The Dance Unit

This is a message regarding Jenny (our mum and wife of John).
Some may know this information but many may not………
Jenny had a car crash whilst driving home on the 9th January due to a black out she was then rushed to Coventry University Hospital where after many tests and scans it was discovered that she had two brain tumours . After visits to the hospital with different scares and three cancelled operations we are now in the position to tell you that Jenny has finally had the operation on the 16th July .They were able to partially remove the larger tumour and we are now waiting for biopsy results ,Jenny is still in the hospital and has been moved from Intensive care to a ward we do not know when she will be discharged but due to the temporary loss of sight in the left eye Jenny is unable to use her phone but she would like to thank you all for your care ,cards and well wishes it has really meant a lot to her .
Love from Jenny ,John ,Zoe and Claire xx

❤️🖤 Come along and join us 🖤❤️

❤️🖤 New Dance Classes .Commencing Monday 22nd July .Come along for a free first trial class.Please contact us for more information.🖤❤️

❤️🖤 Summer Workshops .
Come along and join us it’s open to all .🖤❤️

❤️🖤 Commercial Open Class For Ages 16+ .First session … 11th July .🖤❤️

❤️🖤 Good luck to all our festival dancers competing at Storm The Stage today .Go smash it !!! 🖤❤️

❤️🖤 Congratulations to all of our pupils who have taken their Ballet and tap exams today(including any children not pictured).You all danced beautifully .
A big Thank You to Miss Kelly our Ballet and Tap teacher for all of her hard work ,dedication and extra time to truly support and prepare the girls for their exams .🖤❤️

❤️🖤 Big congratulations to Issy who has the exciting and prestigious moment of performing and appearing on the One show with The D-Day Juniors .We are all so proud of you .🖤❤️

❤️🖤 For children age 5-7 we will soon be starting a brand new street dance class on a Monday teatime 4:00-4:45pm . Please contact us for any further details .🖤❤️

❤️🖤 New Children’s/teens Dance Classes at The Dance Unit ……..
We are offering three new dance sessions on a Monday teatime (date to be confirmed)..……
If you are interested please phone The Dance Unit on 07894293547 or message us for more information and to book a place (first session is free ).🖤❤️

❤️🖤 Huge congratulations to Samantha and Asa on the birth of their beautiful little girl Circe Aurelia. Born 13.05.24 .We are absolutely delighted for you and your family.Sending lots of love # # # # # # 🖤❤️

❤️🖤 Huge Congratulations to three of our TDU pupils who have successfully auditioned for the Performers College,Shock out and Addict .We are proud to say that all of them had numerous offers but these were the ones they selected.🖤❤️

❤️🖤 Yesterday was a fabulous,fun and enjoyable day at the Hednesford dance festival .We came away with some fantastic results and awards which we are very proud of 🙌 just as important though was to see all of our dancers cheering and supporting each other and truly loving their time on the stage.
AND ………to top it all off we were chosen as the best Dance team of the day for choreography and being amazing which was truly lovely.A big thank you to Jess our festival teacher ,Katie who also choreographed routines plus the rest of our fabulous teachers Sophie,Asa ,Emily and Kelly who also train all of our dancers .🖤❤️

❤️🖤 Well done to everyone involved in today’s Dance exams. 🖤❤️

❤️🖤 We are pleased to announce that we are enrolling from Saturday 23rd March come along for our free taster classes.
We teach many styles to all abilities from the age of 3 through to our adult classes.
You can dance for fitness ,friendship and fun or if you’d like any extra challenges we offer the opportunities to perform in our annual shows ,compete in festivals ,join dance displays and take part in exams .
If you would like any more information on our timetable and prices please contact The Dance Unit on 07894293547 .🖤❤️ The Dance Unit

❤️🖤 Our lovely Thursday Jazz and Lyrical class working hard on their stretching and technique.For more information on the other styles we run on a Thursday please contact us on 07894293547 🖤❤️

❤️🖤 A huge Congratulations to Hannah who has successfully auditioned and been offered a place at Addict Dance Academy on the BTEC Extended Diploma in Performing Arts (Dance) Level 3 course.Well done from all of us at TDU we are super proud..🖤❤️

❤️🖤 With Thanks 🖤❤️

❤️🖤 Meet the team 🖤❤️
Zoe Smith - Principal of The Dance Unit

Zoe started her dance training at the age of 5 training in all styles including Ballet, Tap, Disco, Ballroom & Latin American. This led to Zoe competing in a variety of different styles competitively, until schedule clashes resulted in her specialising in Classical Sequence. Along with her dance partner Zoe was taught by some of the top teachers in the country including Len Armstrong for Ballroom.

Throughout her competitive career Zoe went on the win many major titles including the 12-13 age group British Championship, and then later the Adult Professional Championship in Blackpool. In 1996 Zoe experienced a career highlight when she was invited to perform on the TV programme ‘Joy To The World’ which was filmed at the Royal Albert Hall with members of the Royal Family making up part of the audience. In 1997, Zoe was then honoured with the Carl Alan Award which recognised those who have made a significant contribution either as a performer, teacher or choreographer to the dance industry.

Zoe’s teaching career began at the age of 17 whilst she was still competing. Zoe began combining both roles as she continued to tour the country professionally; performing demonstrations to many teachers and dance pupils.

Zoe took her teaching qualifications with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) amd the United Kingdom Alliance (UKA) and is qualified to teach Ballroom, Latin American, Classical Sequence, Street Dance, Rock n Roll, Freestyle Disco, Cheer dance, Zumba, Argentine Tango and Western Lime Dancing. Zoe continues to improve professionally by adding new dance styles and developing her skills repertoire and knowledge base.

Over the years Zoe trained many individuals, partnerships and teams to Championship standard across many disciplines including Freestyle Disco, Rock n Roll, Street and Slow dance. Over the years Zoe’s pupils have danced at the British Freestyle Championships for a number of years, as well as other major competitions across the country. Later, Zoe became a Championship adjudicator; enjoying judging around the country In addition, Zoe has also taught A Level Dance and choreographed numerous fashion shows including for Debenhams where pupils trained by Zoe made up the cast of models and dancers.

Zoe also has enjoyed being involved in the local community with their carnivals ,fundraising,displays and dance shows.

In 1999 Zoe started up her own dance school ‘Dance with Zoe & Co’ based in Nuneaton. Zoe would hire out local premises in and around the Attleborough area to instruct and prepare her pupils. In 2009 Zoe purchased her own premises and this became the home of ‘The Dance Unit’. Zoe has trained many dancers to become teachers, some of which have been with her since being a child themselves. Zoe is proud that some have also gone on to teach dance as a career, as well as go on to become performers. Zoe appreciates how a mutual love of dance can foster positive relationships and develop friendships on and off the dance floor.

Through her many years of experience in the industry and learning from all those she has been involved with, Zoe has evolved into the type of teacher she wanted to become and the type of school she wanted to have.

At The Dance Unit Zoe wishes to know each pupil individually and for them to feel valued and appreciated as people. Zoe also would like all pupils to grow in confidence, help them build friendships and develop a love of dance; enabling people to make life long memories for their future.

Zoe is proud of and grateful for her wonderful team of teachers, assistants, helpers and supporters past and present. As well as all of the support from her mum Jenny as well as her wonderful family.

And of course all of the amazing pupils at TDU!

Zoe is very much looking forward to building on all that has been achieved so far and can’t wait to continue her journey with the TDU family.

❤️🖤 Meet the team 🖤❤️ Hi I'm Kelly,

I started my dance journey at a young age of 5, taking part in Ballet, Tap and Modern and perfoming on stage in my local dance school, alongside this I also took part in many exams in RAD, BBO and ISTD syllabuses. After completing my A-Levels and leaving school I then completed a 1 year contemporary and Jazz course in Cardiff. I then continued my dance journey and graduated from a 3 year course at Stella Mann College of Performing Arts with a Diploma in Musical Theatre and Dance. Whilst I was at Stella Mann I completed my teaching qualifications in ISTD Ballet and Tap. Shortly after this I bought my own Dance School ' The Marie-Kelly School of Dance' in Bedfordshire and enjoyed passing on my knowledge and experineces to others through copius amounts of shows and exams for 7 years. Styles included Ballet, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Pointe, conditiining and Street Jazz. Alongside the Dance School I was a Zumba instructor for 3 years and taught Drama at Theatretrain Perfoming arts for 10years until I decided it was time to start my own family and we moved to Leicestershire in 2013. Since then I have been in a partnership - 'Funstar Education', delivering performing arts to before and after school clubs, which I left in 2019 after having her 3rd child. Alongside working at TDU I am a fully qualified Baby and Pre-school and Level 2 swim teacher and I have my 3 children keeping me busy at all times.

I have been part of the TDU family for some years now and I teach Ballet and Tap to all ages. I love teaching the children and adults at TDU and seeing everyone having fun and improving in their own areas. Technique is a particularly important area for me as its the base for all dancers to reach their full potential. I try to focus on the strengths in class aswell as the enjoyment as to me being happy and working hard go hand in hand . Im looking forward to seeing what 2024 brings us all :)

❤️🖤 Meet the team 🖤❤️ Hi I’m Sophie!

I’m one of the dance teachers at The Dance Unit.

My Dance Unit journey started way back when I was just three years old. I loved attending my weekly classes, completing exams and competing in different styles, such as Disco Freestyle, Latin, Street and many more! Whilst Competing I became a championship dancer in both freestyle solo and pairs events and a multiple winner of the street dance sections competing all over the country. Alongside competing I was also given other wonderful opportunities, one of my favourites was modelling and Dancing for Debenhams.

I was then lucky enough to become a helper on a Saturday. This was instrumental in building the foundations for me to become a teacher. I continued to help until age seventeen, when I began teaching my own classes

Upon leaving Secondary School, I went on to further my dance training at Addict Dance Academy, continuing to develop in multiple different dance styles. During this time I was able to feature in a music video and perform at some major UK dance events.

After leaving Addict, I continued teaching at The Dance Unit. I have found it rewarding teaching all ages from three years, up to and including adults. I currently teach the styles below:

Street
Jazz
Contemporary
Rock N’ Roll
Musical Theatre
Acro

I believe in making dance fun and inclusive, whilst helping our students achieve their full potential. I also believe that we work really hard at the dance unit not just to teach dance, but to help our students develop important values and skills such as self-confidence, creativity and team work.

I look forward to working with the students in the new year and preparing for all the exciting things we have to come passing!

Sophie x

❤️🖤 Meet the team 🖤❤️ Asa Wiseman
Dance Teacher Profile

Having started dancing from age 11, Asa has 30 years experience both as a performer and teacher. Asa was trained by Zoe Smith and completed a variety of medal examinations with the ISTD exam board including: Old Time, Freestyle, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Latin American styles.

Asa began competitive dance at age 12, dancing all over the country for 10 years. At age 20 Asa won the Adult Freestyle Solo Championship at Butlin’s Skegness, in addition to numerous Championship Freestyle pairs, Street Dance and Rock ‘n’ Roll accolades over the years.

Having been at The Dance Unit since 1994, Asa retired from competitive dancing in 2005 and after a brief period away, joined the team of teachers in 2007. Asa is a qualified dance teacher who specialises in Freestyle Disco, Street Dance & Rock ‘n’ Roll. Asa has trained many fellow dance competitors over the years and enjoys helping children and adults become more skilled dancers and performers, as well as building their resilience and confidence.