Please share a short introduction about yourself.
I danced professionally in my early career, but I paused at 21 to pursue other paths. Years later, after having my second child, I felt a strong pullback to dance. Teaching was the perfect way to re-engage with my passion while balancing family life.

I run my own dance school - Tiny Toes Ballet Staffordshire - which is a pre-school children’s dance franchise, a role that fits seamlessly around my own children’s schedules. Over the past seven years, I’ve seen my Tiny Toes school thrive, which has been incredibly rewarding. I always wanted to earn a formal dance teaching qualification, not just for my own growth but to offer my students the highest standard of instruction. Now, I’m thrilled to say I’ve achieved that goal.

What is your dance teaching context? What education sector do you teach in and what dance styles/genres do you teach?
Tiny Toes Ballet specialises is a programme fully integrated with the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum with specialties in teaching young children about the fundaments of dance as well as the world around them, through the medium of ballet. I teach their syllabus to children aged six months to seven years, the set age range for our franchise. As a franchisee, I also have the flexibility to work with schools, nurseries, and even care homes, bringing ballet to a wide variety of settings. My favourite age group is walking up to age 4, as I believe the love of ballet grows widely through our adventure-themed classes from age 7 years it’s a pivotal developmental stage where they’re ready to embrace the technique of dance more fully. Having introduced them to ballet and helped them to nurture a love for dance and creativity, at such a young age, it’s incredibly rewarding to see them develop a lifelong appreciation for dance, preparing them for the next steps in their journey.

 

How did you hear about the bbodance teacher training courses?
I knew I wanted to pursue formal teacher training, so I did some research online. After exploring various options, I was drawn to bbodance for its flexibility and the quality of its shorter, intensive program. The online format was ideal, allowing me to balance my studies with work and family. The course has been such a good fit that I’ve encouraged several colleagues to apply—it’s tailored perfectly for people with busy lives.

 

What was the application process like? Were there any challenges?
The application process was straightforward and highly professional. From the initial application to the interview and final acceptance, each step was well-organised, with plenty of advance notice. This clarity allowed me to plan my schedule effectively and focus on balancing my responsibilities. The online systems were intuitive, and the tutors were always communicative and supportive.
 

How did you feel at the start of the course?
I was excited to begin and committed to making the most of it. The tutors delivered the content with such enthusiasm that it was easy to stay fully engaged throughout each module. I felt both challenged and motivated, which made the learning process truly enjoyable

 

What has been your favourite module and why?
Module 5.4, focused on choreography, was a particularly rewarding challenge. Since my students are younger, I had to adapt choreography principles to suit their needs, which pushed me to grow as a teacher. Teaching a set syllabus doesn’t often involve choreography, so this was a new experience for both me and my students. We discovered innovative ways to make choreography engaging, like telling stories through dance. Module 5.5, which centred on teaching skills, felt more familiar yet still motivated me to push my limits and showcase my strengths.

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Would you recommend our Level 5 course and why?
Absolutely, I would highly recommend it. The course is challenging, but the rewards are well worth the effort. I was thrilled with my grades and found the course to be a valuable pathway to obtain Level 5 teaching qualification. For anyone serious about teaching dance, this certification is invaluable.

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Can you describe some of the main skills you’ve learned from the course?
One of the most impactful lessons was not to limit my teaching methods based on the students’ age. I learned countless ways to adapt complex skills for younger dancers through the Tiny Toes Ballet programme and teaching methods, which has given me confidence and creativity in my teaching. I wish I had learned some of these skills at their age! Techniques like choreography can be presented as fun, game-like activities, yet they nurture the same fundamental abilities as those taught in teen or adult classes. It was inspiring to see my students grasp these new ideas so eagerly, and their understanding of movement has deepened thanks to the approaches I gained through this course. and they can learn in a whole new way because of what I learned on this course.