Here at Dance Base, we bring you the best teachers and musicians to lead you efortlessly through your classes and workshops. Here you can find out more about your teachers and how they came to be at Dance Base.

Ministry of Burlesque Academy

Ministry of Burlesque (MoB) Academy is a professionally led school for enthusiasts and professionals alike, offering expert tuition on all things burlesque. From Burlesque for beginners, to master-classes in Fan Dance, Can-Can and Charleston, the Academy’s personality led teaching methods, unparalleled expertise and original choreography ensure that our students have industry leading instruction. Whether it’s perfecting pin-up poses, honing your comedic delivery or simply how to ooze presence on stage, there is something for everyone. http://academy.ministryofburlesque.com

Random Aspekts

Largely schooled by Allan Irvine, Random Aspekts were formed in late 2001. Eight BBoys and BGirls from around Scotland joined forces and injected much needed life into the dying Scottish scene. Through their own teaching, performances and events they have introduced a new, exciting generation to the dance and continue to develop the scene. Only three of the original members remain, but armed with a DJ and with the recruitment of two of Scotland's most talented young BBoys (who came through their ranks), Random Aspekts really are stalwarts of the Scottish urban dance scene.

Kath Bateman

Kath has been studying Cuban salsa and son with professional dance company Ballet Folklorico Cutumba in Cuba for almost 10 years, and has regular trips to Cuba to update her skills. She has taught at a wide range of national dance events including WOMAD, the Mela, Club Cubana dance weekends, at community activities in Edinburgh and elsewhere in the UK and in salsa clubs. She loves the informality, fun and sense of joy which Cuban dance brings to her life and tries to convey this to her students whether they are total beginners or advanced.

See also Ernesto Reyes

Jane Bell

Jane Bell qualified to teach with the then London College of Dance and Drama - the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing Teachers Training College during 1973. Qualifications included Ballroom and Latin American, Ballet - RAD and ISTD, ISTD Modern, National, Tap and associated subjects. This 3 year full time course followed 5 years of dance at a full time Theatre School. The move to Edinburgh followed an extensive career in teaching dance both in London and Shropshire, and Jane began teaching for Dance Base in 1994. Jane and Marina have evolved a unique teaching technique to give an enjoyable dance experience for all.

See also Marina Delicata

Fiona Blair

Fiona Blair trained as a massage therapist in 1990 and also has qualifications in exercise to music and salsa club dance. In 2007 she teacher trained in hula hoop fitness and dance. She currently spends her time teaching classes (salsa and hula hoop) and massaging in palliative care and from home.

Sarah Bonner-Morgan

Sarah completed the 3-year, full-time STAT approved training as an Alexander Technique teacher in London in 1999. A chance meeting led her to Edinburgh where she has been living and teaching ever since. She has a thriving private practice and leads introductory group classes for arts, educational, business and health organisations. Sarah teaches in the music department of Queen's University, Belfast and tutors young singers and instrumentalists on summer schools throughout Europe. Her love and long-standing practice of improvised dance, music and the internal martial arts informs all her teaching.

Patricia Brannigan

Patricia trained professionally in Contemporary Dance before gaining a first class Honours Degree in Creative Arts, which has led to a varied career as both a performer and teacher in many areas of the arts and entertainment. Pole-Dancing has been one of the most recent additions to her repertoire and has inspired her to try other aerial art forms such as trapeze, rope and silks. She is delighted to be teaching Pole-Dancing at Dance Base and hopes it helps to attract the artistic recognition she believes it deserves.

Jonathan Burnett

Jonathan Burnett (ARAD Solo Seal RTC) is a former member of the Irish National Ballet, the Dutch production of Cats and of the Lindsay Kemp Company, touring internationally. With particular interests in Mime-in-Education, Barqoque Dance and the work of Isadora Duncan, he has teaching qualifications in Classical Ballet, Margaret Morris Movement and in Benesh Movement Notation.

Kayleigh Cameron

Kayleigh is a Rangers FC Pro Dance Squad Cheerleader and former NFL Scottish Claymores Cheerleader. Kayleigh first started dancing when she was 3 years of age training in Latin American, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Disco, which earned her many medals. Cheerleading came later on when she auditioned for the Scottish Claymores cheerleading squad. After earning her place on the squad her passion for cheerleading grew and she decided to train to be a cheerleading coach. Kayleigh holds a NCSSE Cheerleading Qualification in levels 1-5 and is also a qualified Nursery Nurse. As well as teaching at Dance Base Kayleigh also teaches with Active Schools in Edinburgh and Tranent, where she has been working for several years teaching over 30 classes a week to children of all ages.

Janis Claxton

Maria Conte

Maria “Tote” Conte has been teaching and performing flamenco at Dance Base since 1994. Tote has trained in dance since childhood is schools throughout Andalusia. Founder of Flamenco Puro, she reached critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe during the 90s. Her current ensemble, Flame & Fury, is an original and inspiring encounter between Celtic music and flamenco dance which involves a group of cutting edge Scottish musicians. Tote has always strived to disseminate Spanish culture in Scotland, and particularly Flamenco. In 2004 she founded Scotland's only Hispanic Festival, a series of events that celebrate the art and cultures of all Spanish speaking residents in Scotland.

Pamela Day

Pamela has a BA Honors in Dance and is a trained Pilates matwork and machine based instructor. As well as teaching Integrated Creative Movement classes and Pilates for Dance base she also lectures part-time for Telford College, teaches Contemporary for Specialist Dance at Broughton and has a variety of Pilates and creative movement classes for elderly & individuals with assisted support needs around Edinburgh. Pamela has a keen interest in choreography and is able to explore and continually build on her movement vocabulary and perception of dance through the diversity of her work and the varied age and ability groups she works with.

Marina Delicata

Christine Devaney

Linda Douglas

Linda is an experienced yoga teacher for young people and adults. She specialises in Ashtanga Yoga and regularly trains in India with Sri K Pattabhi Jois. She has also trained with many yoga teachers such David Swenson, Dharma Mittra and Shiva Ria. She also teaches tai chi and chi kung. Linda has a background in adult education and social work and is training in alternative therapies.

Yamil Cuedo Ferrera

Jan Findlay

Dance has always been part of Jan’s life as she can’t remember not dancing! She trained at her family’s dance school where she gained teaching experience for many years. Jan has studied Ballet, Tap, Modern and Jazz (BBO & IDTA syllabus) and Street Dance and Contemporary in later years. She is currently studying the UKA syllabus. Jan has experience in TV and has choreographed many performances throughout Edinburgh. Jan has been teaching at Dance Base for two years. Jan confesses that she has a Maths degree! She supposes it helps her count!

Laura Forbes

Vincent Hantam

Vincent is from South Africa and danced most of the principal roles with Scottish Ballet from 1975-1991. He is best remembered for his Spectre De La Rose, Mercutio and Romeo in Romeo & Juliet and many more. Vincent has performed with many companies both locally and on the international stage. He has produced many ballets for various companies including O'Caritas from Peter Darrell, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty (Act III) and Othello. Although he still dances, it is his teaching that makes him so popular both locally and abroad. He is delighted to be teaching the professional classes and especially looking forward to the community adult classes.

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Sue Hawksley

Sue Hawksley has performed extensively, including with Rambert Dance Company, Mantis, Scottish Ballet and Philippe Genty and undertaken many freelance projects. Her teaching experience includes lecturing at NSCD, SSCD, Royal Ballet School and Edinburgh's Telford College, as well as for companies such as Scottish Ballet, Diversions and Phoenix.

She established her company, articulate animal in 2007 as an umbrella under which to explore interdisciplinary performance practices based on the moving body. Sue is currently undertaking a practice-led PhD at Edinburgh College of Art. Her research engages questions of embodiment through choreographic practice, somatics, philosophy and technological mediation.

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Fereshteh Hosseini

Dougie Hudson

Dougie is an experienced music/dance performer and workshop leader. He works with local bands playing Salsa, African, Funk/Pop and Egyptian on percussion, guitar and voice. Dougie also works with outreach programmes in schools, community groups and businesses throughout Scotland. Born in Tanzania he spent his early years there while his parents worked. This experience of Africa set in motion a deep love and appreciation of the continent’s art and culture and the roles that music and dance played in defining the self and a nation’s identity. He brings a great high energy that inspires all to join in what he calls the ‘Equation Of Celebration’.

Ashley Jack

Raymond Kaye

Sagi Iluz

Sagi Iluz was born in Israel and moved to Edinburgh in 1993. He has been dancing from 2000 and is a UKA accredited salsa instructor. He has an Honours degree in Community Education and worked as a youth worker, adult education classes organiser and in the City of Edinburgh Council as a Community Centre Manager. Sagi’s encountered Latin music at an early age. Born to Jewish family who came from Spain and Morocco, Spanish and Latin music was a daily routine in the house. This influenced his love for Latin music. Sagi teaches styles of Latin dance including Salsa, Mambo, Bachata, Cha Cha, Merengue and Rueda Casino.

See also Sian McKay

Allan Irvine

Veronica Jackson

Veronica started dancing at the age of 5 years not knowing that she will continue to have a successful career in dance. She is a qualified UKA Highland Dance teacher and a former world champion and teaches Highland Dance in primary schools in the Edinburgh district in addition to her classes at Dance Base. Veronica is also qualified in Classical Ballet (ARAD). She has had a very successful career as a dancer, performing in all the major theatres in Scotland working with Bruce McClure for many years.

Jayan Kumar (Dance Ihayami)

Founder of the Bhartahkshetra school of Dance and Music in India, Shri Jayan is an accomplished dancer and an excellent teacher of dance and music. He has been especially praised for his work and research in the field of Folk Art forms. Along with his full-time involvement with his school he works with special commissions for television serials, drama, dance drama and for local and national television. He is Dance Ihayami's visiting artist.

Nico Major

Chris Malone

Chris started dancing competitively, aged 7, in Old Time, Ballroom and Latin American. At 18 he became a professional trainer, based in Liverpool, managing Crown Dance Studios for 14 years. During this time Chris travelled extensively through Europe training many high class, successful amateur dancers both at home and abroad. He has also adjudicated at International competitions. Having had superb results with many champion dancers Chris now based in Edinburgh where he continues to teach from beginners levesl to the higher competitive levels.

See also Dawn-Claire Robertson

Sheila McCutcheon

Sheila originates from East Lothian and has been dancing for most of her life. She started Country Dancing at the age of seven. She began her dance career calling with the Occasionals and has added Old Time, Contra, Ceilidh and Step in her teaching. Audiences really warm to her engaging style. She likes nothing better than encouraging a crowd to give a dance a go! And they do! Her teaching has taken her abroad as far as Washington, Trinidad, France, Estonia, Ireland and Boston. Sharing dance with others gives her the most pleasure of all and seeing people socialize through dance.

Sian McKay

Sian McKay was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in South Africa. She has lived in the UK for the past 9 years. She is currently studying a BEd (Hons) Primary Education degree at Moray House. Having shown a passion for dance throughout her life, Sian fell in love with Salsa over 4 years ago and has developed not only as an excellent social dancer but also as a well respected teacher, teaching alongside well-known international Salsa teachers at nationwide festivals. In addition to teaching here at Dance Base, Sian also runs her own classes and ladies’ workshops.

Julie Mitchell

Born in Edinburgh, Julie trained full-time at the Royal Academy of Dance in London and on graduation she moved to Portugal where she danced and taught professionally for eight years. She then took up an invitation to be Vice-Principal/Senior Dance Tutor in one of Hong Kong's top ballet schools. When the RAD invited her to become an examiner she returned home and set up the Edinburgh Dance Academy and the "Edinburgh Dance Company". Julie has been a guest teacher for several dance companies and travels the world examining teachers and students alike.

Steinvor Palsson

Steinvor Palsson was born in Edinburgh of Icelandic parents. After  her classical ballet training she attended the Evening School at The Place in London. She danced professionally for 12 years, performing with the Spiral Contemporary Dance Company, Matthew Hawkins, the Royal Opera and Scottish Opera. Steinvor has taught contemporary dance technique extensively for over 25 years and has been teaching at Dance Base since 1993. She also currently teaches at Dance For All at the Theatre School. Her choreography includes pieces for The Ensemble Group, Dance Base's Off Kilter and Scottish Opera. She holds an Advanced Certificate from the Royal Academy of Dancing and has a PhD in Norwegian fiction.

Jennifer Paterson

Marc Pilley

Marc Pilley is a singer songwriter with the band Hobotalk, the band have just released their third album Homesick for Nowhere. Marc has received critical acclaim for his two previous offerings: Beauty in Madness and Notes on Sunset. Marc has a keen interest in the relationship between movement and music and is able to explore this through his work with the Integrated Creative Movement classes at Dance Base. He continues to tour with his band and write and record new music.

Lauren Porter-Worth received early training with Balanchine principal Jillana in Southern California and attended Bolshoi at Vail, School of American Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Lauren graduated as a merit scholarship student from NCSA in 1996 and joined LINES Ballet in San Francisco, as their youngest member, becoming a principal in l998.  She was recognized with the Princess Grace Award in 1999 and has performed widely in the United States, throughout Europe and participated in residencies at White Oak and Jacob’s Pillow.  In addition to 9yrs with LINES, she has worked with Alvin Ailey, San Francisco Ballet, Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh Ballet and Aretha Franklin and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Danuta Ramos

Danuta Ramos is a Dance and Circus Artist based in Edinburgh. She initially trained as a contemporary/ jazz dancer graduating in 2005 from Telford College, at which point she commenced training in acro-balance and aerial, receiving private tuition to a professional standard from circus artists. She received funding from the Scottish Arts Council to train at Bristol’s Circomedia in 2006 and specialised in doubles trapeze, doubles silks and duo acro-balance. She has been working as a free-lance performer and teacher around the UK and abroad for 3 years both alone and in a successful partnership with Ian Henderson as Suspended Motion. Coming from a dance background she is very interested in integrating dance with aerial and acro-balance.

See also Jen Paterson

Skye Reynolds

Australian-born Skye Reynolds is a movement practitioner/performer. She trained through the Pilates Foundation as a matwork teacher and now works as a freelance instructor throughout Edinburgh. Skye has been studying the body for 15 years, exploring disciplines such as capoeira, yoga, contemporary dance, contact improvisation, theatre and reiki. She also works as a physical performer within both the professional and community arts worlds. This has taken her on a number of exciting journeys from Shetland to Iran and back to Dance Base...Skye is currently developing aerial skills and hopes to create exciting new work and set-up a dance-based variety night in the near future...!

Raquel Ribes

Raquel danced throughout her childhood in Spain, learning ballet, flamenco, and other styles. But it wasn't until she came to Edinburgh to learn English in 1995 that she discovered and fell in love with African dance. Since then, this passion has taken her to Uganda, Ghana and Senegal to study and perform with some great artists. She shares these experiences through her teaching (Raquel is also a nursery teacher), and through performance. This year she was honoured to perform for the Queen at Westminister Abbey in collaboration with dancers from India, Ghana and Uganda.

www.amadinda.co.uk/learningDance.do

The Fly Right Dance Company

Jo Richards

Jo started her dance career in Kent studying I.S.T.D Ballet, Modern and Jazz and also developed an interest in Street Dance, Hip Hop and Breaking. She’s performed in many shows including Fame (Principal Dancer) and with the Wildcats dance troupe for the London Leopards Basketball team. Since then she has established herself in Edinburgh as a versatile performer, teacher and choreographer working in the Fringe Festival and with The University of Edinburgh. Most recently she was invited as a guest lecturer at Telford College also creating a piece for their ‘Cross Currents’ end of year show. Jo is also a qualified Personal Trainer.

Dawn-Claire Robertson

David Robertson

David Robertson has been working with Dance Base as a musician for the past two years. He is a multi percussionist who, when not on tour with various jazz, folk and salsa groups, loves to play for dancers and choreographers. His open style lends itself to many dance forms from traditional West African to Contemporary. He is currently doing classes with Doug Hudson and Steinvor Palsson.

Robert Robertson

Robert worked as a dancer, choreographer and teacher for 14 years before realising a long held interest in the Alexander Technique. As a qualified member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT) since 1998, he has worked full time with individuals and groups and maintains his interest in dance and mind body disciplines.

Rumbos de Tango

To dance tango is to be entirely present and engaged with yourself, your partner and the music in that moment, but also to be part of a larger community stretching from Buenos Aires, across the world, back to the turn of the 20th Century and forwards into the future. These connections, threads, lives, paths are the inspiration behind the concept of Rumbos de Tango. www.rumbosdetango.com

Group Senzala

Founded in Rio de Janeiro, Group Senzala has been in existence for more than 40 years. The group is probably the most famous Capoeira group in the world thanks to its many mestres and professors teaching Capoeira and the development of a teaching and training system which had a great impact on the modern capoeira. Being well known in Brazil in the seventies some of his students moved to Europe and started teaching capoeira in Paris and Amsterdam in 1984. In 1987 four mestres of Grupo Senzala, Peixinho, Toni Vargas, Garrincha and Sorriso helped organizing the First European Capoeira Meeting, in Paris, 1987. It was first introduced to Great Britain in 1971 by Nestor Capoeira, but did not flourish until 1989, with the arrival of Fernando C.C. Albuquerque (Mestre Gato) one of the founder members of the group who lived in Newcastle for a year and now is teaching full time in Scotland. His son, contramestre Pedro, established Group Senzala Scotland at Edinburgh, in 2000. At present his daughter Paula is also living and teaching in Edinburgh.

Linda Skakel

Linda is a professionally trained Flamenco artist and an experienced tutor teaching all levels at major dance centres throughout Scotland. She has studied extensively with Spain’s leading Flamenco artists, during full-time professional training in Jerez and on regular return visits. Her training includes Ballet, Jazz, Classical Spanish and Contemporary dance. She favours Flamenco Puro (traditional) but has also trained with contemporary Flamenco Maestros. Living amongst the Gitano Flamencos of Jerez.has been fundamental in shaping her philosophy and direction as a dancer. Her work includes many collaborations, performances, educational and corporate projects; choreographies created for Scottish Opera, Dancehouse Professional Co., The Space and is the founding member of Tribu Flamenca.

Barney Strachan

Barney is a musician who has been signed, recorded albums, made music videos and played and toured in America, Holland and the U.K.. In one band he won the MTV ‘In The City’ Unsigned Band of the Year Award (Idlewild came second), signed a two single deal with Boy George’s Indie label then secured a large album deal with a New York label that was released in the US, Australia and Japan. He worked part-time at the Jazz Café in London for 4 years and by 2005 he had gained a BA in Sonic Arts at Middlesex University before coming back to his native Edinburgh where he now gives sound workshops and projects, plays guitar with jazz singer Niki King and works part-time as part of the venue team at Dance Base.

Dawn Turner

Dawn began dancing aged 4, but gave up after 3 weeks because she was scared of the teacher! Between the ages of 5 and 18 she studied Movement to Music, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern and Disco. At 18, she began training in Swing, Ballet, Contemporary and African Dance. During her degree in Speech and Language Therapy, she began her U.K.A. Teacher of Dance Diploma and in 2002 she established her own school where she now teaches Tap, Hip-Hop & Street, Jazz, Ballet and Disco/Freestyle. Dawn now works full-time as a dance teacher. She loves the colour pink, shoes and chips!

Angela Watson

Before embarking on a teaching career Angela was a professional dancer for eleven years during which she worked with ballet and modern companies touring the world. Her last engagement was in London with Doorway Dance Company dancing for Yehudi Menuhin’s 80th birthday. Angela is a fully qualified Royal Academy of Dance teacher. Before returning to her native Edinburgh, Angela taught for many years in Cape Town. Angela now runs her own dance school in Colinton as well as teaching the dance and drama students at Telford College. Angela feels very privileged to be one of the Dance Base teachers.

Abby Warrilow

Abby is a choreographer and director with an international reputation who has received a number of accolades for her work. Her choreography career has seen her work on the sets of major feature films, theatrical productions, high-end commercials and music videos for clients such as Polydor, Paramount Pictures and Scottish Opera. Abby studied dance and film in parallel completing courses at the Laban centre, London and the University of Brighton. Abby has always used Pilates to maintain fitness and strength and has recently studied matwork in Vancouver, she now uses this practical knowledge to help others achieve core fitness.

Chalky Whyte

Chalky is a UKA (United Kingdom Alliance of Professional Dance Teachers) and Le Roc French Jive Federation qualified dance teacher. He teachers Le Roc, Salsa, West Coast Swing, Social Foxtrot, Merengue, Disco, Line Dancing, Cha Cha and the Waltz. Chalky recently danced for HRH Queen Elizabeth and was a member of the Jive team that won the UK championship competition 2007. Chalky currently runs 30 dance classes in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

www.lerocscotland.com

Chris Stuart-Wilson

Chris, originally an Honours graduate in Medical Anatomy, changed career paths radically and is now a professional theatrical Choreographer/Director mainly in the area of Musical Theatre. At a young age, Chris attained his Advanced Gold Bar Award for Latin American and Ballroom Dancing and has since moved into the commercial dance world embracing everything from Bollywood to Vogueing. Chris’ emphasis is on style and presentation and all his classes are geared around bringing out confidence in the individual which in turn improves their ‘performance’. The importance of teaching style is to raise an awareness that technique is not all that is required to be a performing dancer.

Richard Worth