Keely Colborne and Stacey Catt - PRINCIPALS
Keely has been dancing since the age of 5 years old and Stacey has been dancing since the age of 3. Below are our achievements throughout the years and qualifications we now hold:
Professional Summary
Outgoing and energetic Dance Teachers training dancers to the best of their ability, in either amateur or professional status’, in a varied range of dance styles. Providing knowledge in a fun and sociable atmosphere, with a strong ability to teach via demonstration and interaction and continuing to develop our own dance and teaching styles through annual seminars in professional training and syllabus updates.
CORE QUALIFICATIONS
A-Level Performing Arts - 2004 (Keely)
Zumba and Zin members since 2010
Bokwa Level 1 and 2 since 2011
I.D.T.A Fellowship Freestyle since 2012
I.D.T.A Associate Ballroom since 2014
I.D.T.A Licentiate Street since 2014
I.D.T.A Salsa Diploma since 2015
I.D.T.A Fellowship Latin American: 2021
I.D.T.A Licentiate Ballroom
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
DANCE SCHOOLS
Employed at Albany
Dance Club and Emma’s Academy of Dance and Drama -Aldershot in 2003-2010. (Keely) 2004-2010 (Stacey)
Sainsburys Active Kids Scheme form 2003-2019 across the South East of London. Keely Catt School of Dance opened in 2008 - Aldershot/Alton
Remain Nameless Elite Troupe opened in 2009 - Aldershot
Fusion Dance Academies opened in January 2012 in partnership - expanded to Basingstoke.
Since 2007- present continue to work in:
Infant, Junior, Primary and Secondary Schools supplying PPA and Extra curricular
Additional needs schools and National Autism Society
U3A -University of the 3rd age
ACHIEVEMENTS
2008 - John Dilworth Scholarship nominee for Freestyle Associate. (Keely)
2010 - present - I.D.T.A Street Nationwide - Many various National Champions in team, solo, duos and quads in various age categories (see blog page for more details)
2010 - present - workshops hosted by us with professionals on circuit. Workshops provided for fellow dance schools from different associations.
2013 - present - Freestyle Scholarship nominees annually. Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Finals reached over the years in various age categories (see blog page for more details)
2014 - 2019 - Students accepting places and graduating from Bird, Italia Conti and London Studio Centre.
2014 - Lectured in numerous styles at I.D.T.A. events:
South East Ballroom AGM
Congress
SE area dinner dance
Freestyle seminar
Anglian Area
Nicosia, Cyprus
London Meeting2016 - Shortlisted to top 3 Carl Alan Award nominee. 2018 - nominated again.
2017 - Student scouted for Broadway Dance Centre Scholarship, New York.
2019 - Present - Street Scholarship nominees annually. Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Finals reached over the years in various age categories (see blog page for more details)
Trained and continue to train 12 professionals in numerous styles.
2020 - Shortlisted to top 3 Carl Alan Award for Teachers Award Jointly.
2020 - RN Elite Team performed at IDTA London meeting.
2020 - Two Global Lockdown Festivals with IDTA, Champions in 13-16 years and adult category.
2022 - Performed in Times Square New York and Minskoff Theatre, home of The Lion King.
2023 - Performed at IDTA South East Area Dinner Dance.
Samantha Smith - MANAGER
I started dancing when I was 7 years old at an Irish Dancing School in Aldershot, I attended here for a couple of years and took part in many competitions around the Country. As I got older I wanted to try more styles of dance so I left and moved to Angela’s School of Dancing where I did many exams in Street, Freestyle, Latin and Ballroom. When I started Secondary school I met Freya who introduced me to Albany Dance School where we met Keely and Stacey, who were our teachers at the time. After several years of taking amateur exams I started to help teach alongside the qualified teachers on a Saturday morning. At this point I found my love for teaching and decided to start my teacher training. I have now been teaching for 12 years and have taken the following IDTA teaching exams: Freestyle Student (Distinction 90%), Freestyle Associate (Distinction 93%), Freestyle Licentiate (Distinction 95%), Associate Latin Rumba Module (Distinction 89%), Associate Latin ChaCha Module (Distinction 90%) and Associate Latin Samba Module (Distinction 94%). I also have an A-Level in Dance from Farnborough Sixth Form College where I mainly studied contemporary dance. I am also qualified to teach Zumba and have a first aid at work certificate. I hope to take my Freestyle Fellowship in the future and also to complete my Latin Associate
FREYA HUCKLE - INSTRUCTOR
I first started dancing at the age of 10, at Albany Dance School where I met Keely and Stacey. I tried out different styles of dance and took numerous exams for these over the next 6 years. At the age of 15 I started to help out in classes, starting in rosettes alongside Stacey, before moving onto leading my own classes. I then took on more responsibility and helped on a Saturday morning at Emma’s Academy of Dance and Drama, again leading my own classes of different abilities. At 17 I studied for my student teacher exam, which I passed, allowing me to further my experience in the teaching world. I then continued to further my qualification and take my associate exam at the age of 18, again passing with a high grade. I have performed In various shows including the Royal Albert Hall, Haymarket London and Disney Land Paris, as well as other local shows. I also attend different teacher conferences with the team, allowing us to explore other styles of dance and extend our ideas to bring back into classes. I love teaching adults and also love supporting the students with their own exams and competitions, and seeing them progress. I absolutely love performing in our yearly show and seeing everything we’ve worked on come together, with our dance family.