Class One Dance Academy

After her first lesson at the age of just five years old, dance and performance became Gillian’s passion in which she very quickly made it her quest to follow a career in dancing.
Through her teen years, Gillian's commitment and drive soon led her to become a competitive dancer, winning many amateur championship titles across the UK and includes the European Championships.
But competing was not enough for Gillian and she set out for her professional career. Performing on stage for over ten years Gillian had a phenomenally successful career as a backing dancer working with many well-known celebrities and artists. Gillian has also worked alongside BBC’s strictly stars Katya Virshilas and Pasha Kovalev in their UK tour.
During her stage career Gillian decided to further her professional experience in the form of teaching, wanting to guide and support like-minded students into the world of dance and performance. Gillian's goal is to provide dance and performance tuition that is enjoyable, fun and builds on children’s confidence. Whether it be a weekly hobby or a chance to obtain a career in dance, Gillian’s aim is to help her students pursue their performance dreams, whatever they may be.
With over 25 years of experience Gillian is a highly qualified dance teacher and fitness coach; achieving the highest teaching qualification level – the International Dance Teachers Fellowship (F.I.D.T.A). This accreditation is within largest dance association in the World, the IDTA who define standards across the widest variety of dance forms.
Gillian is renowned for training many dancers to championship levels who have gone on to win World, European and British Championship Solo titles alongside her hugely popular dance teams who have been the reigning champions European and World Championships for many years.
In 2007 Gillian was awarded the prestigious Le Classique de Danse Award for best professional coach and team trainer. In 2019 Gill also won a prestigious Carl Alan Award for Competitive Coaching. The Carl Alan awards best known as the “Dance Oscars” boasts previous winners such as, The Beatles, Abba, Len Goodman, Diversity, the list goes on. Gillian was honoured to receive both of these awards and considers this as some of her proudest moments through out her career.
Alongside building one of Staffordshire’s most reputable Dance Academy, Gillian is fully DBS certified and has undertaken a Safeguarding accreditation for another role as dance coordinator at Primary and Secondary schools in the Staffordshire area.
Gillian has obtained the highest qualifications and affiliations:
Fellowship IDTA
Fellowship UKA
Faculty of Kindered Arts
Fellowship RnR
Acrobatic Arts
Affiliation ADFP
Affiliation Professional Teachers of Dance
Guild Professional Teachers of Dance
Championship Lecturer and Adjudicator