The Ted Noffs Foundation has opened a Street University in Katoomba and Beckie Wilson, a dance teacher at Bursill Lane Studio, is also an engagement officer at the Street University.

Beckie was initially based at the Penrith Street University until the new service recently opened on Katoomba Street, funded by the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network. Of her new role, Beckie said, “We get them engaged with fun things to do and then get to know if they would like referrals to services that we can offer or connect them with.”

This initial engagement builds positive relationships with the young people and Beckie has discovered dance to be a key that lets feelings out. “Just recently I’ve had a couple of moments with young people where they’ve started opening up on the dance floor,” she said.

“One young person in particular – I could see that he really wanted to dance, but there was so much in his head. I could see it because I’ve been through it. So I just started doing the smallest movements with him. I noticed he was holding back a bit, so I asked him if there was a reason. And he started talking. We did a bit more movement, and talked a bit more and then he opened up about some deep traumas that he had been through. My job is to contain and refer. I’m not a counsellor, but it can be tricky because dance can be a tool to open things up.”

Working at The Ted Noffs Foundation provides Beckie with an opportunity to pair her desire to help people with her passion for dance.

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Pictured: Beckie Wilson. Photo credit: Belle Butler