Beat Feet Academy of Dance
About us
Beat Feet Academy of Dance - About Us
Beat Feet Academy of Dance is a multi award winning dance school in Derby. We believe that a child's early experiences of dance will stay with them forever, so it's important that they're great experiences. We use a unique teaching approach that allows pupils to develop through creative activity. Our carefully tailored classes enable children to learn in a fun, encouraging environment whilst learning the importance of dance discipline.
Beat Feet Academy of Dance offers caring tuition from 9 months old in a range of genres and provides pupils with the opportunities to take ISTD examinations. Pupils are also encouraged to participate in the academy's performance events.
About the Principal – Julie Latham
ISTD CDE, ISTD FDI, IDTA ASSOCIATES, ZIN LICENSED, ZUMBINI LICENSED & ACROBATIC ARTS CERTIFIED
Miss Julie had a passion for dance from a very young age, when she attended her first ballet class in her home city of Liverpool at just two years old! She expanded the genres she studied and successfully completed many examinations with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA). After secondary school, Miss Julie continued her training and was awarded a triple distinction BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts and Musical Theatre. She continued her professional development at North Liverpool Dance Academy Teacher Training College where Miss Julie was the first student to successfully complete the new ISTD Foundation in Dance Instruction (all 6 units inclusive) and ISTD Certificate in Dance Education qualifications (all 8 units inclusive) in several genres. During her time at college, Miss Julie was also teaching a variety of dance genres, drama and singing at several performing arts establishments across Merseyside where she prepared students for examinations and performances. This gave her excellent experience for when she graduated and began teaching full-time.
In 2010, Miss Julie relocated to Derbyshire where she has since been teaching as a freelance dancer across the region and has maintained her 100% pupil pass rate for examination entries (with many pupils achieving distinctions). She successfully trained as a Zumba® Fitness instructor and was also awarded her speciality licenses enabling her to offer Zumba Gold®, Zumbatomic® and Zumbini® Licensed classes. Maintaining her Continuing Professional Development, Miss Julie later became certified as an Acrobatic Arts instructor and furthered this training through the AcroDance preschool programme.
Throughout her dancing life, Miss Julie has performed in many different shows at prestigious venues including the Liverpool Empire, Sadlers Wells and Disneyland Paris. She also made regular television appearances in Grange Hill and Hollyoaks when working at Mersey TV and Lime Pictures, Liverpool.
Miss Julie is very proud to be the Principal of Beat Feet Academy of Dance and is passionate about delivering quality, high standard tuition that is personal and meets the students needs. She is dedicated to encouraging pupil's creativity to allow them to develop to their full potential through the skills of theatrical arts.
We are proud to be a Dance Den approved school. This initiative focuses on raising the standards within the performing arts industry. Schools who have been approved follow ethical and professional practices with the benefit of the children they teach at their heart.
