LAURA Jane Allis, owner of BreakThrough Dance Company in Ennis, has dedicated her career to providing a space for creative expression through dance, musical theatre, and performing arts.
Since opening her studio in 2007, Laura Jane has built a thriving business that continues to empower students of all ages. Her passion for the arts and resilience have been the driving forces behind the success of the business. Laura Jane’s journey in the world of dance began long before she opened the doors to her first studio. Like many young performers, Laura Jane spent time
auditioning for West End shows in London after completing dance college in 2005. She then decided to take a step back from performing and moved back to Quin to be closer to her mother. It was during this time she was encouraged by a local drama teacher to start running dance classes for the local children in Quin. Soon Laura Jane was travelling around the county to teach dance.
In the years that followed, BreakThrough Dance Company grew steadily, expanding its offerings beyond dance to include musical theatre, singing, and performing arts. The school, now in its 17th year, has become a cornerstone of the Ennis community. “The classes grew, the numbers grew,” Laura Jane recalls. “It all happened quite organically.”
Just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the dance school was at its busiest. Laura Jane had expanded her studio, moving to a larger premises in the Quin Road Business Park to accommodate the growing demand. At the time, she had eight teachers and over 500 students. However, like many businesses, BreakThrough Dance Company was not immune to the impacts of the global pandemic.
“It was a busy, busy place and then Covid hit, and all of that just came crashing down. So I suppose my vision of having all these different classes and teachers, it did work for a while, but then obviously that wasn’t sustainable because of Covid,” said Laura Jane.
When Covid-19 forced the dance school to close, Laura Jane faced an uncertain future.
“At that point, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue. I didn’t know if I had the energy to rebuild.”
The strain of those challenging months led her to take a step back. She enrolled in a Master’s program in Contemporary Dance, using the time to reflect, and reconnect with her passion. It was during this period of reflection that Laura Jane realised just how much she loved her work.
“As much as I nearly walked away from it all, something kept telling me not to make any rash decisions,” she says. “Doing my Masters, I realised I needed the time away but where I wanted to be was back in the studio.”
Since then, BreakThrough has slowly regained momentum. Whilst rebuilding the business, Laura Jane focused on the importance of community and the need to provide a safe, welcoming space for children and families in Ennis.
“I think it’s important for me to provide a creative outlet for the students and kids of Ennis,” she explains. “Dance and performing arts have always been my thing, and I want to give others that same sense of purpose and expression.”
Laura Jane’s students play a crucial role in motivating her every day. “They keep me going. They constantly inspire me,” she says.
“I have a really strong group of dancers. Seeing them perform, especially at events like the one we attended in Dublin, fills me with so much pride.” For Laura Jane, the reward of teaching and working with students extends far beyond the technical skills they acquire.
“It’s not just about dance. It’s about helping them develop confidence, discover who they are, and be comfortable with themselves,” she explains.
Looking to the future, Laura Jane envisions the studio as a hub for creative expression, not just for dance, but for all performing arts. “My goal is to create a space where people can come, rehearse, and prepare for performances, whether for local shows or touring companies,” she says. “I want it to be a center where artists, performers, and creatives can grow, explore, and express themselves without fear of judgment.”
For Laura Jane, the arts have always been a source of personal healing and growth.
“No matter what was going on in my life, as soon as I went to my dance class, I could forget about everything else. It was a space where I could just get lost,” she recalls. “I realise now that without the arts, my life could have been quite different.”
