Kate Stanforth Academy Of Dance

🎉 Progressing Ballet Technique Ambassador 🎉

I sometimes feel as though my conditions are complete opposites. It's tough to balance multiple chronic illnesses when the management plan, if any, is very different. One of my conditions, EDS, means that movement and strengthening are vital to my routine to help manage dislocations, prolapses and keep my body functioning as well as I can. However, I also have ME, where exercise isn't recommended.

I've spent my whole disabled life trying to get the balance right, and to be perfectly honest, I don't think I ever will. However, I feel like I'm getting closer. One of those steps for me was finding and training PBT. It has my love for ballet mixed with strengthening exercises whilst not being *too* physically demanding. And for the bits I struggled with, I adapted.

Fast forward 3 years, and I'm now part of their team as an ambassador. I've had support from the founder, Marie, from Day 1, which still makes me rather emotional. I didn't tell the team I was disabled when I first started training PBT because I was so nervous that I wouldn't be able to do my qualification, but I was welcomed with open arms, and we've had a brilliant relationship ever since.

Now, I'm a Level 3 instructor, and Fay, who started off as a disabled dancer in my academy, has now completed her Level 3 training as well! I've created an adapted programme of PBT, specialising in people with hypermobility and/or limited mobility and have had an amazing time teaching it both online and for IDS at Elmhurst.

So, here's to a new chapter. I'll continue my research for movement for those with hypermobility and/or limited movement and will be sharing some videos on my progress soon ❤️

Photos Shona Louise Cobb and Sean Evans

It's (nearly) October. It's Strictly season. And we are ready to dance! Here's our latest timetable:

Monday 4pm: Strictly Style with Fay (Inclusive Dance)
(2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd)

Wednesday 4pm: Halloween Special with Jade / Kate (Inclusive Dance)
(Wednesday 11th, 18th, 25th and MONDAY 30th for a Halloween Dance Party!)

Friday 6th: Tap with Kate (Inclusive Hand Tap)
(Pay As You Feel - Donation Session)

🌟 Sessions are 45mins
🌟 Sessions are LIVE and recorded on zoom
🌟 Sessions are inclusive

💰 Monday and Wednesday classes are covered in our subscription (£25 a month - 8 sessions). You can purchase any of the Monday and Wednesday classes individually for £8. The Friday session is donation-based.

🤫 We also have private sessions available with our teachers 🤫

*The clocks change in October, so this is both BST and GMT*

BOOK NOW: www.katestanforthacademyofdance.com

* UPDATED ONLINE PORTFOLIO*

Over the past few months there've been a few (exciting) changes, so I'm just posting this to add to my highlights for those who'd like to learn a little bit about myself and my work.

New highlights include:
- I'm now a Rambert Grades instructor! I'm qualified to teach and enter exams for Creative Dance for Early Years as well as ALL 3 strands (Technical, Performance and Creative) grades 1-8.
- I've achieved my Level 3 Progressing Ballet Technique and I'm now a UK ambassador for the programme
- My incredible dance teacher, Fay Crockett has also passed her Level 3 PBT qualification under the dance academy!
- I've popped in a few new jobs I've recently done, such as hosted 'Expressions' at Northern Ballet with Makaton and had another year working on a job with the Disney team and Make-A-Wish UK
- I’ve also just been named as one of Motability Scheme Trailblazers for their 45th birthday!

Any enquiries, drop me an email at [email protected] (or if it's dance academy related our email is [email protected])

Hopefully more good things to come ✨

Photo: Shona Cobb

ONLINE SPRING TIMETABLE - KIDS & ADULTS 🐣

Sessions live on our website! We start kids classes on Saturday and adults on Monday!

Hope to see you there x

In partnership with 💜

Receiving messages like this is what it's all about ✨ After our One Show appearance, Laura's Mum got in touch with us and we all loved seeing her dance. We can't wait to see you on stage on day 🩰🦽 Another disabled professional dancer in the making, no doubt! ✨

Follow -

Alt: A plain background with a board with text saying "Hi Kate, I'm Laura's Mom. Thanks for inspiring my 5-year-old daughter. She wants to be a ballet dancer! For reference, Laura is disabled and loved watching our disabled dancers on the One Show

You might see us popping up on TV today! If you do, feel free to head to our website to learn more about us 💕

Home Founder Kate Stanforth was training to be a professional ballerina when she became unwell at the age of 14 and never fully recovered. As soon as she was strong enough, the first thing she wanted to do was get back into the dance studio. She started teaching from her wheelchair but found barrier afte...

Today I met with the incredible to discuss some exciting future project ideas over a coffee ( of course). So grateful he gave up his time to meet and I’m honestly so excited to see what next year brings now 🎶

(Also, yes, his smile is that infectious!)

Week 2 of our session at sponsored by

We had a fabulous session (in the rain in our little tent ⛺️) adding more to our choreography. So proud of my dancers, as always!

.aiden

Very thankful that now have an outdoor events tent so we can safely resume our dance sessions sponsored by 🦽 Would you like a tour of the outdoor area this week? 🏕

A lovely surprise this week 🥺🎉

Our first official inclusive dance session at - complete!

Thanks to for their sponsorship this year to make this happen! Will continue to update you on our work ✨

Loved being back today! New faces and new private lessons planning exciting things 🌟