About Saldance Theatre Arts
Saldance Theatre Arts provides professional tuition within a warm and friendly atmosphere. Classes are taught by a fully qualified and nurturing faculty ensuring that students receive exceptional training.
The school puts on a biennial theatre production, giving students the opportunity to experience the stage and showcase their achievements. Saldance also holds an annual Talent Competition and Awards Ceremony as well as Workshops throughout the year.
Students are trained through the International Dance Teachers’ Association syllabi and are able to take examinations up to a professional level, receiving certificates, rosettes, medals and trophies along the way.
Our Faculty
Nicola Storton Fellow & Examiner I.D.T.A
Principal of Saldance Theatre Arts
Nicola began dancing at the age of three as a student of Mrs Sally Dennis (Fellow & Examiner I.D.T.A.) and soon fell in love with Saldance, by 9 years old she had decided that her future career would definitely need to be dance related! Fortunate to grow within the inspiring environment that Saldance has always provided its students, Nicola was able to train in all Theatre subjects to performer level – during this time she received five nominations for the International Theatre Dance Awards in the subjects of Ballet, Jazz & Theatre Craft.
After accomplishing a National Diploma in Performing Arts and gaining valuable experience by being involved with many theatre productions, Nicola began training for teaching qualifications at Saldance and started taking on her own classes. She was responsible for initiating the successful subject of Musical Theatre in 2004, her involvement and enthusiasm within the school lead to a management role, which in turn resulted in the overwhelming honour of becoming Principal in 2006, leading Saldance into its 4th decade.
Nicola has continued to strive for further professional development and holds IDTA Fellowships in the four core Theatre genres alongside Diplomas in Musical Theatre, Gymnastics and Dance Exercise, all of which have been awarded with Distinction / Honours. In 2015 Nicola was accepted as an examiner and ambassador for the IDTA thus ensuring Saldance students are provided with the very best training.
Kym Coles Fellow & Examiner IDTA
Miss Kym was the big girl that Miss Nicola and peers would look up to throughout their training and a huge part of the development of the school. A talented all-rounder with particularly exceptional Tap dancing skills, Kym received two nominations for the International Theatre Dance Awards during her performer level training and after years of dedication and commitment now holds IDTA Fellowships in all core Theatre subjects, all awarded with Distinction.
A devoted Saldance teacher since 1994 she continues to inspire students and teachers alike, an innovative faculty member, phenomenal choreographer and motivational and caring teacher to our students, Saldance would not be the school it is today without her invaluable input.
Miss Kym is the creator of our wonderful Fairytale Dreams class which has proved a most successful way to welcome our youngest students to the school. A popular teacher for our Adult Tap and Freestyle classes, Miss Kym continues to make students of all ages and abilities feel at home within the studio.
Kym completed examiner training in 2022 and has now been accepted as a Theatre branch examiner for the IDTA.
Rhoda Kuc F.I.D.T.A – Certified Level 3 PBT Practitioner
Rhoda is a highly skilled Ballet technician with a wealth of knowledge for this beautiful Art form and a passion to inspire the same in our dancers.
Rhoda started her dance training in London aged three, studying Ballet, Tap, Stage and Acrobatics and continued to train in the subject of Ballet up to a Performer level through the RAD syllabus. After joining Saldance Theatre Arts in 2006 Rhoda continued her training at performer level, her outstanding commitment to the school and professional development was rewarded with an impressive route to Fellowship Ballet and a very big welcome to the Saldance Theatre Arts team.
An inspiring teacher to all ages, Rhoda has been responsible for developing an extremely popular programme for our Adult Ballet dancers, returning to dance as an adult herself has been of great benefit within this area of the school which has truly flourished under her expert guidance.
Miss Rhoda continually strives to bring the best education to our Ballet dancers and is a fully qualified practitioner of Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) which we are delighted to be able to offer our students.
Gemma Black L.I.D.T.A
There is a lovely saying “Friends who dance together stay together”, that is definitely the case for Miss Gemma and Miss Nicola who have danced together practically their whole lives! Training from very first Ballet steps to Advanced level performer examinations creates a very special bond and one we are so happy to see developing amongst many of our students today.
Miss Gemma is a very talented all round performer with extra special Tap dancing genes and a most valuable backstage crew member for our theatre productions. We are thrilled to see her continue professional development onto Licentiate qualifications and to begin passing on her vast knowledge to our lucky Tap dancers.
As co-owner of our studio dancewear shop ‘The Wardrobe’ she also plays a big role in keeping our students looking their best and ready for action!
Alicia Furneaux
Graduate Bodywork Company International
We are so happy to welcome Miss Alicia to the team!
After training with us for many years Alicia successfully auditioned and was awarded a full scholarship to attend Bodywork Performing Arts college in Cambridge. Alicia gained her first professional contract straight after graduation and enjoyed a year as a dancer for Explosive Productions Ltd. In 2016 we were thrilled to see Alicia start her dream job as a dancer for Princess Cruises, which has taken her around the world over several years of consecutive contracts.
Alicia is an extremely talented and versatile dancer, it is amazing to welcome her back to the studio to share her vast experience with our Freestyle dancers and watch them grow under her expert guidance, brilliant choreography, and fabulous attention to detail!
It is always so special to have students keep in touch, come back to visit, or even return to the studio for adult classes / bring their own children to join the family, and as you can imagine it means so very much to have Alicia join and enhance our wonderful faculty.
Sue Black – Wardrobe Mistress
Our much loved Wardrobe Mistress ‘Aunty Sue’ has been making our dancers look fabulous since the school began. Our studio wardrobes are full to the brim with her wonderful creations which are lovingly made for our students for theatre productions, fetes or summer schools, she never ceases to amaze us!
Sue is also co-owner of ‘The Wardrobe’ ensuring our students have all they need available to them for busy Saldance life and somehow, even has time to make our lovely parents a cup of tea/coffee at ‘Sue’s Brews’ while they wait for their dancers! We are very lucky to have her on the team that’s for sure!
Our Studios
Saldance Theatre Arts has two studios, which are well equipped, light and spacious. Each has a floor area in excess of 1,000 square feet, with one fully mirrored wall and fitted ballet barres. One of the studios has a sprung maple floor.
There are clean and comfortable changing / waiting areas and plenty of car parking space is available