Leigh Cairns at Theatre Arts Mackay Dance Excellence takes out Mackay’s Best Coach competition

In the competitive world of dance, a Mackay teacher is adamant about giving all students the chance to perform — and to do it safely.

A Mackay teacher has left traditional and dangerous norms behind, opening the doors to everyone for a chance to dance.

And it is this attitude and aptitude that makes Leigh Cairns voted Mackay’s Best Coach.

Mrs Cairns said years ago, if a child didn’t have the correct structural make up such as a ‘hip turnout’, they were dismissed from the dance world.

But she has left that rhetoric in the past, priding herself on the inclusivity of her dance studio.

“Everyone can have a go, all structures, shapes and sizes” Mrs Cairns said.

“You work with each individuals’ own range and offer them the best tuition to get them where they want to be.”

But she still maintained one strict condition.

“They need to put the hours in,” Mrs Cairns said.

Top row, from left: Demi Reck, Karah Moore, Georgia Coombes, Zarni Boyd, Ella Collins, Alivia Bugeja. Middle row, from left: Sinead Kennedy, Shaylee Noy, Daneika Cairns, Alyssa Hayles, Lainey Wilson, Mackenzie Contor and Madison Tucker. Bottom row, from left: Taylah Hayles, Adelle Bartolo, Madison Contor, Leigh Cairns, Abby Romagnolo, Jessica Rodunz, Ella Tancred and Holly McFaul. Picture: Lillian Watkins

She said like any sport, dance required teamwork and training.

“Students need to work to strengthen their bodies and flexibility,” she said.

“These things are really important to prevent injury.”

Mrs Cairns said her studio enlisted the help of physios to assess the dancers’ bodies to check there was nothing physically wrong that dancing could exacerbate.

“My motto is ‘I want you to walk when you’re 30’,” she said.

“I want my kids to feel the best that they can.”

Theatre Arts Mackay Dance Excellence students Madi Contor had been Mrs Cairns’ student for more than 12 years.

“She’s just amazing, she gets everything done,” Ms Contor said.

“But you can still go to her for personal things, she’s like a second mum.”

Mrs Cairns has inspired some of her students’ careers.

Abby Romagnolo and Alyssa Hayles, who had been dancing under Mrs Cairns’ tutelage for 14 years.

While Ms Romagnolo wants to go on to be a dance teacher just like Mrs Cairns, Ms Hayles has been inspired to take up hair dressing because of her experience in the dance world.

“She treats everyone so fairly, she’s always there for us when we need her,” Ms Hayles said.

Mrs Cairns said she would like to thank her husband, daughter and mother for their continued support.