Manx Dancer, Teacher and Festival Organiser 'In Awe' at RBV Win
When the name was read out at the ceremony, the reaction was one of genuine surprise. A career spent in studios, school halls, and festival marquees across the Isle of Man doesn't typically lead to formal recognition — but this year's RBV award has changed that.
The recipient, who has spent over two decades teaching dance, organising cultural events, and championing Manx performing arts, described the moment as "completely overwhelming." Speaking to Moghrey Mie the morning after, she said: "I honestly thought they'd got the wrong person. I'm still a bit in awe."
A Life in Dance
Her journey began at the age of four, in a ballet class in Douglas that her mother had to bribe her into attending. "I hated it for about three weeks," she laughs. "Then something clicked. I haven't stopped since."
After training in London, she returned to the Isle of Man — a decision that puzzled some of her contemporaries who headed for careers in the West End or with national companies. "I always knew I'd come back. The island needed what I could offer, and honestly, I needed the island."
Building Something
Over the past 20 years, she has built a dance school that serves over 200 students, from toddlers to adults. But it's her work beyond the studio that earned the award. She was instrumental in establishing the island's annual youth performing arts festival, which now attracts entries from every school on the island.
She also pioneered the integration of Manx cultural elements into contemporary dance — working with Manx language speakers and traditional musicians to create performances that draw on the island's Celtic heritage without being museum pieces.
The Challenges
"The arts on a small island are always fighting for space," she says honestly. "Funding is limited, venues are shared, and there's always a perception that the arts are a nice-to-have rather than essential. But I've seen what dance does for children — confidence, discipline, expression, community. It's not a luxury."
The pandemic hit the performing arts community hard, and recovery has been slow. Several island-based arts organisations have scaled back or closed. But she remains optimistic: "The talent on this island is extraordinary for its size. We just need to keep creating the spaces for it."
The award, she hopes, will shine a light on the broader cultural community rather than just her own contribution. "I'm one person. There are dozens of people doing this kind of work across the island — music teachers, drama directors, art tutors. This is for all of them."
