Spotlight: Vicki Smith, Qualifications Manager

Autumn 2025 marks an incredible milestone for our Qualifications Manager, Vicki, who has now been affiliated with the organisation for an amazing 40 years!! Vicki was a bbodance student from the age of 5, trained as a teacher with the organisation and is going into her 13^th year as a member of staff at Headquarters!

At the age of 5, Vicki started dancing with Gail Marie Johnstone (Turning Point Theatre Arts) then joined Aveine Grey’s school, LAMATA in Morecambe, when she was 8 years old. She worked her way through bbodance Examinations, achieving all grades up to Elementary in Classical Ballet and Tap, and Advanced 2 in Modern. Vicki competed in numerous festivals and competitions, including All England Dance Competition. She also assisted Aveine from the age of 13 when she was unable to train properly due to Osgood-Schlatters disease.

Vicki went to Preston College and St Martin’s College, Lancaster, achieving a degree in Performing Arts (specialising in Dance) and enjoyed a performance career as a dancer, vocalist, compère and choreographer – even dipping her toe into DJing and sound and lights!

Going back to her bbodance roots, Vicki completed her Level 4 and 5 Teaching Qualifications with the organisation, specialising in Theatre Dance. She taught in various contexts: bbodance schools; after school clubs; Further and Higher education; Stagecoach and Italia Conti Associates!

After moving to London in 2013, Vicki started working for the bbodance Teaching Qualifications department and moved to the Exams team in September 2014. She is now our Qualifications Manager and oversees Exam operations for the UK membership, alongside being involved with Teaching Qualifications and Syllabus Development. In her spare time, Vicki continues to perform in and choreograph for amateur dramatics productions in London.

Many of our members have got to know Vicki when arranging exams, applying for TQs, clarifying syllabus content or from being a friendly face at our events. She is an incredible support to members, offering a personal perspective on their circumstances and truly caring that they have the best possible experience with bbodance.

Join us in congratulating Vicki on this wonderful milestone, and from all of us at bbodance HQ – thank you Vicki!