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Spotlight Dance Academy
Green lane Trading Estate
Clifton
York
YO30 5PY
T- 07565 961993
E - spotlightdanceyork@live.co.uk
MEET THE TEAM
Click here to find out about our student teacher programme
Mrs Sarah - Principle Dance Teacher, Founder, Co-Owner
DBS
Sarah started dancing at the young age of 3, training at Isobel Dunn School of Dance, studying Ballet, Tap, Freestyle Jazz and Musical theatre. She has remained true to her roots as a York girl and has many years of teaching experience, first starting at the tender age of 13. She assisted with younger ballet and tap classes at her dance school leading to her being asked to choreograph for the youngest class for their annual show at 15, continuing with this each year after.
In 2008 Sarah was asked to choreograph and dance in a group dance for the annual show which was then entered into multiple competitions with great success.
In 2013 Sarah taught at Camp Fernwood, a sleep away camp for girls in Maine, USA. She taught girls age 7 - 16 years, dance, fitness and assisted in the gymnastics classes. Sarah looked after and lived with girls age 7 - 10 years. Part of her duties included organising the dance show and trip, general care of the children, taking the role of the parent for the 6 weeks the girls were at camp. Sarah was asked back in 2014 which she accepted and has been asked back in the following years but has had to decline as SDA grew!
Sarah's stage experience includes, Junior and Senior dancer 2003 - 2010 (New Pantomime Productions), Dancer (Rowntrees Players), Principle Dancer (Crazy For You), The Broadway Dance Centre, Extra work (BBC TV), Choreographer and Dancer
(The King and I), Choreographer and Dancer (Mack and Mabel), Choreographer and Dancer (Seussical), Stage Crew 2007 - 2015 (NEMS), Dressing Team 2008 - 2015 (YLOC), Choreographer (Labyrinth), Choreographer (Narnia)
Teaching Certificates:
International Dance Teachers Association Freestyle Associates (distinction grade)
International Dance Teachers Association Ballet Associates (distinction grade)
British Ballet Organisation level 5 teaching
Acrobatics Arts level 1
BGU Cheerleading and Tumbling Levels 1 and 2
ETM Level 2
Choreography and Conditioning Level 2
Sarah continues to work on her dance exams and widening her experience as a teacher.
"You may be my mum, but Miss Sarah is my inspiration"
(Spotlight Pupil, age 10, said to her mum after the show)
Miss Issy - Red Ballet, Tap and Singing teacher, Co-Owner
DBS, First Aider
Issy is currently studying to become a Primary School Teacher at York St John's University. She has worked as a teaching assistant for 3 years, working with children with various levels of need and communication.
Issy has been dancing since the age of 6, training at Isobel Dunn School of Dance. She began assisting Miss Sarah at age 11, when SDA first opened. She has danced with the Mini Movers in every show and began assisting in Primary Ballet and Junior Tap 5 years ago.
She has become an inspiration to pupils offering them guidance and help in and out of class. Issy has been a cover teacher at SDA for a number of years and is excited to be to be able to continue teaching along with her studies.
Issy's stage and dance experience includes, Junior dancer (New Pantomime Productions), principle dancer (Mack and Mabel), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Ballet Boyz Workshop, West End Workshop wth Twinnie-Lee Moore, director and producer of short film"And They Lived", Future Cheer Competition winner, Intermediate ballet (IDTA), Grade 5 Tap (IDTA), ALevel Dance (Grade A)
Miss Heather - Musical Theatre Drama coach, Mini Movers, Advanced Tap and Adult teacher, Social Media Manager
DBS, First Aider
Heather has been dancing since the age of 3, following in the footsteps of her big sister Sarah. She trained at the Isobel Dunn School of Dance between the ages of 3 and 16, covering Ballet, Tap, Musical Theatre and Freestyle Jazz as well as performing in numerous professional and ameteur shows throughout that time. After gaining a Triple Distinction in her National Diploma in Performing Arts Musical Theatre, she went on to study Television Production at the University of Bradford, where she fell in love with cheerleading and spent 3 years developing the squad to go from dead last to National Champions.
Straight after graduation, she went on to work at the Royal Ballet School, White Lodge, as a pastoral house parent for year 7 and 8, as well as their assistant drama teacher.
After living in Canada for 2 years being a Background Artist in as many TV shows and films as she could, she is back where her heart is in York and at SDA, running around backstage at shows and in class! She also makes hair pieces for all our shows.
Credits include: Junior and Senior dancer 2002 – 2011 (New Pantomime Productions), Principal Dancer (Crazy for You, YLOC), Principal Dancer (Chess, BJMC) Background Artist (UK and Canada based productions), Stage Crew 2007 – 2011 (NEMS), Choreographer, Secretary and Vice President 2011 – 2014 (Bradford Ravens).
Qualifications:
Level 2 Behaviour that Challenges in Children
EMD Level 2 Dance Fitness
HulaFit instructor certified
Acrobatics Arts level 1
BGU Cheerleading and Tumbling Levels 1 and 2
National Diploma in Musical Theatre (DDD)
Television Production, BA Hons
Miss Natasha - Dance Fusion and Musical Theatre Dance
DBS
Natasha began attending dance lessons at the age of 4 training at Isobel Dunn School of Dance (where Miss Sarah and Miss Heather were assistant teachers in her classes) and Lisa Marie School of Dance where she performed in multiple show in the grand opera house. At the age of 16 she moved to Nottingham where she attended the Midlands Academy of dance and drama, gaining a diploma in the performing arts. Throughout this time Natasha trained in Ballet, Tap, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Contemporary, Acting, Improvisation and Street/Commercial. She also performed in a variety of shows including playing Scarlett in the play ‘Girls Like That’, De Rossi in the musical ‘Nine’, and being chosen as one of the actors for an in-house improvisation show ‘Dr Comedy’. Whilst she was at college Natasha worked towards completing her International Dance Teachers Association Freestyle Associates passing with a distinction. She has also performed in The Nottingham Playhouse as a Main Dancer and helped out as Stage Management at the Leicester Square Theatre in London. Since graduating in 2020, Natasha has recently taken an interest in yoga, embarking on a 200hr qualification and teaching her own classes.
Stage Experience: Ensemble 2014 (Our House) Dancer 2015 (Bugsy Malone) Main Dancer 2016 (Oklahoma) Daisy the Pantomime Cow 2016 (Jack and The Beanstalk) Dancer 2017 (Fame) Mille (understudy)/ Ensemble 2018 (Assassins) Scarlett 2018 (Girls Like That) De Rossi 2019 (Nine) Choreographer 2019 (Choreo-Show) Factory Girl 2020 (Made In Dagenham) Actor/Improviser (Dr Comedy)
Qualifications: International Dance Teaching Association Freestyle Associates (Distinction) Musical Theatre Diploma (Distinction) CCTA Accredited Yoga Qualification
Miss Grace - Guest teacher
Grace has enjoyed dancing her whole life. She started ballet and tap lessons at the age of 3.
These continued and when she moved to York from London, where she joined Isobel Dunn's School of Dance, attending classes along with Mrs Sarah, Miss Heather and Miss Issy. Before leaving London, Grace also joined musical theatre classes and was asked to audition for various parts including the role of little Cosette in the West End show 'Les Miserables'. This experience set off a passion for the stage and singing. After moving to York, Grace took private singing lessons and sat exams. She has enjoyed being part of numerous choirs and theatre shows using her years of dance, singing experience and talent to perform and entertain audiences.