ISIS Dance is Northern Lights Business of the Month

UCLan graduate, Carol Menzies' belly dance school, announced Northern Lights Business of the Month

Preston-based Carol Menzies established ISIS Dance, in October 2009, in order to share her passion and love of belly dancing with everybody. No less than a year after starting, Carol was announced Northern Lights’, the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) business support programme, Business of the Month winner.

Isis Dance sets itself apart from other dance schools by being innovative. Carol has taken the traditional form of belly dancing and reinvented it in order to help women tone up their bodies and have more body confidence; she is now launching belly dancing classes for children. Having been inspired by the enthusiasm of the children she taught as part of her first teaching assignment, Carol’s launch of her children’s classes makes ISIS the first dance school in the North West to teach belly dancing to children.

Carol graduated from UCLan in 2000 with a BA (Hons) in English Literature and History and this year with a DipHE in Independent Studies; and contacted UCLan’s Northern Lights programme to get help in setting up her business.

Speaking of the support she has received from Northern Lights, Carol comments, “The workshops that Northern Lights provide are great. Being involved in the programme has been wonderful; I can’t thank the team enough for the wonderful support they have given in helping me launch my business.”

Peter Rawling, Business Incubator Manager at Northern Lights was a judge on the awards panel and said of the winner, "This is a great example of an enterprising business successfully opening up and developing new markets."

When asked what advice she would give to other UCLan graduates, Carol said: “Top of your business plan to do list needs to be – sign up to Northern Lights – your business needs them!”

ISIS dance Jelly Bellies children’s classes take the form of a 6-week course which results in the children receiving a badge and certificate. For 3 to 10 year olds, Jelly Belly is an imaginative session where the children learn the art of belly dancing through fairytales. The class goes on a journey where they come across fairies, mermaids and sea creatures. 

This summer Carol also launched belly dance parties, for ladies birthday parties, hen nights and children’s birthday parties. Younger children are given a taster type lesson similar to the Jelly Bellies classes, while teenage parties involve a more adult belly dance taster style session. ISIS Dance also provides dance demos and talks about belly dance for associations including the Women’s Institute, Brownie guides. 

ISIS dance holds Give-it-a-Go belly dance classes at UCLan’s Foster Sports Centre on Mondays 6.30 to 7.30 pm. Free to SportsUCLan  members, casual user rate for non-members; and also at St Marys Church Hall, Cop Lane Penwortham, on Wednesdays 7.30 to 8.30 - £5 per class, £4 for students.
Jelly Bellys classes 3-10 year old girls are held at Rascals Play Centre, Capitol Centre, Walton le Dale, Preston. Every Wednesday 5 to 5.45 pm from 3rd November.  £5 per class (this is £3.75 normal admission fee to play and just £1.25 for dance class).

If you’d like to find out more information about ISIS visit www.isisdance.webs.com or contact Carol on 07772 189512, or cmenzies@uclan.ac.uk alternatively if you have a business idea and would like to speak to one of the Northern Lights team please contact northernlights@uclan.ac.uk or 01772 895950