Last chance to dance as PR Urban Dance plans move to Brisbane
An inclusive dance school designed to ‘cater to everybody’ is set to close its doors in Mackay after the boss made the ‘bittersweet’ decision to relocate. Find out when she drops the final curtain and have your own last dance.
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The owner of an inclusive Mackay dance studio designed to be a comfortable and encouraging space for adults has said she’s relocating.
Originally from Ayr, Paige Ferrando opened PR Urban Dance in Gregory Street in January 2020 but says she has been dancing since she was three.
She started the dance studio to give herself and others a healthy outlet for mental health, but said taking a dance job in Brisbane was a “bittersweet” decision.
“(Dance) is pretty much what I’ve always done,” Ms Ferrando said.
“I just found when I came here it was an outlet for me and I couldn't really find anywhere that catered to adults.
“So I just did it myself.
“I can provide that for people who are, basically, to old for dance schools but still want to have fun, keep fit, and learn some new stuff.
“We cater to everybody and we want everybody to feel comfortable while they’re here.
“It’s a fun way to (exercise) rather than the gym.”
Ms Ferrando said she and many others used dance as a way to help deal with mental illness and life’s stresses.
“It’s always been my outlet,” she said.
“It just helps me to focus on something else and not worry about the day-to-day dramas.
“(When dancing,) you’re not worried about paying your bills in that moment.
“You’re having fun with it and the people around you.
“It’s a healthy way to be distracted from those sorts of things.”
A mother of two young boys, Ms Ferrando said she loved her dance studio but the offer of full-time dance work was too good to pass up.
“Life has changed,” she said.
“We are not going to Brisbane to expand or anything, it’s just what’s happening in my life and I’ll just take (PR Urban Dance) with me.
“It’s a smart move financially with the kids as well.”
PR Urban Dance will officially close its doors on December 14, but Mackay movers and shakers can take advantage of the last few classes in commercial jazz, urban, and hip hop.
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