Amanda Alder Dance Academy runs over 80 classes a week with around 500 students attending.
We also provide teachers for workshops in local schools
Our qualified staff continue their own development with regular CPD and are DBS certified and insured.
Miss Amanda
Founder, Director and Teacher
Amanda started dancing at the age of 3 in Abingdon with Sally Weichardt. At the age of 12 she began assisting in classes after school. After completing her GCSE's she went on to The North London Dance Studio to study for her ISTD teaching qualifications and performance diploma.
On completion of her teaching qualifications in 2002 Amanda began her teaching career with Celia Benson School of Dance in Oxford, starting up Tap and Modern classes and taking over some of the Ballet classes, she also went 'home' to the Sally Weichardt Academy to teach Modern and Ballet.
After numerous years teaching for others, including Stagecoach Theatre Arts Abingdon and 'Body Jam' at the White Horse Leisure Centre, she decided she wanted to go alone and in 2006 'Amanda Alder Dance Academy' was born.
In 2008 Celia Benson hung up her dancing shoes and Amanda took over the Celia Benson School of Dance.
Over the years, Amanda has seen many of her students go on to full time dance training and take on professional roles within the industry - she is extremely proud of all of their achievements.
Amanda has choreographed for many local pantomimes/shows including Oxford Operatics show '9-5'. She teaches Dance on the Performing Arts course at Abingdon and Witney College alongside Amanda Alder Dance Academy. She has recently completed the level 6 ISTD Diploma in Dance Pedagogy.
Miss Jordan
Teacher and Crew Manager
Jordan started ballet at the age of 4 with Amanda. She did her primary ballet exam at the age of 6 and she was one of the first students to be entered for an exam with Amanda Alder Dance Academy. She has been attending summer school since 2010 and joined the 'Academy' class at the age of 11, when she was 12 she performed in Rapunzel with Ballet Lorent, at the Playhouse Oxford.
At the age of 14, she joined The A Crew gaining the opportunity to perform in various local fetes and shows, she then started assisting with Miss Lorna in the Abingdon classes. It was then she knew she wanted to become a dance teacher! At 16, she started modern and a year later started commercial jazz and tap, all while completing her GCSE's and A Levels including Dance. Jordan is currently studying under the direction of Janet Marshall (fellow of the ISTD) to complete her teaching qualifications.
Miss Lorna
Teacher
Lorna started Ballet at the age of 4 with the Celia Benson School of Dance. Around age 7, Amanda became her teacher whilst she was working alongside Celia. At age 14 she took up some new styles of dance with Amanda Alder Dance Academy, starting tap and jazz classes - Lorna has a real love for tap, it's one of her favourite styles! Knowing she has always wanted to teach, she had the opportunity to assist in some of the classes within the academy when she was 16. From this, her passion and love for teaching grew and after finishing her A Levels, she went on to attend the Janet Marshall Dance Studios in Cheltenham to complete her ISTD teacher training qualifications. She holds the DDE (Diploma in Dance Education) in Ballet, Tap and Modern. Lorna now teaches ballet, tap, modern and street dance for Amanda Alder Dance Academy and hopes to inspire and pass on her love of dance to the students!
Miss Laura
Teacher
Laura started dancing at a young age, taking classes in Ballet, Tap and Modern. her love for dancing gre with her and as a young teenager she began street dancce classes too. She was and original member of the first A Crew with Amanda Alder Dance Academy but had a real passion for Musical Thetare and performing. She studied performing arts and dance at A Level and then went on to complete her ISTD teaching qualifications in Ballet and Tap with Janet Marshall Dance Studios in Cheltenham. Laura has nearly 10 years teaching experience in all different genres of dance and is very happy to be back 'home' teaching at AADA!
Miss Emily
Teacher
Emily started ballet with Amanda Alder Dance Academy at the age of 2. Since then she has also taken up many other styles of dance including Tap, Modern and Commercial. At the age of 11 Emily was given the opportunity to be an "AADA Ambassador" which gave her the opportunity to assist with some of the classes within the dance school. She also was invited into the "Academy" class which allowed her to experience performing in many local fetes and performances. She has recently finished her 2nd year at Abingdon and Witney college studying for a level 3 extended diploma in performing arts and will soon be starting her level 4 ISTD DDE qualification (Diploma in Dance Education) at Linda Sweetzer teacher training college in Maidenhead.
Miss Rosie
Teacher
Rosie started Modern Jazz when she was 4 years old and over the years began taking classes in other styles including Tap, Lyrical, Ballet and Contemporary. Within these styles she has taken many exams with the British Theatre Dance Association. At her childhood dance school, Rosie was give the opportunity to assist in the younger classes, which she very much enjoyed and this was where she discovered teaching would be something she would love to do! Rosie was a part of her schools performance group where she competed and performed. She has recently completed her Level 3 Extended diploma in Performing Arts and is soon to start her Level 4 ISTD DDE (Diploma in Dance Education) at the Linda Sweetzer teacher training college in Maidenhead.
Miss Katherine
Cover Teacher
Katherine started her dance training at the Sally Weichardt Academy in Abingdon before attending full time training at The Centre Performing Arts college, Charlton. Katherine graduated in 2006 with a Diploma in Dance and her initial ISTD Foundation in Dance Instruction qualifications in Modern Theatre and Tap Dance. Since her graducation Katherine continued her teahing qualifications with the ISTD gaining her Fellowship Modern and Tap. Katherine has also completed her training to teach the Imtermediate foundation and Imtermediate Contemporary syllabus for the ISTD holds RAD RTS and has trained to teach Progressive Ballet Technique. Katherine is also an approved tutor for DDE Tap and Modern tutoring all units of the qualification in both Tap and Modern. Katherine has been teaching for 16 years and is Head of Tap & Modern at Sinead Loughnane Academy, Northampton. She has also tutored all vocational grades of Tap & Modern at Tring Park Associates and Creative Academy. In 2015, Katherine became Course Director at Sinead Loughnane Academy Teacher Training Centre and is tutoring all units of the ISTD Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education in Modern and Tap. Training the next generation of teachers is her passion.
Lisa
Safeguarding and Welfare Officer
Lisa started dancing at the age of 5 and began assisitng in classes at the age of 15 which she continued to do for around 18 years until she had her daughter. Alongside her love for dance, Lisa has worked in childcare for 25 years and is currently the manager at Sunningwell Pre School where she has been for 13 years. Lisa has always believed that we should give our children a voice and so has always had a focus on special educational needs, safeguarding and welfare.
Julie
Admin and Finance
Julie (aka Mum!) has been involved with Amanda Alder Dance Academy since the beginning, back in 2006. Alongside working full time, looking after her grandchildren, gardening and walking with her husband, Julie works in the AADA office, sorts uniform and can be found backstage at the shows having washed, sewn and organised the hundreds of costumes!
We are also very lucky to have our AADA Ambassadors Lily, Megan, Darcey, Rachel, Izzy, Gracie, Carys, Grace and Ellie assisting in our classes.
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My daughter has been attending Ballet lessons since the age of three at various AADA venues. All have been fab with one common feature; amazing teachers, with excellent knowledge and a love for dance they share with the children.
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