexibility, perseverance and patience. They’re three traits Debbie…
Townsend taproom breakthrough brews
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Sanctus-Brewing.jpg 1123 627 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Sanctus-Brewing.jpgSanctus Brewing Co.
When Sanctus Brewing Co. began life in 2019, there was no indication that the brewery would go on to enjoy the immense success it has over the last three years.
In Ventura we trust
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Ventura-Brewing_product-shot.jpg 2500 1667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Ventura-Brewing_product-shot.jpgVentura Brewing
Ventura is a symbol of luck, chance and good fortune – and while Ventura Brewing’s two founders have had a good dose of all three – it’s mostly been a lot of hard work and focus to launch this craft kombucha brewery amid a global pandemic.
carefully crafted business success
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Evans-Head-Cabinetry-001.jpg 2000 1041 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Evans-Head-Cabinetry-001.jpgEvans Head Cabinet Making
“People often say, ‘They don’t build things like they used to’,” says fine furniture and cabinet maker Justin Crisp. “But I can confidently say…”
Three generations of style
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SCARBOROUGHS.jpg 940 627 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SCARBOROUGHS.jpgScarboroughs
Running a small clothing shop in a country town is a fine art. It requires balance, delicacy and an open mind to serve the needs of locals, tourists, the area’s workers and more.
Brothers spirit and legacy lives on
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JNotaris_Donna-scaled.jpg 1920 2560 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JNotaris_Donna-scaled.jpgJ. Notaras & Sons
J. Notaras & Sons owes its existence, strong identity and ongoing success to the dreams of two brothers of Greek ancestry.
A collaborator at heart
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Table-under-a-tree.jpg 940 627 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Table-under-a-tree.jpgTable Under A Tree
Georgina Inwood credits the evolution of her business, Table Under a Tree, to her ability to “take stock while still running at a million miles an hour”.
From trauma to business transformation
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Our-Cow.jpg 1620 1080 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Our-Cow.jpgOur Cow
For Casino-based meat providers Our Cow, the last three years have seen remarkable, game-changing growth.
Delivering top service, come hospital or high water
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/McLeans-Frieght-Service_Leisa.jpg 870 652 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/McLeans-Frieght-Service_Leisa.jpgMcLeans Freight Service
When Leisa Blok’s father, Laurie McLean, began running urgent nighttime blood deliveries from Lismore airport in 1992, he mightn’t have expected the one-man gig to expand into a 50-vehicle courier fleet, delivering across the entire northern NSW region.
planting natural beauty
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/biologi-product-shot-scaled.jpg 2048 2560 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/biologi-product-shot-scaled.jpgBiologi
There was a little bit of the “weird spirit of Byron Bay” in the 2017 creation of the natural skincare range, Biologi, says co-owner Lucy Macdougald of her chance meeting with Ross Macdougald, who is now both her business partner and husband…
A fighting spirit … and great networks
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Five-Sixty.webp 768 1024 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Five-Sixty.webpFive Sixty Farms
Stranded on the roof of his house with his wife and their eight children, Pepe Fassos watched helplessly as his beloved greenhouses smashed and floated away in a tsunami of floodwater.
Feeding Pets with a Passion for Purpose
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Frontier-Pets_Di-scaled.jpg 1947 2560 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Frontier-Pets_Di-scaled.jpgFrontier Pets
Diana Scott was more than a bit annoyed at being unable to find a premium quality food for her dogs that was also ethically produced, so she did what all great entrepreneurs do – she created it.
building a good reputation
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/brett_harley_building_002.jpg 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/brett_harley_building_002.jpgBrett Harley
When the only pub in town burns to the ground, it’s a big responsibility being the one chosen to rebuild it. The success of Uki’s new Mt Warning…
It was time the level the paying field
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Zepto-image-e1669713021167.jpg 1500 562 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Zepto-image-e1669713021167.jpgZepto
What do you do next after more than a decade building up a Byron Bay skydiving business to become a national success and then stepping back after listing it on the Australian Stock Exchange?