To the wider Sunraysia community, Ebony Spencer is the founder and face of Ebz Dance School. To those who know her, she is a wife, daughter, family, friend, teacher, mentor and business owner but more recently and perhaps most significantly Ebony is now a mum. Danielle Wilcock sat down with her to discuss 10 years of Ebz Dance and how motherhood has changed her.
Pictures: Ben Gross
Ebony was born and raised in Mildura, with no desire to leave her hometown, she really has embraced the community with which she lives.
“I’ve always loved my town and never dreamt of or thought that I would ever move away,” she says.
Speaking to Ebony about her childhood it was apparent that dance and more so, the teaching of it was never in her plans.
“I was really sporty as a child. I loved going to the gym, playing sports like basketball and hockey,” she explains.
“I never dreamt I’d be a teacher of dance, I always wanted to be a school teacher of art.”
Ebony further explained how visual and creative arts were always her passion, so much so that she studio arts locally and completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2012.
In light of this Ebony was asked how, despite her sporting background and love of art, did she come to fall into the world of dance.
She explains that it was a friend, some 14 years ago, who invited her to watch a concert put on by Mildura dance school, Club Dance.
Not only did this concert introduce Ebony to dance but it was arguably the beginning of an incredible journey, one that is still very much ongoing.
She describes how she loved watching it so much that she wanted to join in and be a part of it.
“It came really naturally to me,” she says.
After joining Club Dance, Ebony grew in confidence and ability, it was in these first couple of years that her passion for dancing was cemented.
“Why I’m so passionate about dance is because art and dance go so well together,” she says.
“There is a physical element but it is an art form as well.”
Ebony admits creating Ebz Dance wasn’t at all planned and the process was “really quite organic”.
The opportunity arose shortly after commencing university, Ebony was still learning her craft and was only 19 year old.
“Club Dance finished up and there were students who didn’t have a place to dance, there was a bit of a demand there and I thought I would start my own school as a hobby, for fun, while I was studying,” she says.
The first year Ebony commenced with nine students, offering tap and jazz classes on a casual basis and fitting them around her studies.
The second year saw many changes, she explains how “the building we were in got passed onto another dance school and I was left on my own with a high demand of students wanting to continue dancing. I had 45 enrolments that year and rented the Sacred Heart Hall”.
From its formation to present day, Ebz Dance school has matured and flourished year after year and without any concerted effort to advertise.
“It’s been the one thing in my life that I’ve really just played by ear,” she says.
Ebz Dance currently has more than 300 enrolments and the increased demand has warranted the need for additional teachers and expanding class schedules.
She places great emphasis on the importance of her “team” who work alongside her each day, continually planning classes and routines, preparing for shows and co-ordinating behind the scenes.
From her first student teacher Sophie Buffon, to those that have followed, Ebony is certainly not short of praise or gratitude.
The involvement of more teachers has allowed for new dance styles to be introduced, including Hip Hop, led by Misha Harris and Yianna Pannaretos and most recently classical and contemporary dance, led by Jerusha Aman, a native New Yorker who now calls Australia home.
Ebony’s team extends beyond the confines of her dance studio. Her external support system involves her husband and parents who play an active part in all things Ebz Dance.
Ebony joked that her husband, Brent Spencer “pulls the curtains”. Despite the humour attached to her remark, it’s evident that she values her husband and his support. After 12 years together, five of those married and approaching their first year as parents, they are very much a team and have both grown with Ebony’s business.
Likewise, her parents Denise and Dale Clark are actively involved.
She speaks fondly of a time that she and her father built the ChittyChitty BangBang car for a showcase.
“My Mum helps with the choosing of outfits and deciding on the music.
They all see me go through the highs and lows of running my business,” Ebony says.
“Mum especially gets a lot of pleasure seeing the final production and how it’s all come together.”
Speaking with Ebony, you detect her enthusiasm and passion for what she does. It’s evident that she strives to supply a conducive learning environment while providing the best opportunities for her staff and students. Sourcing known talents in the world of dance to facilitate workshops is one example of how dedicated she is to her students development.
Some students have been dancing with Ebony from day one, some have been with her for eight or nine years.
This truly is testimony to the reputation of her dance school, but it’s also a reflection of her commitment, enthusiasm, strong work-ethic and kind nature.
When asked about her introduction to motherhood and how that’s impacted her life over the last 12 months, Ebony simply describes it as “life changing”.
She and her husband welcomed their daughter Willow in November of last year.
For those who attended last year’s showcase, you will have seen her on stage and heavily pregnant.
Despite her impeding due date, Ebony remained entirely committed to her students, once again a reflection of her dedication and appreciation for all involved.
“I never imagined I would become a mum while owning a business,” she says.
“You have to be organised and plan ahead, even if you’re ahead plan to stay ahead. I like to see things completed to the best of my ability. It also helps I’m a hard worker.”
Ebony has successfully nurtured her business over the past decade but now she’s a mum with new priorities, I asked if her perspective has changed.
“I now enjoy the studio more, it’s my outlet,” she says.
“In this way it’s been positive but I also have to compromise being a mum sometimes as my business does not stop.
“I gave birth and my business didn’t stop, invoices still needed to be paid.”
Her attitude to her business has very much filtered through to her role as a mum, to take each day and let things follow their natural course.
Like most working mums, she acknowledges the difficulties of juggling work and motherhood, but Ebony is absolutely representative of the fact that it is perfectly achievable.
