The Team

Joanne is originally from Alnwick, she started dancing at 3 years old at Swansfield ballet school which then became Alnwick Academy of Dance. 

 

Realising that a career in dance was the path she wished to follow, she then went on to complete 3 years of full time professional training at Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre in Liverpool.  At Merseyside, Joanne gained her Associate teaching qualifications with the ISTD in national, tap, modern theatre and ballet as well as the RAD teaching certificate.

 

On graduating from college, Joanne worked at Disneyland Paris for a year in the parades and character department, a magical experience!

 

Her heart was definitely in teaching and on returning to Alnwick Joanne started teaching at the Norma Burton School of Dance in Seaton Delaval, as well as at Alnwick Academy of Dance with Miss Carole Moseley. The Amble branch of the school was born and continues to thrive along with the Rothbury branch.

 

Along the way, Joanne has always been involved with local groups such as  Alnwick Theatre Club, choreographing our dancers from AAD for the annual pantomime held at Alnwick Playhouse. She has worked with most of the schools in  Alnwick, and the surrounding areas on various workshops and projects. She was the dance outreach facilitator for Berwick Maltings. Whilst working at the Maltings, as well as delivering dance workshops to schools and various groups, she performed in two of their professional pantomimes.

She continues to have a close relationship with the Duchess’s High School and has choreographed their annual musical for many years.

 

Joanne holds the fellowship teaching qualification for modern theatre with the ISTD.

 

Along with Emily as Co-Principal of AAD, Joanne looks forward to nurturing our talented students and sharing our love of dance with so many more.

Miss Emily started dancing at AAD from the age of 8 and graduated to train at SLP in Leeds in 1997. After gaining her teaching qualifications in RAD Ballet and ISTD Tap and Modern, she began teaching at SLP Junior School in 2000, before moving to London to continue her teaching career in 2002.  

​

She was lucky enough to teach at several well-established schools in and around London including CDTA near Guildford and NVSDD in Ascot, choreographing shows and entering pupils for exams with the RAD and ISTD. After many years travelling in and around the M25, she took on more work closer to her base in North London. Dance Wright in Barnet became a large part of her work from 2010 and in 2012 she became Co-Principal, as they purchased a new branch in Welwyn Garden City and began to expand the school. In 2014 she joined Muswell Hill Dance Class and went on to become Co- Principal in 2016 as the opportunity to grow and expand the school arose. 

​

During her time in London she also taught dance and movement classes to pre-school children for Bright Horizons at 3 of their North London Nurseries. 

​

After many happy years living and teaching in London, she made the difficult decision to leave London to be closer to family and so in 2019 it was time to return home to Northumberland where she was fortunate enough to rejoin AAD as senior teacher in Alnwick and Rothbury. 

​

Taking AAD onto its next chapter with Joanne is a great honour and we are looking forward to the challenge and hope to inspire the next generation.