OUR TEACHERS
Our highly dedicated and passionate teaching faculty are an asset to the Academy. Our individual strengths and contrasting choreography allows us to provide a varied and inspiring dance education for our students. Our students’ exposure to our different approaches, unique teaching methods and our individual interpretation and creativity allows them to become adaptable and versatile performers.
Becky Farrar
Founder, Head of Wellbeing
Age started Dancing: 3
Subjects Studied: Ballet, Tap, Modern, Theatre-Craft, Musical Theatre, Freestyle & Acro.
Further Training: Phil Winston’s Theatreworks
Qualifications/Experience: IDTA Licentiate Freestyle, IDTA Licentiate Cheerleading, IDTA Licentiate Street Dance, IDTA Associate Modern-Jazz, IDTA Associate Theatre Craft, IDTA Level 4 Ballet. Acrobatic Arts Certification Module 1 & 2. Alixa Flexibility Teacher Training Level 1 & 2. IDTA Anatomy & Physiology Diploma. Emergency First Aid, Safeguarding for Dance Schools Training, Level 3 Child Psychology diploma, Understanding Your Child & Understanding Your Teenager Course, Emotional Resilience in Early Years, Mental Health First Aider. Qualified transformational life coach.
Most Memorable Moments/Achievements: IDTA Scholarship Nomination age 11, Yorkshire Freestyle Championship Winner at 17, Judith Silvester Young Teacher Award Winner 2017.
Favourite Genres: Ballet, Musical Theatre & Jazz
Best Thing about Teaching: How rewarding it is.
Favourite Inspirational Quote: ‘Self-doubt kills more dreams than failure every will.’
Kennedi Gorman
Acting Principal, Head of Early Years
Age started Dancing: 2½
Subjects Studied: Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary, Commercial, Musical Theatre, Drama & Singing.
Further Training: Phil Winston’s Theatreworks
Qualifications/Experience: First Aid, Safeguarding, completed in July 2021 IDTA level 3 & 4 in Modern Contemporary Jazz and Ballet. Acrobatic Arts 1. Currently studying for Level 4 Ballet
Most Memorable Moments/Achievements: Successfully auditioning for English Youth Ballet at 11, performing at Disneyland Paris twice, performing at the Carl Alan Awards and Can You Dance? Super convention in 2019.
Favourite Genres: Lyrical & Jazz
Best Thing about Teaching: Watching children improve lesson after lesson and seeing their faces when they achieve something they have been working on.
Favourite Inspirational Quote: ‘Winners are not people who never fail, but who never quit.’
Gemma Woodrow
Comp Team Co-Ordinator, Head of Further Development
Age started Dancing: 7
Subjects Studied: Ballet (British syllabus - IDTA, ISTD & RAD and Russian syllabus - Cecchetti & Vaganova), Character & National Dance, Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Tap
Further Training: Academy of Northern Ballet (Associate Program), Dorothy Stevens School of Dance (Vocational Junior Program), Degree in Drama & Film
Qualifications: Acrobatic Arts Certification Module 1, IDTA Associate Ballet, IDTA Anatomy & Physiology Diploma, ID-Dance Contemporary Certified, Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) Certified, Emergency First Aid at Work (Paediatric & Sports)
Most Memorable Moments/Achievements: IDTA Scholarship Nominations, Regional Championship medallist (Ballet & Modern) – now known as TDCI championships, All England Dance Finalist, 2 seasons as an Alhambra Pantomime Sunbeam, Featured soloist on Variety Express Tour, Passing IDTA teaching exams (pre-associate 1, 2 and full associate) all with honours after a 5 year break from dancing
Favourite Genres: Ballet, Ballet and more Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical and a bit more Ballet!
Best thing about Teaching: Seeing the lessons and skills children learn beyond dance and performing arts; teamwork, resilience, determination, commitment and the simple act of finding joy in something.
Favourite Inspirational Quote: 'You can have fears and still be fearless.'
Jessica Foster
Academy Leader
Favourite subjects: Modern, Ballet & Contemporary
Best things about being an Academy Leader: Seeing the younger students grow and develop in their confidence
My advice for students I support in class: To never give up and to always believe in themselves
Future aspirations: To be professional dancer in the West End and Broadway
What I am most proud of: Successfully auditioning for professional pantomime and gaining a place on the Renaissance Scholars Training Program
Favourite inspirational quote: When you have a dream you've got to grab it and never let go.
Hannah Devine
Academy Leader
Favourite subjects: Jazz, Modern & Commerical
Best things about being an Academy Leader: Seeing a child get a dance step they couldn't do before and the progress they make
My advice for students I support in class: That if you go wrong when dancing...just carry on! Then when the next bit comes along carry on
Future aspirations: To become a Norland Nanny!
What I am most proud of: The progress I've made with my tap dancing and my confidence
Favourite inspirational quote: 'Don't ruin a good today by thinking about a a bad yesterday. Let it go!'
Miley-Leigh Shackleton
Academy Leader
Favourite subjects: I love them all - but I really love Jazz
Best things about being an Academy Leader: Getting to see the children improve each lesson
My advice for students I support in class: All things are difficult before the become easy
Future aspirations: To travel around the world working as a dancer and to open my own dance school with my best friend.
What I am most proud of: Performing at the Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards
Favourite quote: If it doesn't challenge you it won't change you
Phoebe Tasker
Academy Leader
Favourite subjects: Modern
Best things about being an Academy Leader: Watching children grow as dancers
My advice for students I support in class: To believe in yourself because you can do it
Future aspirations: To become a professional dancer and to be my best self
What I am most proud of: The first time I got medal placed at dance competitions with my solo routine
Favourite quote: 'Practise like you've never won. Perform like you have never lost'
Madison Clayton
Academy Leader
Favourite subjects: Modern & Lyrical
Best things about being an Academy Leader: Watching the students improve
My advice for students I support in class: To never give up
Future aspirations: To travel the world dancing and to have my own dance studio
What I am most proud of: Performing at the Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards
Favourite quote: All things that are difficult become easier
Daisy Hallam
Academy Leader
Favourite subjects: Jazz & Commerical
Best things about being an Academy Leader: Seeing the students grow and find their love for dance
My advice for students I support in class: Work hard and have fun
Future aspirations: I would love to travel the world and meet new people
What I am most proud of: The progress I have made with my dancing and confidence and stage
Favourite quote: I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying
Willow Peasley
Academy Leader
Favourite subjects: Modern Jazz
Best things about being an Academy Leader: Seeing the children improving and developing each week
My advice for students I support in class: Always believe in yourself and be confident
Future aspirations: I would like to go to dance college and become a dance teacher
What I am most proud of: How my confidence has grown during my years at Strive
Favourite quote: I do not try to dance better than anyone else, just better than myself
