Hi Lisa! Tell us about yourself?
My name is Lisa and I’m the Events Manager here at ICE. I originally joined the team back in 2017, working behind the scenes on event days. Currently I’m managing all the events whilst Kim is on maternity leave, so that she can spend precious time with her two beautiful sons.
Dance has been a huge part of my life since primary school. I started out learning ballet before joining a freestyle school and progressing through various exams. Eventually, I graduated from the University of Wolverhampton with an Honours Degree in Dance Practice & Performance. This led to me starting my own dance school as well as teaching part-time for Stagecoach.
More recently I’ve become interested in competitive cheer & dance, after getting involved with coaching pom and contemporary teams. Before joining ICE I also used to manage a team of people working in customer service for the disaster recovery sector. I’ve been the Events Manager for ICE since September 2018 and I absolutely love it!
Are you enjoying your new role?
Absolutely, I feel totally at home. I’m a very methodical person and I enjoy organising things, so my new role suits me perfectly. Not only am I doing a job I always dreamed of, I’m also working in an industry that I love. It’s definitely a role where I can apply all my skills.
I’m also the person you speak to when you call the office, so if you have any questions at all just reach out – I am always happy to help. Call the office on 03333350089 or email info@incrediblycoolevents.co.uk if you have any questions.
What were/are you most excited about?
I’m always most excited about seeing all the athletes and dancers bringing their hard work to the floor. It’s wonderful how passionate everyone is, and I really enjoy meeting teams at each ICE event throughout the UK (if you see me, do come and say hello). In between event days, I’m also part of a fantastic behind-the-scenes team, working really hard to make your experience great. The future for Incredibly Cool Events looks very exciting indeed!
What were/are you most nervous about?
Looking back, I was probably most nervous about organising our first ever ICE Ultimate Dance Experience event back in November, which took place in Walsall. There was no reason to be worried – it all went amazingly and everyone seemed to have a great time! As I’m heading into organising the fourth event of the season, I’m no longer feeling nervous. Instead, I’m very excited for what the rest of the season holds.
What makes ICE different this season?
New for this season we have the ICE Ultimate Dance Experience events, which are brand new events just for dance. We offer divisions for teams, novice teams, solos and duos in Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Pom & Acro. We’ve already held two events so far this season, with the third taking place in Bedford on 17th March (the on time deadline is 1st February – don’t miss out!)
We’ve also moved the ICE Championships to Fenton Manor in Stoke-on-Trent this year, which is a super venue for cheer & dance competitions. We’ll be having a sprung floor at this event, and I’m looking forward to crowning our ‘ICE Royalty‘ soloists there too. There will be more surprises on the day, and I can’t wait to see everyone!
What’s your best advice for a coach thinking about entering an ICE event?
I would say ICE are passionate about offering well-organised, friendly and easy-to-follow events. The events are not overbearing; they have a good balance of competition and friendliness. Most of all, we try to keep entry fees as affordable as possible.
Whether it’s your first competition or you’re an ICE regular, we aim to be accessible and approachable. There’s an area at each event just for coaches, where you can take time to relax, network, share ideas, or just grab a hot drink to help get you through the day. Our judging team offer clear and constructive feedback, which we hope you’ll find useful, and if you have any questions about scoresheets you can contact our scoring team for guidance.
There are lots of ways to get in touch with ICE for any help or advice you might need. Feel free to give me a call if you ever just need reassurance that you’re on the right track! I’m really looking forward to seeing you all throughout the rest of the season – please do come up and introduce yourselves, as it’s great to put a face to a name!