About Us
Hello, I am Miss Lou Lou the Principal and founder of the Glittery Tapping Wonderland!
Welcome to our fabulous website!
In 2003, I opened our lovely dance school in Parkdale, where I taught in a nearby church hall. Mr. Steve and I decided to open a studio in Mordialloc as my classes increased in popularity. We quickly built two additional studios, one in Glen Huntly (which had relocated from St Kilda) and the other in Northcote. Prior to that, in the mid 1980s, I created Miss Lou Lou’s Tap Dancing Academy in Richmond. When I moved to LA to marry my soon-to-be husband, Steve Kearney, I sold the school.
So I’ve been doing it for more than three decades!
All of my dance schools are based on positivity, imagination, and having a good time when learning to dance. I went to a lot of dance schools and every time I finished a class, I felt useless and hopeless. I just wanted to dance, laugh, and enjoy what I was experiencing, the joy of listening to music, whether I was good or bad. That was never my reality. I was disillusioned after being suffocated by dull music and uninspiring teachers.
So I decided to start my own dancing school so that I could do it my way.
All, regardless of age, height, skill, or impairment, should be able to dance and move to music. All who wants to dance should be welcomed and made to feel absolutely at ease all of the time.
I believe it is critical that each student, young or old, be encouraged to dance to their highest potential… not to the level of the individual dancing next to them, but to dance, aspire, and learn for their own self-worth, trust, and enjoyment.
I’m still very worried about the sexualization of dance and the repercussions for our beautiful little girls and boys. Our children should be able to dance at an age appropriate for them. Seven-year-olds should be able to dance in the manner of a seven-year-old, not a twenty-seven-year-old. There will be plenty of time for that.
When I lived in Los Angeles, I taught at a variety of schools throughout the area. I was asked to teach a tap dancing class to a group of children aged seven to ten. I organised my lesson, set the music, and arrived at the studio to see them dancing in a Jazz class before my own. Blood drained from my entire body and onto the floor as I watched through the viewing window. Writhing on the stage, these little girls were doing body rolls to a Madonna tune… I’d choreographed a tap routine to Pink Panther! In my glittery tap shoes, a ponytail, and flowers in my hair, I clip-clopped into the studio and gulped as I was introduced. I grinned tentatively as I watched the class of pretend twenty-seven-year-olds miraculously turn back into seven-year-olds in their Lycra midriff skintight dance wear. They swarmed around me, fussing over my glittery tap shoes. We laughed and danced. It was lovely; however, I was not invited back…
Back in Melbourne, what matters to me and all of my lovely teachers is that we truly care for our students and want them to do their best in an outfit that covers their tummies. To have a good time while dancing to fun, cute, interesting, and eclectic music, and to develop into relaxed, happy, and confident dancers, young and old.
I’ve included it on our website to help you understand what we’re all about, and I hope that by enrolling in our lovely school, you or your child can benefit from our values.
Please help us spread the word to like-minded people because we think what we’re doing is awesome, and we hope you agree.
Peace, love and glamour,
Miss Lou Lou xx
