Emily Redding

Principal & Teacher. En Pointe Repertoire Safety Specialist. | DDE & DDI (ISTD) BSc, PGCE

Emily began dancing at the age of 3 with Spirals Dance Academy and later The Maureen Williams School of Dance where she took part in local productions, shows and competitions. At the age of 13 she began to assist her own dance teacher and eventually led the classes herself, part time.

Whilst studying for a degree at Loughborough University, Emily trained to be an ISTD teacher with Imperial Academy. In addition, Emily helped to lead Loughborough’s student union dance club and taught weekly for them. She performed for the BBC and took part in the annual dance club inter-university competitions. Emily has also completed her ballet teacher training with The Penny Meekings Dance College, later taking the next level (DDE) and achieving a distinction mark with Pirouette Academy of Dance. In addition to her first class honours degree, she went on to qualify as a primary school teacher with Leeds University increasing her knowledge of the psychology and development of children’s learning which is still invaluable to her full time dance teaching role now. Alongside primary school teaching, The Emily Redding Dance Academy was set up in 2013. Emily is proud to reflect on the many wonderful shows and successful exam sessions, and some stand out moments such as a performance at the prestigious Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

Emily’s continuous zest for learning has also meant that she has continued to challenge herself with lots of CPD, including advanced 2 tap, PBT training, pointe shoe fitting training, numerous ISTD refresher courses and business courses. Emily was very proud to have most recently achieved a distinction in her ISTD advanced modern exam, with Imperial Academy, after having her two children who are a huge driving force in her passion for learning and development.

Emily’s drive to learn has led her to working in association with Philip Cutts Pain Management and Rehabilitation @https://www.facebook.com/percutanepainfreesolutions. These studies have been increasing her knowledge of applied anatomy and physiology; essential tools when working with children’s growing bodies. Emily has successfully completed the Dance Medicine course, which explored a deeper understanding of the musculoskeletal structure of the body and how we can use that knowledge to enhance dance lines, for greater performance outcome. Emily is currently studying ‘En Pointe Safety and Performance’ applying practical knowledge of how the foot is an extension of the hip to train her ballet students in their pointe work journey. Her studies will lead her to become a Musculoskeletal Therapy Assistant with a specialism as En Pointe Repertoire Safety Specialist. Emily is excited that the courses are helping the art of dance teaching gain the academic status that it deserves, and has allowed her to design training programmes tailored to really unique anatomical conditions.
It is essential that dance training at ERDA is fuelled by excellent understanding of the moving body at all stages of development so you can relax in the knowledge that we are training your children to the best and safest standard. You only get one body, and we believe dance should be a tool to nurture that, not injure it.

Contact Emily to choose the right dance class for you today!

Katie Adams

Preschool dance lead. Ballet, modern and tap teacher. | ISTD DDE

Katie is originally from Los Angeles and holds a BFA in Drama and Producing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She holds professional acting credits in television, commercials, print, theatre and film. Katie started teaching alongside her acting career in 2011 when she became the creative director of Put Art In Your Heart Dance Studios in Austin, TX. Since then she has taught, choreographed and directed for musical theatre production companies and schools in New York, Los Angeles, Austin, London, Northampton and now the Stamford/Rutland area. Katie is a qualified LAMDA and ISTD teacher.    

Abygail Parish

Ballet, Modern and Conditioning Teacher | ISTD Modern, Ballet and Tap teacher

Aby went to SLP college Leeds and Gained a Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre and a Trinity College London HND in Professional Musical Theatre. She gained her teachers status in ISTD Ballet, Tap and Modern, amongst other fitness qualifications.
Aby travelled nationally and internationally dancing and teaching at dance schools and professional dance colleges. She has also gained a BA(Hons) in Professonal Dance Training from Middlesex University.
Aby opened her own dance studio in Syston in 2012 which runs successfully alongside her other teaching jobs at local dance schools and colleges in and around Leicestershire. Aby also teaches sports massage, and works at a Chiropractor clinic to deliver sports massage alongside their treatments. She is a mummy to 3 gorgeous children, so balances her own drive for learning ,passion for dance and nurture for her family. Aby joined ERDA team in 2021 and we are very lucky to have her as part of our team.

Lucy Kind

Modern and Tap Teacher | DDE (ISTD)

Lucy is a graduate from North Liverpool Dance Academy and is also a qualified ISTD teacher. She joined our team in 2020, teaching for us first on zoom during the pandemic!
Lucy set up her own dance business in Leicester in 2021, and has already had a successful first show -a credit to her continuous hard work and infectious personality.
In addition to ERDA, she works in a nursery during the day, teaches for two other local dance schools in Leicestershire and is renovating her own home. Lucy recently attended a dance business conference and continually strives for opportunities to inspire her own teaching and business practice.
We are lucky to benefit from her fantastic teaching, commitment and positive energy here at ERDA too.

Alison Bacon

Admin Assistant | IDTA Associate Ballet, Tap and Freestyle, Dance Exercise Diploma, Safeguarding and Prevent Trained,

Alison taught ballet for ERDA before moving closer to her family in Liverpool. She loves all things dance, as well as being a very talented stitcher, roller skater and aunty! Alison’s dance lesson planning immaculately links her love of music and movement with child development and nurture. Her drive, organisation and friendship meant we couldn’t say goodbye forever so are very grateful that Ali agreed to continue in a remote admin role for us whilst continuing to teach dance in her new home area. (Liverpool are very lucky to have her!)

If you have any queries, Ali may help you via email on erdaassistance@gmail.com