Is our CEO of Dumfries School of Dance and BalletBox School of Dance. RAD ballet teacher.
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 Teacher 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. She is also our Social media content creator.
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 and our 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 It is 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. A family I just love being part of.
Miss Julia
Is our RAD Vocational Ballet Teacher
About Miss Julia
Miss Julia McMurdo Tait has danced with us at DSoD from the age of two and a half. From a young age she knew she wanted to be a dance teacher and was lucky enough to be accepted onto 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 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.
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.
