Is our CEO of DSoD RAD Ballet Teacher RAD Musical Theatre Teacher SQA Principal Teacher CEO of Ballet Box
About Miss Dawn
With over thirty years of experience, Miss Dawn still loves everything dance. Miss Dawn trained with Karen Mitchell & Margot Rennie and then her teacher training at the College of the Royal Academy of Dance Headquarters in London. She has taught & mentored thousands of dancers & many of the RAD teachers, and is now loving being a RAD Approved Tutor for the Assistant Teaching Award. Miss Dawn has also had the privilege to be chosen as the RAD Scottish Ambassador (2020-2023. She firmly believes that although we are training the next generation of dancers, more importantly, we are nurturing and helping to raise amazing humans. She feels so lucky to still love her job after three decades and is excited to see what the future holds.
Miss Nicola
Is our Tap, Jazz & Acrobatic Arts Teacher Social media content creator for DSoD
About Miss Nicola
Miss Nicola Charlesworth began dancing when she was five years old, after watching her Mum tap dance with an adult class in the local dance schools annual show. She was a keen gymnast too. Miss Nicola moved to Scotland in 1993 and this is where her passion for dance really took flight. She completed her RAD teaching certificate in Classical Ballet in 2001, under the guidance of Karen Mitchell and our very own Miss Dawn. She went on to gain her teaching cerificates in Tap and Modern with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance, and was also successful in becoming a qualified teacher with the Acrobatic Arts programme. Miss Nicola adores working with children and helping them achieve their full potential. She would like to thank Miss Dawn for always encouraging and believing in her and is so pleased to be working alongside her, here at DSoD.
Miss Frances
Is our Rambert Grades Contemporary Teacher SQA Senior Teacher
About Miss Frances
Miss Frances Forsyth is a certified Rambert Grades teacher (Creative movers, Level 1 & 2). She is a GTCS registered primary teacher and currently studying for her Masters Degree (Teaching the Arts) at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Frances teaches our Level 1 and Level 2 Contemporary (Rambert Grades) classes. Frances said:Its an absolute joy to teach at DSoD. It is such an inclusive environment. Where every dancer is nurtured and supported, giving their love of dance the freedom to flourish. From the fantastic team, to our beautiful dancers and their fabulous parents and carers, we really are a family. And its a family I just love being part of.
Miss Julia
Is our RAD Vocational Ballet Teacher
About Miss Julia
Miss Julia McMurdo Tate has danced with us at DSoD from the age of 2 and a half. From a young age she knew she wanted to be a dance teacher and was lucky enough to be accepted into the Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies with the Royal Academy of Dance. Miss Julia completed her training, mentored by Miss Dawn, and graduated in 2016. She has taught Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Musical Theatre to all ages at DSoD. After a short break to pursue other endeavours and have her baby, Miss Julia is super excited to be back teaching our RAD Vocational classes and sharing her passion for dance with all our older students.
Miss Ashton
Is our Principle & Jazz Teacher for B/B Content creator for B/B
About Miss Ashton
Miss Ashton Coles is from Irvine and started dancing at the age of 2 with Dancearena Studios in Ayr, under the owner and founder Karen Mitchell. Ashton was trained by two wonderful teachers, Miss Katie for Jazz and Miss Dawn for Ballet, during her time there as a student. Her love for teaching began when she assisted in Miss Katies Baby Ballet and Junior classes on Saturday mornings.Miss Ashton is trained in RAD Ballet and ISTD Modern & Tap - gaining distinctions in all levels from pre-primary through to Advance 2, in all three styles.As a RAD Ballet student, Miss Ashton took part in one of Scotlands RAD Dance Days, where she won the Class Award for Grade 4 Ballet. Miss Ashton also successfully auditioned for the Scottish Ballet Associates programe, as a junior associate, and continued her training with them, until she was a Senior Associate at the age of 15.At 9, Miss Ashton successfully auditioned to take part in various pantomimes at the Gaiety Theatre (Ayr) and the Palace Theatre (Kilmarnock), both as a junior and senior dancer for 6 years. She returned to the Palace Theatre professionally in 2016, as Dance Captain and lead (Belle) understudy, for Beauty and the Beast. And again, the following year for Dick Whittington. Miss Ashton also joined the ALLSTAR Cheer and Dance Academy in 2015, as part of the competitive Jazz team. Over the years, Miss Ashton has competed in various competitions, she won National Champion for the Duo & Trio section at the UK wide Festival4Stars competition under teacher Heather Rennie. She also won the Faces of the Future competition, performing at the Pavillion Theatre (Glasgow). She then performed as a retained dancer at the Pavillion for the next 2 years in many shows. Miss Ashton moved to London to attend the Millennium Performing Arts college, where she studied for three years, full time, graduating with a Diploma in professional Dance & Musical Theatre. After 7 years in London, performing with the Torgan Contemporary Company, (which included shows in Covent Garden, dancer with S-Club 7, teaching at Stagecoach Performing Arts Academy in Windsor), she returned home to Scotland during lockdown. At this time she started to teach again with DSoD.Miss Ashton is currently teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz, MT and Modern at schools across Ayrshire, as well as various workshops. Miss Ashton is honoured to be joining the team at Balletbox! She cant wait to see all of the amazing dancers and share her love and passion for dance with them all. Miss Katie holds a very special place in Ashtons heart and she will continue to make her proud.
Miss Nadine
Is our Musical Theatre Teacher
About Miss Nadine
Miss Nadine has been performing for about 9 years now, and most recently has just finished her BA (hons) in Musical Theatre at the Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film and Television. Prior to this, she completed her HND in Musical Theatre at Glasgow Kelvin College.Miss Nadine spends a lot of her time directing musical shows at the Theatre Royal, Dumfries, and most recently directed School of Rock and Matilda. Nadine is very excited to be teaching the Musical Theatre classes at DSoD.
Miss Cat
Is our Competition Team Teacher / Cover Teacher
About Miss Cat
Miss Cat has been a part of our DSoD family for as long as she can remember. Growing from a student, to an assistant and then to a teacher. As well as teaching the competition team, Miss Cat is a full time student, in her 2nd year, at LMA Liverpool studying a BA in dance.Miss Cat also holds a UA L Level 3 Diploma in performing Arts which she studied for at Carlisle College, as well as the RAD Assistant Teacher Award. Miss Cats most recent achievement is being shortlisted for the RAD Robin Windsor Award. The Robin Windsor Dance award is a nationwide competition, recognising someone who has harnessed the power of dance and movement to help them through challenging times, overcome adversity, or/and improve their mental wellbeing.
Miss Anna
Is our Saturday Primary & Grade 1 Tap & Jazz Teacher
Miss Charlotte
Is our Summer Dance Camp Teacher & cover teacher for both DSoD & B/B
About Miss Charlotte
Miss Charlotte has danced since she was little and has loved coming to classes at DSoD. She is currently attending the Royal Academy of Dance, London, studying a BA Hons in Ballet education. Miss Charlotte is looking forward to coming back to help out with our DSoD family when she is home for the holdiays.
