ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS
“I started dancing at DFA from the age of 10 and then went on to the Professional Dance Course! Since graduating in 2015 I have not stopped working in the industry.
Dance For All really helped me and gave me the confidence I needed.
Tracy, Sam and Irene really were the most kind and down to earth teachers who helped shape me into the dancer that I am today.”
“I have worked all over Europe on ships, Showballets, as a showgirl over Italy, danced in various dinner shows such as in Roberto Cavali Milano, been the Dance Captain and helped choreograph at Stella Island Luxury Resort - one of the top resorts in Greece.
I’m currently managing my own show touring around Crete that I created myself from music to costume design and choreography.
Thank you DFA for everything!
Katie Jayne Morris
“I felt Dance For All was a really well-rounded dance education as we learned so many different styles and we were able to take exams, perform on stage and we also learned about the industry too. Dance For All gave me the tools to start my own successful dance school and pass on my knowledge to future dancers!”
Sophy Dowie graduated in 2018. Since gradutating Sophy has spent time in Melbourne where she completed further training at The Space Dance and Arts Centre. She has appeared in various commerical and theatre performances as well as continuing her teaching work. Sophy has since opened her own Dance school, Empire Dance Scotland where she teaches a range of dance styles. Sophy is a registered teacher with the ISTD (Diploma in Dance Education Tap & Modern) as well as being a qualified Acrotrix teacher.
“I loved my time at DFA, it prepared me both physical and mentally for the professional industry. I had zero technical training before starting, but I had a lot of passion. DFA made a safe space for me to explore and learn from people in the industry. All whilst in the comfort of Scotland!”
Jenna Rivett graduated in 2017. Since leaving DFA, Jenna has been a Dance Captain for TUI MAGIC LIFE, working in Turkey, Greece and Spain. She has also successfully completed many corporate gigs, music videos and teaching engagements across the UK.
“The course offers such a huge variety of styles and the amazing teachers help you to excel in all of them, bringing out the best in each student. Since DFA I have performed for several companies including the Benidorm palace as a showgirl. I also went on to get my Bachelors degree in Dance and my Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies with the Royal Academy of Dance where I am now an associate.
DFA was crucial in preparing me for these experiences and I would highly recommend to anyone considering professional training.”
Sarah-Jane Brand studied at DFA between 2014 and 2017. Since graduating, Sarah-Jane performed at the Benidorm Palace and has more recently become a qualified and registered RAD ballet teacher.
“Dance For All prepared me for the real world. I enjoyed how much I was pushed by all the teachers and how much was fitted into the years I was there. I also sat my teacher qualifications for DDE Modern and Tap, so this has helped for when I want to teach in the future.
The most important thing to know about Dance For All is that it will bring the best out in you. It’s amazing how many different genres are covered and also for the opportunity to sit teaching exams.”
Natalie Smith graduated from DFA in 2015. Following multiple auditions across the UK, Natalie was offered positions by several cruise lines performance companies. After much deliberation, Natalie chose Disney Cruise Lines and after performing with them as a mainstage dancer, she went on to dance lead roles in Tokyo Disneyland and perform with Oceania Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Qdos Entertainment.
“Training at Dance For All was an incredible experience. It quite literally changed my life! It provided me with the crucial training I needed! I struggled with many styles of dance as I basically began from scratch. But the hard work and the exceptionally amazing staff’s dedication, patience and determination helped me majorly! It was fantastic to attend Dance School in the heart of Edinburgh and I made some true friends for life.”
Robert Wilson graduated in 2014. He has since worked on many different projects including Bollywood films; music videos; Mary Poppins popup events; and performances with the commercial flash mob troupe, Club Mob. He has performed on Cunard and Princess Cruises and at Warner Bros. World, Abu Dhabi.
“Training at Dance For All was a fantastic years for me. All of the teaching staff really pushed me to reach my full potential and constantly reminded me that the more you put into your training, the more you get out – which is probably the most valuable lesson I learned in my time there.
I feel so lucky to have been given such a versatile training because it has given me so much confidence going into the working world knowing that no new style is going to phase me. Also, being able to study DDI/DDE teaching qualifications alongside performing is great because it widens your employment and career opportunities.
The intimate environment of Dance For All means you get so much one-to-one tuition within classes and establish great relationships with all of your teachers and classmates. I am so grateful for the great training I received and I know it will continue to stand me in good stead for the rest of my dance career.”
Claire Grieve, graduated in 2013. Like many of her fellow graduates, Claire made it through tough UK auditions to win a contract at a five-star luxury hotel in the Caribbean. She has since performed non-stop as a dancer, aerialist, acro and trapeze artist in the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Italy, and on Costa Cruises.
Rachael Bell landed her first job even before graduating in 2013. She performed for six months in Bollywood movies and tv shows in India (and acround the world depending on filming locations!). She then spent 10 months in Cyprus singing and dancing for the Louis Phaethon hotel. She next worked for TUI Magic Life as dancer/fitness instructor and completed 7 months in Crete. Then followed a 2-month contract in Lapland in -40 degrees performing an elf show and spending her days with Santa.
Rachael then moved to England for a contract at Alton Towers as a show presenter and dancer during Scarefest. She was again offered a singer/dancer role for TUI in Ibiza and spent 7 months performing there! After a short month home Rachael successfully auditioned for Disneyland Paris and performed in shows and parades as various featured characters such as Cruella de Ville, as well as herself.
“I will never forget my 2 years at Dance For All! You are constantly being pushed every day by every single teacher to be the best dancer you can be which always made me inspired, excited and motivated for each day!
The knowledge the tutors have is HUGE so I was constantly learning. I am most grateful for the amount of ballet classes I received each week as my technique improved immensely and I realised that ballet is the foundation of every dance style.
Being able to sit my DDE Modern exam during my time at DFA was an added bonus.”
Amy Smith graduated in 2021.
“Dance For All was the best years of training I could ask for. With such a packed and varied timetable and a relatively small year group compared to the larger colleges down south, I believe my training was unique and provided me with a platform to explore every part of my creative being to be the professional dancer I am today. Thank you Dance For All for the memories I will cherish a lifetime.”
Jane Heggie, graduated 2012. Jane’s first contract was aboard P&O’s Oriana cruise ship, performing in the liner’s 650-seat theatre to audiences with high expectations. At times she says it felt like a paid holiday, travelling from the Mediterranean to the Middle East and the Norwegian fjords to the Caribbean.
Since then, Jane has had a successful dance teaching career and is now the head of the competition team at Edinburgh’s DN Dance and is the principal of DN Dance’s Kirkliston and Winchburgh branches.
“Dance For All has made all my dreams come true with the help of their talented staff and many varied genres in all performance-based styles. They help me achieve many of my goals throughout my years of being there and I now run a very successful performance school with students who now want to go on and become successful dancers/ teachers. If I could, I would do more years again of training as it was definitely the best years of my life! I can’t thank you enough Dance For All, I’m so grateful. ”
Sarah Huguet, graduated 2011. Sarah realised her dream soon after graduating, and opened her own performing arts academy, HB Arts, teaching adults and children throughout East Lothian.
“For me, DFA was unique in that it provided diverse, comprehensive, and differentiated training. While I was there we got the chance to work with renowned contemporary teachers & choreographers, many of whom I have since encountered and gone on to work with.
We had relatively small class sizes, allowing much more focus and input from all of our teachers. We were also given many opportunities to perform, and this all contributed to our experience. I don’t know of any other dance school which gives such a solid foundation in ballet, while also allowing students to explore contemporary, commercial, and musical theatre skills, as well as teaching qualifications.
DFA gave me the skills, opportunities, and rigorous training which has set me up for a long and successful career within the dance industry.”
Emma Louis Smith, graduated 2010. She’s been a Dance Support Officer for SkyeDance, has collaborated with the National Galleries of Scotland and Atlas:Arts, won a BBC fellowship with YDance, completed a First Class BA (Hons) in Dance and studied for her MEd at the RCS where she became a research assistant before landing her dream job with Indepen-Dance. She is currently the Engagements Project co-ordinator at Dance Base, Edinburgh.