I began ballet lessons with the Kathleen Burdon School of Ballet at the age of 6 years and have progressed through the Royal Academy of Dance examination syllabus. I will be taking the final vocational examination (Advanced Two) in 2013 to complete my dance training.

During my time as a pupil of Kathleen Burdon, I took part in a number of workshops and classes taught by professional and experienced dancers, including Wayne Sleep, and won a place for one masterclass following a successful audition at the North East Scholarship Awards.

Dancing on stage with the School, I have performed the roles of Princess Florina and the Fairy of the Woodland Glade in Sleeping Beauty and most recently as Giselle, after which I was awarded the Gordon Fraser Dance Award by Kathleen Burdon. I also danced the Nutcracker pas de deux with guest performer Wai-Lum Sung as part of a Christmas show with the Marion Lewis School of Dance.

In 2001, I left the School to study for a degree with the University of Northumbria, and returned in 2004 to continue my dance training with Kathleen Burdon. In 2010, I enrolled on a two year course with the Royal Academy of Dance to become a qualified dance teacher. In 2012, I completed and successfully passed the course and was awarded Registered Teacher Status by the Academy, which qualifies me to train and enter pupils for RAD examinations.

I currently teach classes in the Royal Academy of Dance examination syllabus for Kathleen Burdon at her School in South Shields. Details of classes can be found on the School website www.kathleenburdonballet.co.uk. In addition to this, I have developed a range of Ballet Buzz classes to support ballet technique and training and also offer adults and complete beginners the opportunity to experience ballet and the joy of dance!