Jeannette Gordon
Jeannette is the Principal teacher at the Jay’s School of Dance. She has been running the school for over 23 years and her dedication to dancing and her students has not diminished since the day she started. She aims to make the classes a fun and enjoyable experience whilst still delivering a first class and knowledgeable lesson. Jeannette’s dance focus is Latin American, Ballroom and Old Time dance.
Qualifications- ISTD Fellow of Latin American dancing
- ISTD Licentiate of Ballroom dancing
- ISTD Associate teacher of Old Time dancing
- UKA Associate teacher of Ballroom
- IDTA Associate teacher of Ballroom
- CRB checked
Jeannette started dancing at the age of 3 when she studied Ballet, Tap and Stage dance. She worked through exams in all of these styles and performed in a number of performances over the years. At the age of 11, Jeannette joined a school that taught Latin, Ballroom and Disco. She soon started to compete in all three styles of dance and was often placed in the Finals at competitions. Jeannette also took exams in Latin, Ballroom (progressing to her teaching exams) and in Disco where she reached Gold Star level.
After a break from dancing, Jeannette started again when she married her husband John. She firstly qualified in Old Time dancing and then progressed to qualifying in Latin American and Ballroom. Jeannette has not stopped at the basic teaching qualification but decided to develop her skills and knowledge and became a Licentiate Ballroom Teacher in 1995 and a Fellow of the ISTD in Latin American in 1996. She is still looking to develop her own knowledge and use her experience to become an examiner with the UKA.
Over the years, Jeannette has helped a number of pupils to gain examination passes, first places in competitions and training to progress further in the Dance industry. She is a dedicated teacher and will do her utmost to help all of her pupils achieve their goals.
Jeannette has also trained, and worked, as a hairdresser. She married at the age of 25 and has one son.
For more information on Jeannette, please go to the ‘About’ link.
April Dolphin
April runs our Freestyle and Street classes. She also assists Jeannette in the Ballroom and Latin teaching.
- Associate teacher with the UKA in Disco Freestyle
- Trainee Teacher in Ballroom and Latin American
- Diploma in Insurance (DipCII)
- Working towards Advanced Diploma in insurance (ACII)
- CRB checked
April has been dancing since the age of 3 and she started studying Ballet, Tap and Modern and then went on to learn Jazz. She continued Ballet until the age of 12, Modern until 17 but still participates in an Adult tap class which she thoroughly enjoys. At the age of 6 April joined the Jays School and started learning Ballroom, Latin American and Disco Freestyle dancing.
Over the years April, until she was 16, competed in numerous Ballroom and Latin competitions with the highlights being competing at the Blackpool Winter Gardens and the Brentwood Centre for Ballroom and Latin and then continued to progress with her exams. She also won numerous titles in Freestyle dancing including becoming the Inter-champ winner at a regional competition.
April has continued to work through her exams in all dance styles and reached up to Gold Star 3 for Ballroom and Latin and passed the Peggy Spencer award for Freestyle with an almost 100% pass rate. She is continuing to take all relevant exams until she is ready for her teachers
We were extremely proud of April when she auditioned for ‘Strictly Dance Fever’ with Graham Norton in Jan/Feb 2005, and got into the last 20 in the London area. She was also a half time dancer for a semi-professional football team (Heybridge Swifts) for 1 season until she found it too time consuming.
As well as her interest in dancing, April currently works as an Insurance Underwriters Assistant in London and is taking exams to gain her ACII in Insurance.
Jemma Coleman
Jemma is an Associate Teacher. She specialises in Disco Freestyle, Street Dance and Rock N Roll. Her teaching style is friendly and fun with the focus on helping you to enjoy dancing.
Qualifications- ISTD Associate member, Disco Freestyle (DFR)
- UKA Associate member, Disco Freestyle
- UKA certificate in Rock n Roll
- UKA certificate in Cheerdance
- BA (Hons) Secondary Design and Technology Teacher (with QTS)
- First Aid Training
- CRB checked
Jemma started dancing at the age of eleven although she had always enjoyed ‘bouncing around’ to music from a young age. She even entertained the crowds at Covent Garden when she danced to a busker’s music in the middle of the square!
She began learning Disco, Rock N Roll, Latin and Ballroom and started to partake in competitions almost from the start. She was often placed in the top six at competitions and took home a number of medals. Jemma came runner-up in a ‘Dancer of the Year’ competition and won a place in the National Line Dance finals for the Over-14’s Gold Star and above category. Jemma also began to work her way through the examinations for Disco, Rock N Roll, Latin and Ballroom where she took medals for solo and pairs work.
After a number of years, with the pressure of her school studies, Jemma decided to focus on her Disco and Rock N Roll dancing (competing with the Pendrill School of Dance), taking a break from Latin and Ballroom. Whilst still competing, Jemma took her Peggy Spencer medal (the highest exam in Disco Freestyle) and then retired from competing to focus on her studies.
In her teens and early twenties Jemma choreographed a number of dances for school plays, local shows and team dances for competitions which were awarded a number of prizes. She also started to teach Disco classes at the Jays School of Dance under the supervision of Jan, and the training of Russell Sole.
Once she had gained her degree, in Secondary Design and Technology teaching, Jemma once again focussed on her Dance studies and in 2004 she passed her Associate Teacher exam in Disco Freestyle dancing. She is now working on the new QCA Certificate in Dance Education qualification with the ISTD in London.
Jemma currently teaches Design and Technology at a local Secondary School, where she has also started two Dance groups for the pupils. She still enjoys the dancing immensely and returns to cover our clases when we need her to.
Kristy Hooper
Kristy is a Student Teacher. She specialises in Disco Freestyle, Street Dance and Rock N Roll. She is particularly gifted at choreographing Street Dances.
- ISTD Student Teacher in Disco Freestyle (DFR) dancing
- First Aid Training (Appointed Person)
- Recently completed a degree in Osteopathy at British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- B. Ost. Med. D.O.N.D Degree
- A Naturopathic Osteopath
- CRB checked
Kristy started to dance when she was just 5 years old. She began her dance career in ballet and tap, but soon realised that Ballet was not for her. She went on to learn Ballroom, Latin, Disco, and Rock ‘n’ Roll dancing. These genres of dance she enjoyed much more.
Kristy has spent most of her dance career focusing on Disco Freestyle and Rock ‘n’ Roll, competing in dance competitions from the tender age of 6 until she was 17. Kristy won many medals in the pairs, solos, trios, and team categories. She also took many dance exams, gaining honours in them all.
At school, Kristy regularly appeared in dance shows and performances both at her school, and elsewhere representing the school, including the Cramphorn Theatre. She also has co-choreographed dances for school performances too. Due to this she was one of the first to receive her dance colours at school.
Kristy took her Student Dance Teacher Award exam at the age of 18, and has continued to enjoy teaching people of all ages. She has developed her range of dance skills into both Street and Hip Hop. This has led her to choreograph many different types of dances for her dance classes, covering all genres of dance that interest her.
After taking a break from Ballroom and Latin dancing, Kristy has re-kindled her enthusiasm for these dance styles and continues to develop and enjoy her dance skills in these areas.
Kristy is currently studying for a Masters in Paediatric Osteopathy in London, but continues to enjoy both learning and teaching dance.
Lauren Crabb
- Newly qualified Associate teacher with the UKA in Ballroom
- Student Teacher in Latin American
- UKA Associate teacher in Ballroom
- UKA Student teacher in Latin American
Lauren’s interest in a range of dance styles started at a very young age. From 2 ½ to 7 she learnt Ballet and Tap, she was Irish dancing at 5 and started Ballroom and Latin American at the age of 7. Disco Freestyle and Street was started at an older age of 12.
Throughout the years Lauren has taken, and excelled in, a number of examinations in a range of dance styles. She also took part in numerous competitions. These include winning Juvenile Latin in Blackpool at the age of 11, gaining a place in the Ballroom final and reaching the finals for Ballroom and Latin at the Brentwood centre at ages 10 and 11.
Lauren is currently completing her A2-Levels after passing her AS-Levels with flying colours and hopes to study Dance and Geography at Liverpool University. We wish you all the luck with your studies Lauren.
Jason Gray
- Musical Theatre diploma from Bodywork Company Dance
- Hip hip/street dance teacher
- CRB Checked
We would like to welcome Jason to our team of dancers who will be teaching Hip Hop/Street dance in our Ipswich classes. Jason is a former pupil who excelled in all areas of dance and went on to train for 3 years at Bodywork Company Dance Studio's in Cambridge where he achieved a distinction in his Musical Theatre diploma. Once he graduated, Jason went on to do a number of World Cruise’s on P&O Ferries originally as a dancer then again the following year as the lead singer of the on board show. In between cruise jobs he has performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, for the women’s Freemasons and choreographed various group pieces for corporate events and promotions including the 'Move It' exhibition in London and Givenchy’s Fragrance 'Play'. He has been teaching Hip Hop/Street dance to all ages from as young as 5 for over five years.