112. Dance: It’s Not About Getting It Right - It’s About Getting In The Room - with Vanessa Friscia

How many times have you said, “I’d love to try that…” — and then didn’t?

Yeah… same.

This episode is your nudge (or let’s be honest… your loving push) to stop overthinking it and just get in the room. 

Today, I’m joined by the incredible Vanessa Friscia, founder of V-Hub Dance - and someone who has completely changed the way I think about confidence, fun, and trying new things as an adult.

Because here’s the truth:
Most people love the idea of dancing…
But very few actually do it.

And it’s not because they can’t - it’s because they’re overthinking it.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why adults find it so hard to try something new (even when they want to) 
• Why pushing past the nerves and just showing up is worth it revery time
• Why dance is one of the most powerful tools for confidence, wellbeing, and self-expression 
• The unexpected life lessons that come from being a beginner again 
• Why “getting it wrong” might be exactly what you need 
• How to bring more fun, movement, and risk-taking into your life 

Because the goal isn’t to be perfect.
It’s not even to be good.

It’s to get in the room. 

About Vanessa Friscia

Vanessa Friscia is the founder of V-Hub Dance, a Brisbane-based dance studio dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where people of all backgrounds and experience levels can grow in confidence through movement. Through workshops, mentorship and community programs, Vanessa is passionate about making dance accessible while fostering connection, creativity and self-expression. Her work focuses on building a positive community space where individuals can develop confidence, celebrate individuality and feel a strong sense of belonging.

📲 Follow Vanessa: @vanessatooma and @vhubdance

If this episode gave you the nudge you needed…
Screenshot it, share it, and tag me @candiceharvey__ - I LOVE seeing what lands.

And if you’ve been thinking about trying something new?

This is your sign.

Go have fun… and shake things up🔥

🎧 If this episode made you think, laugh, or question something - send it to someone who needs a little permission to do life differently. 

📲 Screenshot, tag me @candiceharvey__, and let me know what hit home.

Oh and check out my FUN website for all my services: www.candiceharvey.com 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Ha ha ha! It just said recording in progress. This is not going to be funny for any of you, but uh we were not halfway through the episode, but we were a smidge-o through it. Vanessa's currently laughing a little bum off because I'm about to go again. I didn't hit record. It's really good. I was boasting about how I I don't edit Vanessa. There's a really cool thing that I do with the Shake Up Podcast is I don't edit. You still have to hit record, Candace. So welcome to the Shake Up Podcast. I am so excited today. This feels weird when you're saying it again. But for this episode, I truly am. And I also cannot believe that the guest that I have on today actually said yes. It was one of those things where I thought I was just gonna ask her, I was gonna slide into her DMs and she was gonna say, oh, not really my thing, Candace. But she said yes, and I am so glad that she did. Now, if you are a Shake Up Podcast OG, you will know that this year I have really stepped up the pod a notch, right? Like I'm particular about the topics that I actually talk about each week because I want them to be super useful for people working a nine to five. And I'm also super particular about the guests that come on for the exact same reason. I want to make sure that this is not just a podcast to have a podcast, like I think a lot of them are out there. This to me is about giving you real value. And today's guest has quickly become one of my favourite people who every week teaches me something new. She gets me thinking differently, and dare I say it, she shakes me up. I know, I know, she shakes up the shaker upper. Every Monday night, to be exact. I asked for it, and that's what she does. So I wanted to share her with you. You're welcome. Now, when I asked Vanessa to come on, I asked her for her bio. And of course, like uh any good guess, she sent it through to me. Um and I read it, and I uh don't feel that this bio comes even close to capturing who she is. But in fairness, when she sent it through, she also wrote in the email, I hate bios. Yep, so I get it. But this is what it said. Let me um read it out. Frischer. Vanessa Frischer. Am I saying it right, Vanessa? Frisher, yeah. Yes. She's still oh good. There she is. See, she's she's heard all this, we're doing it again. Ha ha! Vanessa Frischer is the founder of VHB at Dance, a Brisbane-based dance studio dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where people of all backgrounds and experience levels can grow in confidence through movement. Through workshops, mentorship, and community programs, Vanessa is passionate about making dance accessible while fostering connection, creativity, and self-expression. Her work focuses on building a positive community space where individuals can develop confidence, celebrate individuality, and feel a strong sense of belonging. That's it. That's what she gave me. It is absolutely all true, but it is also wildly understated. Like I just felt like I wanted to give it a bit more oomph. You know, like a bit more, I wanted to get through your ear holes who Vanessa really is. So she didn't ask me, I didn't ask for permission, but I have just redone her bio a little bit. So here it is. Vanessa has been in the Brisbane dance scene for over 15 years. And she's not just well-rounded, she's the kind of dancer who makes multiple styles look easy, which is slightly annoying, but also extremely impressive. In 2012, she opened her own studio, VHub Dance, and has built it into something pretty incredible. Her classes are packed, not just because people want to learn how to dance by her, but because of the environment she creates. As a business owner myself, when I look at what she's built, it's more than a studio. It's a community like I haven't seen before. It's a place where people show up to express themselves, push themselves, have fun, and actually learn who they are in the process. And if you don't show up to one class one week, people notice. And here's what I love about Vanessa. She gets it. Although she is an incredible dancer, she knows dance isn't easy. She knows it takes guts to walk through the door, especially when you feel like you've got no idea what you're doing. But she also reminds people constantly that dance is meant to be fun, to relax your face, to stop overthinking it, to actually enjoy the process and not just chase the perfect outcome. She's a bit like a dance yoda, you know, she drops these one-liners mid-class that hit a little deeper than expected. You come for the choreography, but you often stay for what comes out of her mouth. Vanessa isn't just a teacher. She's not just a successful business owner, she's not just a wife, a friend, a sister, a daughter, a stepmum. She's honestly an inspiration to so many, which she will absolutely cringe and struggle to hear me say out loud for the second time. But she's someone who, when she speaks, people really listen. And when she dances, you can't take your eyes off her. And with everything she's already built, I know so many people will agree that she is only just getting started. So with that, hello Vanessa. Welcome to the Shug Cup podcast once again. Thanks for having me. How was it listening to it for the uh second time, babe? Was that good?

SPEAKER_01 4:58

Mortifying. I'm so grateful that you wrote that. When you told me that you did that, I think I dropped my phone. It's like she did not. Anyway, I appreciate that. It's so lovely. You're so kind.

SPEAKER_00 5:14

I was like, that was good in my reply. I was like, I've done it again. I've done it, I've done another one for you. And you were like, oh my god. But you were you were less sweenie when I was saying it the second time. You weren't like, you know, as nervous. So, you know, maybe I'll do it for a third time. Just one time for you. No, we're done. We're done. We're good. We're good. We're good. We're good. So I wanted to get you on today, Vanessa, to talk about adults and dancing, which I'm I'm gonna perfect the title because adults and dancing doesn't sound very exciting. But I truly believe that majority of people love to dance, but the majority of people do not dance, especially when we're talking about adults. And as you know, I started coming to the studio last year around June, July. And since then, it is truly one of my favorite parts of the week. It brought up a lot for me. I thought that it was just gonna bring up a little bit of nerves and I'd have to get over myself, but it is, it's a lot. Every single week, something else pops up where I'm like, whoa, I need to work through that a little bit. It's it's a lot. And I don't know if it is for a lot of people, to be honest, which is why I'm excited to talk to you. But it has for me, I find it nerve-wracking every single class, but also I love it. Um, and I also have a lot of friends who say, Oh, I'd love to do what you're doing, I'd love to start dancing, and they don't. So I just think that it's a topic that people will love and maybe it will hopefully shake them up and maybe inspire them to walk through the door, which I'm really excited to talk to you about.

SPEAKER_02 6:37

Yeah, how good. It's terrifying trying something new for the first time. I'm hearing you. Yeah, I'm hearing you, and I'm so proud of you because I know after that first session you would have been like, this is iffed. Like I'm never coming back. That's terrifying. But you did, and you have been.

SPEAKER_00 6:55

But honestly, nearly a year. Yeah, nearly a year. But it was the first, I think it was the first month. Like, I don't know, and I I talk about this a little bit in the book, but I got into my car after every class, Vanessa, and burst into tears. Every class. Like it was, and not like a I hate this, I'm so sad. It there was just so much emotion in my body from it that was coming up, you know. Like I do a lot of things that people classify in quotation mark as brave, right? With the work that I do when I'm running workshops and I'm on big stages and I do a lot of that sort of stuff. It's uncomfortable, but I'm comfortable doing it. When it came to dance though, there is nothing comfortable about that, Vanessa, at all for me. Like it is so, and I don't know, I'm still working through it all. I think every single week I'm sort of working through it. But for the first month, I would get into that car and I would just burst into tears. I'd walk in the door and my husband would be like, How was it? And I would cry. It was just, there was so much. But I was like, I'm going back again Monday. I'm going, and I would keep going back and still, I still find it nerve-wracking. But you gave me really good feedback, oh, it was about a month ago, where you were like, you need to start talking to more people in class. Like you need to, you know, talk to them and and make friends. And I've started doing that a little bit more. And oh my god, it's it's so much easier, but still really, really hard.

SPEAKER_02 8:09

Yeah, it's a game changer because you're coming in, you're standing there, you don't know anyone, the teacher's yelling at you, there's loud music, there's people that you don't like, you don't know the space or the environment. And it takes a while for your body to settle into this space. So talking to someone new or just having that one person that you can kind of side-eye and be like, Are you getting this? I'm not. You know, it makes your body just kind of feel a little bit safer and you can kind of exhale a little bit. Um, but rather than just holding, holding strong and focusing on what you have to do, it's not about what you have to do in a dance class, it's how you want to feel. So taking away like the doing part and focusing on how you want to feel will help you kind of settle and make dance feel a lot calmer in your body, and you'll kind of get out of your head and into your body that way.

SPEAKER_00 9:03

Yeah. And I think that's like what adults but that's hard to do. Yeah, it is. But like you think about adults and kids, right? And I think about this with fun all the time, and it's a topic that I talk about all the time in my work, is that I truly don't believe that adults have nearly as much fun as they should be having. You know, as kids, it's our it's our massive priority, like let's have fun all the time. And then you become adults, and it's like, I'm gonna go, no one goes, I'm gonna go dance to be serious pants or to get it perfect or whatever. Like, we're meant to be going to go and have a good time, and then all of a sudden things start to to shift and we want to get it perfect, and we look at other people beside us, and we're like, shit, how did you not stuff up? Like, I can't balance or whatever, and we start to compare, and it's it becomes so much more complicated than it was for kids. But that's why I wanted to sort of ask you. I know that you started out teaching kids and then you transitioned to teaching adults. What was the difference like? And also, why did you transition to adults?

SPEAKER_02 9:56

Yeah, so teaching kids is great and it's fun, it's hard work, but they come in with no expectation, no life history of you know, just baggage. Like they're just coming in and they're just like, Yeah, let's run around and let's have a good time. And can we dance with Taylor Swift and can I cartwheel? They're not thinking about can I get the routine? Can is there gonna be a camera here to film me? Like, what are my friends gonna think? Like they're just coming in, they just wanna cartwheel. You know, and adults they're coming in and they're not used to being a beginner at something, and we're expected to have everything sorted and we're expected to know everything and we're expected to just get it because we're adults. Right? So I I think adults are just not used to being beginner at something and not used to just being thrown in the deep end and just being not so good at something. And that's fine because that's the process of becoming great at something, just failing epically and enjoying the process of not getting it because that's part of the adventure. And then eventually when you get it, you can celebrate it. But you know, you should celebrate every every part of the journey. But I think you know, the yeah, the biggest difference between kids and adults is kids just literally are coming in and you get what you get, and they're so present in the moment. And then, you know, not all the time, obviously, but generally that's how my experience of teaching kids has been. And then, yeah, teaching adults, you have to make sure that you create a safe space, watch what you say, um, you know, make sure that everyone feels confident and safe to be seen, and oh, there's just so much to even think you know, that's not that has nothing to do with dancing. I'm not just going five, six, seven, eight, one. I'm thinking is the old mate at the back feeling okay, she's looks like she's had a bad day at work, or you know, I'm I'm clocking all of the emotions from their day, and then I have to make sure that I still let them have fun and let go of the day, and then you know, sh shake them up a little bit and be like, just you're here now, just try to be present, forget about what happened today, you know, take a breath. You know, let's just jump around and be silly for an hour. Yeah, but then I I understand it's really hard.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

Yeah, yeah. And I I love whenever you say that all the time, I'm like, oh, it it helps so much. Whenever you sort of go, you know, I get this, this is not easy. You know, I struggled with it's hard when you say that you struggled with it for years and years. I'm like, oh, if Vanessa struggled, I'm stuffed. Like I'm absolutely stuffed. But the different personalities that are in that class, Vanessa, blow my mind. Like, yeah, I I've obviously I'm obsessed with human behavior, so I'm constantly looking around. But the different types of people that dance or you and the and the community that you've built is actually attracting, like that is that's a lot to kind of hold because there are some people who just want to crack on and get on. There are some people who I think just come with their phones getting ready for for social media because that's the that you know what we live in right now, which I find really fascinating, even for you to hold as a teacher. Like people come in with kind of agendas of what they want to be able to do, but then there are people who are right at the back and who are really, really nervous and scared of different things. I love seeing that. Like some people find the very end where you know we've finished the dance choreography and that's really nerve-wracking, or some people find the warm-up really nerve nerve-wracking, but it's it's just so different for you to be able to hold that as well.

SPEAKER_02 13:41

Yeah, it's you never know what you're gonna get, honestly. I usually can gauge during the warm-up what the class is gonna be like, and then I can kind of alter what I do after the warm-up. So the the warm-up gives me a sense of okay, who do I have here and what type of energy are they are they feeling right now? Like are they really hyper? Are they chill? You know, and as this might come across as really a negative thing to say, but it honestly takes one person who's in a bad mood for it to just like filter through the room. So I've got to catch it really early. Yeah. So there's you know, little and the exercises that I do have to go for like a minute. It's not like we have we can spend 10 minutes trying to team build before I teach the choreography. It's gonna be like, alright guys, find a person, say hi, find out their name, find out their favorite color fish. Like something so random to distract them and sh and shift their mindset of whatever's going on in there.

SPEAKER_00 14:45

Yeah, it's it's it's a challenge, but it helps when you do that though, when you honestly do that, I find it's it helps every time. Like it's cheesy, it's weird. I do it in some of my workshops sometimes too. Like turn to the person beside you and give them a high five or whatever. But it it's actually scratching whatever's going on, you know, like where you can see serious pants or you can see someone in their head, or you know, even I think, oh my god, I don't know if I can remember this already or whatever, but it's it's sort of changing it all up. But yeah, I just I find it so interesting that you are holding such different people. But I know even with the work that I do with workshops as well, there is always one in a team where I'm like, you don't like me, you're not happy to be here, you'd rather be poking yourself in an eye than sitting in a Candace Harvey session. Like there's always one, Vanessa, there is always one. And so it is, it's actually about realizing that that's okay and that everyone is gonna learn things differently and take things on differently. But I always sort of show up and I I bet you're the same as well. It's like if I can just impact one person today, like if one person grabs something and I I I change the way that they think about things or themselves or the way that they show up at work, da-da-da, then my job here is is done.

SPEAKER_02 15:53

Yeah, absolutely. And that's what I focus on too.

SPEAKER_01 15:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:58

If I can see one person who had that light bulb moment, then I can walk away a happy person. Um but yeah, the teach the transition between kids and adults was was a big change for me. But I was teaching kids and adults simultaneously anyway. Um V Hub was predominantly yeah, kids' dance studio, but I would freelance teaching adults at the same time. Um and then yeah, I just got given an opportunity and I took on adult classes and ran kids at the same time, and it kind of just V Hub has transformed so many times over the years, and I know it will continue to transform and evolve. And I don't know what it's gonna look like moving forward, but I don't know, just kind of take it as it comes, ride the wave. Yeah, like I'm gonna do this now.

SPEAKER_00 16:49

Yeah, that's that's literally how I got here. Yeah, like especially the way that this day and age is and what's going on in the world, like you just have to be the sort of person that can adapt and change and keep being open-eyed with like what does everyone need? What is everyone looking for? What does everyone want? You know, like I I think even the way that you do things with recording people, like I just think it's it's so clever because that is actually what people are wanting this day and age, you know. So you lean into it, you're like, okay, this is what we're doing, but you also put parameters around that. You're like, this is not just about the phone, this is not about what you're looking like in the mirror, and this is not about just your friend only focusing on you. I love it when you say that as well. Like, you know, when someone's like, record me, and then they're only focusing on the one person because if you're beside that one person, you're like, oh, that doesn't feel really good, you know. Um, but it's kind of keeping up with what people are wanting to.

SPEAKER_02 17:40

Yeah, uh I it really annoyed me watching people just film and just take over the dance floor to film their friends. I was like, what is happening? The etiquette in here has just like gone out the window. So the only way that I could combat that was to take control over it. So yeah, I film every we film every class, every day, every week. Like that is crazy. It's amazing how much to return I have to pay for. But yeah, I do that because I want people to be able to enjoy the class without the fear of a someone else's phone in their face. Um but I still want people to have access to watching themselves because it's such a beautiful reminder of where you're at and to celebrate you because I don't have much footage of when I was younger. And you know, there's some footage flying around on YouTube, but you know, it's I just don't have it. I don't have that memory, and I wish I did. And that's why I do it. Because I want people to have that memory.

SPEAKER_00 18:50

Yeah, and I think people want it for different reasons as well. Like I think, you know, there's oh, I can't remember her name, but I I see she's been there maybe a little bit longer than I have, and she just keeps getting better and better and better and better. Like every week, like she's I know she does a lot more classes than just one, like Candace Harvey does, but she is just getting better and better. But I think for me, when I watch back at it as well, I sometimes I feel every class, I feel shit, Vanessa. Every class. I'm like, I can't do it, I can't get it. I still look like Bambi. Like, why is everyone like looking so sexy and I look like a 90-year-old? Like, I it's terrible. And then sometimes, Vanessa, I look back at the footage and I'm like, hey, you're not that shit. You're not that bad to a point where I'll say to Hubby, I'm like, Wanna see me dancing tonight? Wanna wanna see it? Like you can look at this little tiny bit and then you can't look at the end because then I lose it. I just don't know what I'm doing. But I get it, he can have a look at like three and a half seconds. But it actually proves to myself, like you can't sometimes see how you actually look with dancing, which blows my mind as well.

SPEAKER_02 19:49

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Honestly, whatever you think while you're in the dance studio reflects in your body. So if you think you look like Bambi and a 90-year-old trying to dance in a heel, that's what you're gonna that's how your body is going to perceive it. It's gonna come across in your body, and I'm gonna, I'm gonna see that. That's where I say relax your face.

SPEAKER_00 20:11

Relax your face. It's the best when you say that. Or you said one time, just chill your face, and I was like, oh, that was good. Just chill your face. Like, chill your face. I was like, I know she's not just talking to me, but she also could be. She also could be. Because I look back at it sometimes and I'm like, you don't even look like you're having a good time on the outside, Candace, because I'm so focused on what I'm doing. Where it's like, have fun. And there is, I think it was last week where there's one where we were just practicing and I was smiling, and I was like, there you go, Candace, like freaking smile. So it shows on the outside what's going on on the inside. But it's a lot of things to think about, Vanessa, you know? Smile. Oh, so much not falling over. But I do, I truly do believe with you. Like I know we're saying like chill your face and all that sort of stuff. But some people I do think come for the moves, but I do think a lot of people sticking around because of what comes out of your mouth. I was looking at my phone before we came on live, and I have a section in my notes that literally says Vanessa Isms. Vanessa Isms. Vanessa Isms. So whenever you say stuff, and I just keep writing things that you say, you won't remember, but it was like, oh, it's probably two months in, and you just got to know my name. And I was mortified by this, but I wrote it down here. It actually says You said, I've got I've got it written down. I made a shelf on the weekend, everyone. It was huge, it was bigger than Candace. And I wrote it down. I just thought that was because everyone looked at me and I was like, oh my god, because I already felt humongous in the class with heels. And you're like, I made a shelf on the weekend. It was huge, it was bigger than Candace. I was like, Yep, I'm gonna write that one down. I wanna remember that she said that. Hilarious. Uh, what else? Chill your face, that's in there as well. I've got that. Um, you said about a couple of weeks ago, you said joy is found in the process, not the end result. And that actually changed a lot for me, Vanessa. Like I was like, I focused so much on making sure I've got all the moves for the very end of class. And I was like, stop doing that. Actually just enjoy each little bit. So I've stopped, which I thought was a really good one. I like that one. Do you want me to kick that? It's really fun. We've got strong and wrong in there, which is awesome. And you've got t-shirts. Love strong and wrong. And I've also got the more energy you give me, the more energy I give you, which you say almost every class, which I love. Every class. It is so true. Like it is not up to you when they're doing a dance class to bring the energy. Like it's such a reminder where it's like we have to give her what we want to get out of this as well. Otherwise, she's just staring to it, like staring at a bunch of people who are waiting for the next move. And what's the next move? And that would be hideous. So my Vanessa isms. So we'll keep adding to that list, shall we?

SPEAKER_02 22:56

That is hilarious. Yeah, it's really honestly class is a conversation. If you want to get good at something, then start having a conversation, whether it's using your mannerisms, your face, facial expressions, body language. It's all these things come into play when you're learning to dance. Because dance is all those things in motion.

SPEAKER_00 23:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:21

You know, we're creating we're creating emotion and we're creating stories and we're creating all of these things, and it relies on just being a human. So be a human first in a dance class and you'll be fine. So try not to get really like, oh, I see this, and and people hold their breath and then their jaw clenches and then their traps get very tight, and they're just like, Okay, tell me what to move now. I'm like, move to your left, and people have to think about which one is their left arm because they're not in their body, they're just physically in the space, but they're not in the space, if that makes sense. Yeah, totally. Um and I I get it because you know I try new things sometimes, not often, because I don't have time. But when I do, when I tried a fitness class, I walked in there and they were all screaming and yelling and singing um Barbie Girl really, really loud. And I stood there and I'm like, this is incredibly annoying, firstly. Can you please everyone be quiet? Because I'm like very anxious and very overwhelmed right now, and this is very loud. And then you want me to squat a thousand times, like I can't even move my body right now. Like, you're all so loud. Why are you screaming at each other? Like, I don't want to lunge now. How I had this experience where my body froze and I didn't want to be there, and everyone was having the best time and high-fiving each other. And I was like, this is how people feel at V-hub. I was like, Yeah, this is terrifying. I get it. Like, I I fully get it. Like when I say I understand, I do understand. I you totally get it.

SPEAKER_00 25:00

Yeah, yeah. But it was only a couple of weeks ago we had what Britney Spears was the only music that you were playing, and everyone was losing their shit. Like looking around at everyone, knowing all the words, all the lyrics, like people that class, I do not think were focused on the dance moves at all. It was literally the music. It was the most, I it was so fun. Like even looking around at the dudes and they knew all the words, like this is hilarious. But you're right. You actually described what happens at VHub sometimes, but it truly is the community. I think that everyone does feel, unless I mean, even the brand newbies, like you see them very quickly become part of the group really quickly, you know. So it's it doesn't take long at all. But it's everyone just feels very comfortable to be a little bit nuts, but be themselves, like some of them that are just so incredibly confident, and I don't know what they're like outside. They might be how you are, Vanessa, where they're completely different per people, but when they're in that dance class, oh my god, little sexy kittens, they come out.

SPEAKER_02 26:01

I know, I know. It's wild as a teacher to see your students have a lot more confidence than you and be able to just like just do it. And I don't know, I man, I'm at that phase in my life where I am moving into instructor rather than dancer, and it's scary because I'm seeing my students quickly outgrow me in terms of um how confidently they and willingly they are able to just do the routine and they just go for it. And I I don't feel like I'm there anymore. I'm there to foster it and hold it, but personally I wouldn't I'm not at that stage of like just attacking and go for it, going for it.

SPEAKER_00 26:47

If that makes sense, to that stage, like you get to there, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:53

And then it's up to them to go, where do you want to go to from here?

SPEAKER_01 26:57

Yeah, it's uh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:59

I mean, I I get that in the work that I do as well, Vanessa. Like I think it's quite it's quite normal. Like you can people come to you and they get themselves to the level or the teams get themselves to where they want to be, and then like, okay, now what? I was like, well, I've that that's what I've got. Like that's everything that I've got. If you want to go somewhere else, do something different. Like, please do that. Like, I think outgrowing people is such a compliment. Like some of my clients that I worked with years ago, and I see where they're at now, and they're just, you know, flying high. And I'm like, oh my gosh, like I I was a part of that. I was a small part of getting them to where they were, and then they had to to take it, you know. But I think like even when you think about dance and some of the stories that I've heard that go on at V Hub, you know, where mums have had bubs and then they've decided that they just want to get their bodies back or they want to do something for themselves. Like, I love hearing all those stories as well that bring people to VHub. But especially people listening on the podcast are usually ones who are spending most of their time behind a desk, you know, it's our nine to five workers. What do you think it is about dance that is such a powerful tool for people's well-being and confidence? Like, what is it?

SPEAKER_02 28:02

Honestly, it just gets you out of your head and into your body. I it's it's such a hard thing to explain. And as someone who worked at a desk for a long time, that feeling of I don't know, it used to drain me, like literally three o'clock, and I was like, holy, how do I keep my eyes open? Dance just reignites that little part of you that remains dormant or that's not allowed to be loud or or say what they want to or dress that the way that they want to, you know, it's just like that that little part that you're like, oh I probably shouldn't. Dance awakens that and it allows you to just be this I don't know, this version of yourself that's just joy and I I don't know, it's alright. There are no words to describe it. You have to experience it. It is like a reawakening of the soul, or you know, that inner child just comes out and just plays. And the community at VHub just allows you to do that in whatever way you need to, and however long it needs to, and you don't have to be loud and sing and do all of that though. Like no, you get to still be an introvert in the community and still experience the same you know, joys. You don't have to be an extrovert to experience the Me Hub community. Not everyone is like that, obviously. Yeah, like myself, I am I sit in both. I can sit in both. So yeah, I don't know. I I could honestly, I feel like I'm floating in the clouds right now because that question just makes me just want to sit in silence and reminisce about the feeling of joy.

SPEAKER_00 30:05

Yeah, like watching your face explain it was so beautiful because what went through my head where I was like, she actually doesn't know how to think about a life without dance, you know. As in, like, I think that's where it kind of went. And I was like, that is so beautiful because it is, and you you described it so well. Like it is, even for me, it's about I'm in my head all the time. Like I'm a friggin' performance coach. Like I am constantly thinking about how we can do things and how we can be, and you know, it's it's a lot. And when you come to dance, it's all you are thinking about is dance. Like that's it. You're thinking about moving your body, you're thinking about doing things with your body you haven't before, like it's connecting to the music. Like that, that blew my mind that that was the hardest thing. Like I thought that I had rhythm, but sometimes you're like, can you hear that? And I'm like, nah, I actually can't where? What number are we starting on? Like it's just, I'm like, am I the only one who can't hear the music? Like it's it's so bad. It's when you actually play a song when you're like, do you know it? I'm like, oh thank shit. I actually know this song. If it's a song I don't know, I am stuffed. I'm like, oh no, I'm just gonna have to make this up the whole time and just hope that it goes well. But it is the time of my entire week where I feel like I'm the most present ever because you you just you can't think about my to-do list or my clients or whatever I've got. You're literally just there. And so watching you explain that was like you're it's like you just went into a glitch. You're like, I don't know how to talk about not dancing.

SPEAKER_02 31:33

Yeah, I I literally glitched. That's the perfect way to describe it. No words come out. I seriously, my body feels like it elevates, and I'm just in the clouds. I mean, like, why doesn't anyone just want to do this? I why? How can they not like if you think about the different genres of dancing and then you look at the faces of everyone when they're doing it, like that should be enough to be like this is an untapped thing. Like this dance is healing, dance has the magic to to heal you and to it not only helps your physical body, it helps your your mental state as well. And it I have seen it transform people's lives. Literally transformed people's lives. They have it is it is crazy the transformation that dance has um can you tell me one story of those without saying their name?

SPEAKER_00 32:32

Can you tell me like one that's like where they've come in, I don't know, nervous, unsure, unable to dance? I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 32:40

Yeah, look, there's been a lot, and there's been a lot of really devastating stories that I've hit I've heard, and the one thing is, you know, dance saved my life, Vanessa. And I have lost count as to how many times I've heard that like Vanessa, you saved my life. Vanessa dance has saved my life, Vanessa the V Hub community has saved my life. That is huge, and I honestly don't know how to respond. I I don't even say thank you because that's not something you say thank you for. It's like, hey, here's a coffee, thank you. No, they're saying something so big that I just stand there and I just go, uh like I and I just hug them because I don't know how to respond to that because honestly, VHub saved mine as well. And yeah, there's just been transformations, even as little as like um you know in lifestyle choices. So shifting from a really negative lifestyle choice to finding dance and finding the people that dance attracts, and it's completely shifted them into a healthy, stable lifestyle. Um having no community, feeling really isolated, to feeling like they have somewhere to just come and be. And they don't even need to dance, they just come and they just sit. And you know, even when I'm injured or whatever, I still go into the show and I just sit there and I go, I know why people do this now, because this is fun, and I'm not even dancing, I'm just sitting here watching people have fun, and that's making me have fun.

SPEAKER_00 34:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 34:13

Like that there are just so many stories, and even you know, the kids that I used to teach um you know, 15 years ago now, seeing them on contracts dancing around the world, you know, then they were really insecure and they couldn't do it, and they went through all the I can't, I'm not good enough, you know, dances in for me, blah blah blah, to seeing them perform on world stages. Like that is nuts. That is so much there's so much power in committing and to being vulnerable and to work through the uncomfortability of it and to just you know, you gotta walk through the mud, you know, and you might get a little bit dirty, which is fine, but that's part of it. And you know, dance we're in front of a mirror, we're not hiding behind anything, we're not hiding behind a prop. It's just us, and we just have to turn up as whoever we are in that moment and be expected to learn choreography and then remember it and then perform it, and we're challenging our body constantly and our mental state as well. So it's a really big deal, like it's really hard to do, but it's so rewarding because your body just creates these these natural like muscle memory is can't kicks in, and then your nervous system will settle because it's like okay, I know what to expect. So then you feel safe because your body calms down, and then your muscle memory goes, Alright, I got this now. Head, you can be quiet now. Just listen to the song, just have fun. And then your body is smart, like it's smarter than you, you just need to shut up, you know? Just turn off the voice in your head and let everything else do its job. Like you don't wake up and remind yourself, okay, left leg, right arm. You know, you don't remind yourself how to you know, there's things you do every day, and dance will become one of those natural things eventually. Might not be in the first hour, but it didn't take me an hour to learn how to dance. I've done this for 30 years, you know.

SPEAKER_00 36:18

Yeah, and I still fall over, so yeah, yeah, good. I like hearing that. Keep falling over. Thank you. That's really helpful. Yeah, I do.

SPEAKER_01 36:25

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 36:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:26

It's rare, babe, it's rare, but sometimes you wobble, I'm like, oh, there it is! She wobbled. She wobbled. Great. Um, but I think the people who were listening to this though, Vanessa, as well, like they'd be like, you know, you're making it sound so beautiful, and it absolutely is. And you know, it I loved how even when you were talking about all the different transformations, they actually had nothing to do with getting better at dancing. I loved that when you were talking about that. It had nothing to do with that. It was the community, the health, like I was waiting for you to say, like someone walked in like Bambi, and then like a year later, they were like on a stage. You didn't actually say that. So anyway, but I'll I'll just I'll keep giving it a crack.

SPEAKER_02 37:02

But the people who are listening It's something that what? It's like it's the it's the effect of everything else. Dance, yeah, you will get better at dance because of all of these things.

SPEAKER_00 37:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 37:17

Because your body feels safer to perform, to do the thing.

SPEAKER_00 37:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 37:22

But like imagine if you were going into a gym and it was packed, and then a guy was like, okay, lift this 20 kilo dumbbell, like bicep curl it. You're like, I don't, I'm not, I'm not ready. Your body goes into this like you know, freeze. It's it's got to be put in an environment that makes you feel safe to do the thing.

SPEAKER_00 37:41

Totally. So, how do people get into that environment, Vanessa? Like, what would you say to them? So, people are listening to this and they're like, that would be amazing. And I've been wanting to do this for years, like how I was. And it wasn't until I actually met Monique Dolman and then started following her on socials. And I was like, uh, what are you doing with that dancing? Like her dance, she's ridiculous. And she's like, You should go to Vegas. Yeah, he literally said that a couple of years ago. And I was like, I should won't, but I should. And then finally went and let her know that I walked through the door. But it was really, really tricky. What do you say to people, Vanessa, who are wanting to go and give it a go and are just, you know, would rather poo their pants? What do you say to them?

SPEAKER_02 38:26

Oh I don't know. If I could have one sentence, uh I would probably be really, really wealthy right now. If I could get everybody, I haven't found the right I haven't found the right words to say. Honestly, people wait to feel confident, right? They wait to feel ready. But it's too late. Confidence doesn't happen after you do it. Confidence it's one of those things. You can't wait to be ready. Like, what are you waiting what are you waiting for? You haven't tried the thing that you feel ready to do. It's it's it's blows my mind. Like you just have to show up. And even if you're like, I'm not confident, I don't know my left and rights, I feel like Bambi, I have never danced a day in my life, I don't even like music. Like, I don't know. You can there's so many people that come up with so many different things that are like that's okay, you'll be fine. That's literally what I say. You'll be fine. Jump in, toilets are over there, put your bag over there, jump in.

SPEAKER_00 39:28

I actually hear you say that to people. You're like, you'll be fine. Like even if they're like looking nervous, I'm like, you'll be fine because you will, like, dance won't kill you. Dance will not kill you. And I I know even for me, like the the reason that actually got me there is one of my friends, who's also her name is Vanessa, she was getting really sick of me saying, I'm gonna go to dance one day. I'm gonna try dancing. I used to dance, and she was like, when? Like, literally pick a date. And I was like, what? And so I had to go into my calendar, pick a date. I had to tell her the date she put it in her calendar, and then it was like that Monday, and I was like, I have no excuses anymore. I just have to get my cute bum to dance. And I did, and that was it. Like it's sometimes it is that accountability piece and saying it out loud and not just keeping it to yourself, but like you said, like it's just doing this for yourself. And if you hate it, great, at least you've given it a crack, but God, you've got to give it to it a chance.

SPEAKER_02 40:19

You just honestly have to book the class and walk through the door. Yeah, you don't have to do anything else. We've got you from the moment that you walk in, we've got you. And wherever else you want to go and take class, just book it in and turn up. Don't even think about it. Just be like, right, I'm gonna get up or I'm gonna finish work, got my clothes packed, I'm gonna park my car here and I'm gonna walk to the destination. Just go through the motions, don't think about what about this, or what about try not to think about the future, just book it in and turn up. It's just like last night at midnight, couldn't sleep, don't know why. And I was like, I really want a facial massage. Like, I want to really fail. I have been procrastinating, I've been wanting this for like a year now. Okay, although not really a year, ever since I fell up the stairs and broke my nose, right? So, yes, I fall often. Um and I just booked it. I booked it, I pay for it, and I'm going on Thursday. I've been talking about this for so long that you know, I just did it. And that's the thing. It's like stop talking about it so often. Stop telling everyone you want to do it and just do it. There's no there's no magic potion. I wish there was, I wish there was something I could say to you to be like this is gonna be a lot easier. But honestly, you just you've just gotta do it. Wear something that makes you feel comfortable.

SPEAKER_00 41:46

Yeah, I do that. I like whatever I feel comfortable in, but also know that you might be nervous. Like it, like you might, you know, it's not like one when I'm not nervous, then I'll go. Like, I honestly think every time I walk in there, like I spot you, I look at you, I smile at you, and then I'm still nervous. Like it's just an aggressive thing. And I sit down and I put my bag in the same fucking spot every time. Like I've just got this little like safety thing. It's weird. And I see myself doing it. I'm like, God, Candace, go and sit somewhere else or say hello to someone not new. But it's for me, I'm like getting myself through that door. I am always really proud of myself, Vanessa. Like always, because it's yeah, it's not something that feels easy breezy for me, regardless of the work that I do. And that's what I say to people all the time. Like, there are things that people want to do in their life that create nerves, that create their heart fluttering and all that sort of stuff. And it's not your body saying abort mission. It is literally your body preparing itself for growth every single time. And so whenever I'm getting nervous about Monday, I'm like, I'm gonna learn something new. Something cute's gonna come out of Vanessa's mouth, or I'm gonna like fall on somebody, or I'm gonna meet someone new and high-five them in that weird fashion. Like something will happen on this Monday, and I will go home and I will say to my husband, I'm still Bambi, like I usually say. But it's I still keep going back and have a really good time, you know. You know, I'm gonna challenge you a little bit. I'm not allowed to say Bambi, am I? I'm not allowed to. Correct.

SPEAKER_02 43:10

She's shaking me up. What's happening? You you you get to sometimes, but it can't be like if you were to describe yourself as like a dancer, as a dancer that you wanted to be, how would you describe it?

SPEAKER_00 43:24

How I want to be.

SPEAKER_02 43:25

How would you describe Candace Harvey as a dancer?

SPEAKER_00 43:30

I want to be like a real confident energetic dancer, is what I would love to be. Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 43:38

Great. So that's the language you get to use. And you can be a really confident energetic bambi.

SPEAKER_00 43:45

But it's just like, you know, just really fit. Well, I say Bambi because obviously I am very tall when I've got those heels on, especially. And I just feel like sometimes when we have to do the moves where we're like, you know. What are you under the bridge? No, and you almost like, don't say under the bridge again, because every time I wobble, you know, and I know that I've got to like hold my legs really tight, and I find it. I just for what it that's what makes me feel like Bambi. I'm like, how are you not getting this, Candace? Like, you've got big legs, like it's that stability thing. And I look at other people and I'm like, oh, under the bridge, look at you, under the bridge. I don't really do that. But they look awesome. And I'm just, yeah, there's just certain things where I just I can't get it, you know? But you're right. I've got to stop saying Bambi. You are absolutely right. Because I I do it as a joke, but also it's probably not helping me, you know, either.

SPEAKER_02 44:34

You you you probably think that you're not Bambi, by the way. I think you're very strong. If anything, you could relax your and chill your face a little bit and then relax your body. Chill your face. Oh, and then the body.

SPEAKER_01 44:45

Yeah, chill your face, chill the body out a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 44:50

I'm a robot. I'm here to learn the move. I am here to have fun. Thank you, Vanessa. Any more Vanessa isms to add to my notes? Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 45:02

Honestly, nah. But honestly, if you guys saw Candace in class, you would be super proud. Because she's you're awesome, dude. Like you're so good. You just need to actually come in with a mindset of okay, today I'm gonna be this.

SPEAKER_00 45:17

Yeah, I like that. But then don't worry about anything else. Yeah, I stopped with the perfectionism because I used to I used to dance a lot in high school, and that was like the first few weeks of I hadn't danced for like 23 years, like properly. And when I was doing the whole crying in my car after dance, and I was saying to my husband, I was like, I thought I was good. I'm just shit. And he's like, babe, firstly, you haven't danced like if in 23 years, and also when you were dancing when you were good, you were doing it every day, like multiple times a day. And I was like, good point. I'm only going on Monday now. Yeah, good point. So I've chilled on that a little bit. But no, I still I still love it. The community that you've you've brought, and I I honestly want more people to dance, which is why I wanted to get you here as well, to be able to encourage people that yes, it's nerve-wracking, but also the good that can come from it definitely outweighs the the heart racing and the dry mouth when you have to walk into the studio, you know.

SPEAKER_02 46:07

Yeah, I get it. It's yuck. It's yuck. But honestly, my door staff, Martina, when you walk in, Martina will greet you. I know she's just like a flower.

SPEAKER_00 46:16

You cannot look at her and not smile, like or touch her. Like I've just like touched her arms a few times. We just she's just gorgeous.

SPEAKER_02 46:24

Yeah, yeah, yeah. She's like that that mama energy when you when you walk in. Like I'm the boss lady stomping around because I'm usually late or lost my iPad charger. And I'm like, oh my god, and I'm like, oh fuck, I need a pee, and I gotta have a teach in a minute. Like, that's me. I'm the like just crazy running around the studio. You know this. Like, I do, I've seen it.

SPEAKER_00 46:45

I have seen it.

SPEAKER_02 46:46

Yes, and Martina's just the one that smiles at everyone, and she's like, She's so cute. And I was like, that's why she's there.

SPEAKER_00 46:53

Yeah, that was smart. That's that's smart hiring right there.

SPEAKER_02 46:58

Yeah, she's just it was like, I didn't even ask her to do it, she just naturally did it one day.

SPEAKER_00 47:03

And I was like, Who are you? Oh, keeper. Can you be my friend? Yes. Never leave. Never leave. But actually, that was gonna be my last question for you today. Was because you do run a, you know, a studio, you run a business, and I I think I asked you this a couple of weeks ago because I was actually fascinated. Like you are human at the end of the day, and you will have days that you feel flat or you have days where you're not well. Like I know that you've had a day where you've come in and you've had a really bad headache, and you still like troop on, like you know, and I I just want to know like what is your secret or what do you do to make sure that you keep, I guess, joy and creativity alive for yourself when you do the work that you do. How do you do that? Um Did you just get distracted by your cat just then? I saw you. Did you just get distracted by it?

SPEAKER_02 47:52

No. Do you know? I just I had a delivery from Kmart yesterday and I just read the box and it says a little box of joy.

SPEAKER_00 48:00

Oh, stop it.

SPEAKER_02 48:02

That's literally what is on the box. I'll take a photo and I'll send it to you after this. And I think what I have created over the last I would say 10 years specifically, is I've built up this I I'm gonna call it a little box of joy because it's staring at me in the face. Of where I know everything's gonna be okay the moment that I say, Hey everyone, SR, welcome to V Hub. Um, this is a absolute beginning of healing class. The moment that I say that, it's like my tension goes, my headache goes away, because I give my body permission to just relax and be like, This you've got this. Like, this is fine. Nothing else matters. The emails that you have to do, the cleaning that you have to do, like, did you clean the shower properly, Vanessa? Have you got dinner? Like, all of that, not everything disappears. And I think that's every day, even though I wake up with migraines, which I get often, I just trust that the moment that I show up to the studio, that that little box of joy is just waiting because the community that I've fostered as well in VHub kind of lifts you up, and then you're in this class together. That's why I say more energy give me more I give you. It's a conversation. So then you know, and then I end up finishing the class, my headache's kind of gone away, I'm feeling way better. I'll go home and have a great sleep. Like instead of staying on the couch and feeling sorry for myself. Like movement is medicine to me, so I'll never not move if I'm feeling unwell. You know, it obviously there's different types of that, yeah. Um, but you know, if I've got a headache or if I'm like generally just pretty fatigued, I know that movement will heal it.

SPEAKER_00 50:00

I actually love that. I love it. My brain just went, I think I just started glitching then because I was thinking about it all the time that, yeah, did you see that? I just glitched. Um done it to each other. That's cute. Yeah. Um, but so many people like they think that whenever their body is tired, aching, and like you said, there's different versions of it, and that's we're not saying that you know it it cures everything. However, so often we think that it is a reason or an excuse or a justification to I'm just gonna relax and do nothing. And nothing good usually comes from that. And so I, you know, the moment that you do, and I've had days like Mondays as well, because Mondays is when I dance, and sometimes Mondays turn into a shit storm and all that sort of stuff. But it's like whatever is going on, I like, and I sometimes I'm it's the lastminute.com and I'm control alt deleting on my laptop and I run out the door so that I can get to the class and I always want to do the early one with you and then go on to the next one. But there are so many days where it'd be so easy to go, I'm actually not gonna go. I'm not gonna do it. You know, it feels too hard. And there has never, ever been a dance class where I have regretted it. Like ever. Even the ones where I walk in the door and I said to Jason, I didn't get it the whole time. Like I did not get it. I was just humbling my way through, and I still am so glad that I went because exactly like what you're saying, movement is medicine. And I love that that gets to be the thing for you, knowing that it is your business, it is your life with dance as well, that it is something that cures you and keeps you happy. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 51:26

Yeah, it's been my driving force for a long time, it's a part of who I am. Um, and that's really hard to separate sometimes, but it really is. It VHUB is an extension of my personality, it's an extension of my inner child just wanting to support and just give everyone a massive cuddle and just know it's gonna be okay. But dance is hard. I'm not saying it's easy, it's a it's uh it's rough because you're so vulnerable, you're so extremely vulnerable that it's uncomfortable and makes you want to vomit. But it just takes a few classes for your body to feel safe and at ease, and then that feeling just turns into joy. It turns into excitement and joy, and you don't really care if you get it or not. It's not about that anyway, right? It's just the joy that you feel when you leave the dance class, like that is the feeling I want everyone to feel, you know? But you gotta go through it, you know, to feel the joy, you gotta go through the uncle.

SPEAKER_00 52:24

You gotta work for it, you know? Yeah, work for it. A little bit.

SPEAKER_02 52:27

A little bit, nothing's free.

SPEAKER_00 52:28

No.

SPEAKER_02 52:29

I mean, there's stuff that's free. Love is free. Joy is free.

SPEAKER_00 52:33

Look at you. Look at you. Love free. Joy is free. Look at us. On that note, I think we're both losing the plot. Thank you so much, Vanessa, for coming onto the Shake Up podcast. I love this chat. I knew I was gonna love talking to you. You are such an incredible human being, and I know that in me saying that again, it makes you squirm, but you need to hear it. What you've created at VHub, and just by showing up, you are. You're changing people's lives, and we love you for it. So thank you, thank you. If this is the first time you have heard Vanessa, oh my god, you're lucky, you're welcome. Go into VHub, follow on socials, follow her. It it actually is joy in a box. Like it's it's the best. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02 53:16

A little box of joy. Thank you so much, Candace. You bloody legend.

SPEAKER_00 53:20

Thanks, babe.