Hollie Dunne’s film

Hollie carries an infectious energy for dance, a passion that has fueled the rapid growth of her dance school, HKD, in Heywood. "I just knew I was born to dance," says Hollie, reflecting on a calling that has been with her for as long as she can remember.

She credits her tutor, Jules, at Berry College as a huge inspiration who helped her exceed her own expectations and pushed her toward her dream career. This path led her to the highly competitive Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama (MADD), though the intensity was a shock: "I didn't anticipate how difficult it would be".

Hollie’s future aspirations were met with a devastating "curveball" in her second year when she suffered a career-changing slipped disc during a training session. "I’d planned my whole future, I knew exactly what path I was gonna take," she remembers. "So when this curveball hit I was like, ‘What am I supposed to do now?’". Faced with the reality of her injury, Hollie took the heartbreaking decision to step back from her professional dreams.

Yet, this setback became the catalyst for a new calling as her passion for teaching began to grow. "I started thinking... it happened for a reason," she explains. What started with just eight students has now "spiraled" to nearly 90 children. To keep her classes as affordable as possible for local families, Hollie juggles her dance school with a full-time job, a balancing act fueled by her belief that it is a "privilege" to inspire the next generation

She feels a deep connection to students who remind her of her younger self. "I see in them what I felt when I was dancing," she says, noting that she could never stop now because she has those children looking up to her. Beyond the choreography, Hollie uses dance as a toolkit for life, believing "it makes you who you are". She works to instill discipline and teamwork, but her primary focus is character: "The main thing I say to my children is kindness... that's a major thing that I love to instill"

Supported throughout her journey by her late Nan, her "number one fan". Hollie reflects on the community "I’m grateful for what I have and what I’ve done, I’m proud that I’ve built that myself"

Discover more about Hollie and her work at : 
facebook.com/HollieKatesDance