Our Teachers

All of our teachers at Insteps are fully CRB checked and we have registered health and safety trained personal.

Leianne Jukes - Full time Teacher & Principal - A.I.S.T.D and Certificate in Dance Education

Leianne began dancing when she was four beginning with ballet and moved on quickly to start modern and tap. From an early age she was passionate about dance and realised that this was where her future was and at 16 went to full time dance college to continue her studies on a 3 year full time course. At Dance College she studied Ballet, Tap, Modern and National and gained her Advanced 2 exams in all of these genres as well as gaining her Teaching Associates in Ballet, Tap and Modern all with the ISTD faculty. She also had the opportunity to study other forms of dance including, Contemporary, Irish, Spanish, Ballroom, Jazz and Street Dance.

After leaving dance college Leianne spent the majority of the next 6 ½ years performing professionally both in the UK and all over the world in Theatres, Casinos, Festivals and Cruise ships. Between contracts Leianne would take the opportunity to teach in both syllabus work and run many workshops in various dance schools.

When returning to the UK after her last dance contract on board P&O in 2006 Leianne decided that she now wanted to concentrate her time on teaching in a hope to pass on her love for dance and musical theatre to her students. Leianne is very proud to have the opportunity to take over as the principle of Insteps in September 2008 and hopes to continue the schools growth and success.

Kimberley Wells

Kim began dancing at the young age of 2 and a 1/2 with Ballet and at 5 years old also started Tap and Modern dancing. She went onto to take numerous dance examinations in Modern, Tap and Ballet both within the ISTD and RAD dance faculties as well as completing all her Jazz Awards. Kim has already finished all of ISTD Tap examinations by achieving her Advanced 2 Tap exam and has also completed her RAD Ballet Graded Examinations with her Grade 8 RAD and is currently studying to finish her exams in ISTD Modern and Ballet.

Kim has performed in numerous shows and performances throughout the area including many professional Pantomimes.

When finishing School in 2007 Kim started training for her dance teaching qualifications with the ISTD Dance faculty and in March 2009 completed her Foundation in Dance Instruction Level 3/DDI in both Tap and Modern. Kim is currently continuing her studies to further her teaching qualifications in Modern and Tap and also hoping to complete her Ballet ISTD teaching qualification very soon.

Since gaining her Dance teaching qualifications Kim has been teaching dance both at Dance Schools and local Primary Schools in the area.

Kim is very much looking forward to joining the teaching staff at Insteps Dance Academy in September 2010.

Ruth Wood

Ruth began dancing at the age of 4 and at the age of 15 she won a scholarship to train at The Hammond School in classical ballet. Unfortunately due to injury her time there was cut short and a dance career looked unlikely. Although after 2 operations and a hiatus from dance Ruth became even more determined to resume her professional training.

Whilst attending Bojangles Dance College in Staffordshire Ruth undertook many major examinations and received training in a wide range of genres including Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, and National as well as Drama and Singing.

Ruth went on to work across the UK and abroad, with the intentions to gain essential experience in the performing arts. Upon doing this, Ruth developed a passion for the art and realised her heart was in teaching.

Ruth studied for 4 years at the Janet Marshall Dance Centre in Cheltenham where she achieved her dance teaching qualifications with the ISTD Faculty. She gained her Foundation in Dance Instruction Level 3 and Certificate in Dance Education Level 4. Ruth has worked for several schools around the county of Herefordshire allowing her to expand her knowledge as a teacher which I look forward to applying at Insteps.