About Us

About Us

We Are One of Eltham’s

Oldest Dance Schools!

New Eltham Dance School was started by Miss Yvonne and Miss Sandra in a local community centre in 1979 and then moved to Hainault Street in 1986.

In 2017, Miss Louise and Miss Debbie took over the school from Miss Yvonne and are now based in Christchurch Parish Hall and Longlands Primary School Hall, Woodside Crescent, Sidcup. Miss Louise, Miss Debbie, Miss Jo, Miss Gina and Miss Victoria were all pupils at New Eltham Dance School and now enjoy teaching.

Meet

Our Teachers

Miss Debbie

I started dancing at NEDS at the age of 3, studying ballet, tap, modern and street. I qualified as a dance teacher with the NATD in 2003. I graduated as a Primary School teacher in 2005 and later specialised in PE, teaching across the Bexley borough. I am a qualified gymnastic coach and have coached at local clubs.

When Miss Yvonne retired in 2017, Louise and I were honoured to take over NEDS. I teach ballet, tap, modern and street to varying age groups and I love it! I am so proud of how the school has evolved and I look forward to my NEDS classes every week. It’s an extremely rewarding job!

In my spare time, I love going on holiday with my family and going to the theatre.

Miss Lousie

I started at NEDS at the age of 6, after a brief stint at another dance school. I studied ballet, tap, modern and street and became a teacher with the NATD in 2016. I graduated with a degree in Childhood Studies in 2013 and am a civil servant by day.

I was given the opportunity to take over NEDS with Debbie in 2017 when Miss Yvonne retired. It’s one the hardest and most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had! I teach ballet and tap to a real mix of ages. In 2020, just before lockdown, I qualified as a Jungle Body Fitness Instructor and I run a class on a Tuesday for any older students/parents. Show times at NEDS are my favourite, I love seeing our students shining on stage and watching the fab routines the teachers choreograph.

In my spare time, I run around after my toddler! I love a nice dinner out, a concert or a trip to the theatre.

Miss Gina

I started dancing at NEDS at the grand old age of 3, growing up through the dance school studying tap, ballet, modern and street. My passion for performing then lead me to study Creative Industries: Acting at Bird College where I covered all disciplines and added to the foundation already laid by NEDS. This allowed me to immediately start performing professionally on cruise ships.

After eight years of life at sea, working with Thompson, Celebrity, Princess and Royal Caribbean, performing internationally and touring the UK, I decided my final performance would be playing Ozzy Osbourne in the Queen musical “We Will Rock You”. I was honoured when asked to teach the Street classes with my very own dance school amongst my very good friends, hoping to inspire a new generation of performers, just as I was.

I love to travel, sing and bring the fun while helping my students grow, learn and feel confident in themselves.

Miss Victoria

I started gymnastics at the age of 5 and tap dancing at NEDS from the age of 6. I later joined modern and ballet. I have performed in every NEDS show since and still perform now! I became a Level 2 Gymnastics Coach and a Level 2 Trampolining Coach. I then coached gymnastics and trampolining across Sidcup and Eltham.

At college, I completed a Diploma in childcare and education and I started working at a nursery. I now work in a secondary school and I have completed a Sports Fitness and Coaching degree.

Miss Louise and Miss Debbie offered me the opportunity to qualify in the NATD Gymnastics Dance syllabus and I was very excited! I have been teaching this since September 2022 and I am really enjoying it.

In my free time I enjoy going to the theatre with friends and baking cakes.

Miss Jo

I started dancing when I was 3 years old in one of the first ever baby classes at NEDS. I studied Tap, Ballet and Modern. My focus then switched to theatre and I studied at GYPT before forming a theatre company and performing at Union Theatre. I then went on to study Drama at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama gaining a BA Honours before gaining a PGCE in Secondary Drama Education. I now teach Drama and lead the performance faculty at Eltham Hill School where I regularly direct and choreograph our school shows.

When Miss Debbie and Miss Louise asked if I wanted to go back to my dancing roots I jumped at the chance. Here at NEDS I teach Contemporary Dance which allows me to combine my knowledge and experience of physical theatre with my love of dance. I also teach the Baby Tap and Ballet classes which is a very different experience to teaching teenagers in my day job.

When I am not teaching I love going to the theatre watching all different kinds of performances from Shakespeare to Six.

Miss Lauren

I first started dancing at the age of 6 with disco dancing. I fell in love with it straight away and at the age of 10 I became a champ, competing all over the UK. I became a Street Dance champ aged 12. I then moved to D&B Performing Arts School where I started Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Musical Theatre. At 16 I joined D&B College and graduated with a Diploma in Musical Theatre.

I was lucky enough to work for Disneyland Pairs and Disneyland Tokyo as a dancer, performer and face character. I then went back to college and became a teaching assistant alongside teaching street dance in afterschool clubs. I am now a Dance Teacher and Careers Lead in a SEND Secondary School.

I am now a part of the NEDS family and am teaching Street. I love helping them grown in confidence and helping them have fun! In my free time I love going to the theatre and spending time with my family.

Miss Lyndsey

I have been dancing since the age of 5, having a brief gap whilst attending university. I graduated with a degree in Primary Education in 2012, and have been a Primary School teacher ever since, teaching in a range of year groups. As well as performing, I love running shows behind the scenes, having run school dance productions and many school plays!

I have attended NEDS since returning from Uni, taking exams and participating in modern, tap and ballet dances in the shows. I am very excited to be given the opportunity to now teach at NEDS, combining my love of dance with my love of teaching children. In my spare time I love spending time with my family, attending the theatre and reading.

Testimonials

Find out what the most important people, our students and their families, think of our school.

Testimonials

Find out what the most important people, our students and their families, think of our school.