How to Recognise Grooming: Protecting Young Dancers Before It's Too Late

Season 5 Ep:07 How do predators gain trust? What are the early warning signs of grooming? And how can parents, teachers and dance studios create safer environments for young people? In this episode of The Dance Real Podcast, Kate Histon speaks with Australian survivor advocate and founder of Grooming Recognition, Louise Edmonds. Drawing on lived experience and years of advocacy, Louise explains how grooming rarely begins with obvious abuse. Instead, it develops through trust, access, isolation, and subtle behavioural patterns that many adults overlook. Together, Kate and Louise explore the unique vulnerabilities that can exist within high-performance dance environments, where authority, mentorship, emotional connection, and close physical interaction are often part of everyday training. This conversation is not intended to create fear. It is designed to build awareness, strengthen protective behaviours, and empower parents, teachers, and studio owners to recognise concerning patterns before harm occurs. Topics discussed include: • What grooming actually looks like. • Why predators often groom adults before children. • The red flags every parent should know. • Boundaries within dance education. • Private lessons and one-on-one coaching. • Why children often struggle to disclose abuse. • Healthy teacher-student relationships. • The importance of intuition and early intervention. • Australia's push for stronger child protection measures. If you work with young dancers or support children in any capacity, this is an important conversation. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who would benefit from the discussion. Content Warning: This episode discusses child sexual abuse, grooming, and child protection. Listener discretion is advised. Louise Edmonds www.groomingrecognition.com 🌐 Website: katehiston.com 📸 Instagram: @Kate\_histon 📸 Instagram: @dance\_real\_podcast 📸 Instagram: @master\_dancer\_mindset   Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.