Born and raised in Lavington, Carly did her first dance class as a toddler aged three and was already a student teacher by 13.

In 2015, a hip hop duo she choreographed narrowly missed out on the top place in the prestigious Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation national titles in Melbourne.

But it was a dream come true when she opened her own school Beatz Dance Studio in Albury early last year and moved into permanent premises with state-of-the-art dance flooring in Smollett Street last month.

Carly said she began with 25 dance students from Albury and Tangambalanga last February and finished the year with 180.

“Originally it started at PCYC and Tangambalanga but then demand kept growing,” she said.

“I’m very grateful to be sharing my passion for dance and calling it my job!

“I offer everything from beginner dance to hip hop, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, break dancing, Burlesque for adults and street Latin.”

Carly said she had long been inspired by the dance film Honey (2003), in which a hip hop choreographer teaches dance classes at a community centre to keep underprivileged kids out of trouble.

She said she now ran classes for students aged 18 months to 65 but in future wanted to offer a safe space once a week for disadvantaged children.

“My goal is to operate on a Friday night for disadvantaged kids who might want to have a groove and to keep them off the streets,” Carly said.

Having been among the dance teachers for Stars of the Border Dance For Cancer 2018, Carly said she had already put her hand up again for this year’s charity fundraiser.

“I lost a brother to cancer so it’s a cause very close to me,” she said.

Mum to Bella, 6, and Calli, 23 months, Carly said her eldest daughter was already a keen dance student at her studio.

She said she planned to introduce a mother’s group movement class, adult rock Burlesque, cheerleading and performance troupes this year.

“We will be the only dance studio in Albury-Wodonga that offers cheerleading, performance troupes and recreational dance classes together,” she said.

Beatz Dance Studio will offer auditions for performance troupes and its Electric Beatz cheerleading squad on January 17 from 4pm to 7.15pm.

Inquiries and registrations from 4pm to 4.30pm.

It will host an open day and enrolment day on January 19 from 10am until 5pm.