Each week we shine the spotlight on a prominent person in Dorset and ask him, or her, for answers to our part fun/part serious questionnaire. This time…

She says being so close to the sea is the best thing about living in Dorset; looks for self-awareness, positivity, sense of humour and a willingness to learn in a new employee, and could eat Thai food “every day of the week for breakfast, lunch and dinner”.

Rachel Atkinson, The People Choreographer, takes the ‘hot seat’ for our popular 20 Questions.

Question: What is your favourite TV show?

Answer: Strictly Come Dancing. It would have to be as I am ‘The People Choreographer’.

Q: Who would you like to share a car with?

A: I always love sharing a car with my daughter Sidney because she lets me do lead vocals when we’re doing our own version of ‘Carpool Karaoke’.

Q: The best bit of my job is…?

A: Working with amazing charities and purposeful organisations that really understand the difference their people can make.

Q: And the worst?

A: Can’t really think of anything, I love my job.

Q: Who was your childhood hero?

A: My dad. He loved people, loved learning from them, had a wicked sense of humour, and taught me more than he realises about the importance of building and growing great relationships.

Q: What’s your favourite smell?

A: Freshly baked bread.

Q: Where’s your favourite place in Dorset?

A: Old Harry Rocks – or anywhere I can sit and look out towards Old Harry Rocks.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone starting out on a career?

A: Focus on how you want to feel, not just what you want to do. Be brave, take chances, ask for help when you need it and don’t waste time on something that doesn’t feel right for you.

Q: What was your first record/CD?

A: ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ by Wham! Loved the 80’s!

Q: What gets you angry?

A: When I spend ages choosing a dessert then someone chooses my second choice and it looks better than what I have chosen!

Q: Do you have a favourite piece of music?

A: It’s difficult to have an absolute favourite, but my sister recently told me that when she hears ‘Unwritten’ by Natasha Bedingfield it reminds her of me……so when I listen to that it makes me very happy.

Q: What are the qualities you look for in a new employee?

A: Self-awareness, positivity, sense of humour and a willingness to learn.

Q: What’s your favourite food or dish?

A: I could eat Thai food every day of the week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Q: Steamed sponge pudding and custard or a plate of melon?

A: Sponge pudding – I’m a pudding person!

Q: Name the best thing about living/working in Dorset?

A: Being so close to the sea. Despite being dragged here kicking and screaming as a moody 16-year-old, I now concede that my parents were not trying to ruin my life by taking me away from my friends, and I still get a thrill every time I see the sea.

Q: If you were Prime Minister for the day what would be the first thing you do?

A: Rip up the education system and start again. We live in a fast-changing world and as the mother of a teenage daughter and supporting organisations to recruit, I don’t feel that the current system gives our young people what they need to survive and thrive.

Q: What’s your biggest frustration?

A: Conformity and tradition – doing things because they’ve always been done a certain way. In the words of John F. Kennedy “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth”.

Q:  Where’s your favourite holiday location?

A: France. To be fair, if I wasn’t eating Thai food I could live off cheese, bread and wine.

Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?

A: Doing what I do now, but hopefully with some support from young entrepreneurs who can tell me where I’m going wrong.  Then they can carry on whilst I just oversee things from a base in France.

Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

A: Making a difference, my inappropriate sense of humour and my awesome dance moves.

• peoplechoreographer.co.uk