Progress pictures of our studio refurbishment so far...
Katie Readman – Principal
Katie began dancing from the young age of 4 in ballet, tap and modern. She has always concentrated on getting her entire dance exams completed in all dance styles & completing the Associate qualifications. Whilst working for those exams, she also regularly competed on the festival circuit. Having completed LAMDA exams and ESB to make her an all round performer, she went onto complete Alevels in Dance and Performing Arts. Furthering her training she completed training at Phil Winstons theatreworks studying lyrical/contemporary, musical theatre, commercial & drama.
Katie has further qualifications in modern, advanced ballet/ tap, cheer and acrobatic arts and currently working towards baby massage, baby yoga and sensory qualifications which will be completed by September 2021 in time for KTZ grand studio opening.
Katie’s dream wasn’t to perform – it was always to choreograph so in 2007 she decided to become self employed. All the local schools in the area were contacted and offered dance as an extra curricular activity. Happily, Katie was given the opportunity from numerous schools throughout Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley (KS1-KS4) to bring dance into schools. Alongisde her self employed commitments, Katie was employed by the Hyndburn & Ribble Valley School Sports Partnership to coach dance in curriculum and extra curricular time which gained her vast experience in teaching children of all ages and abilities, learning the skills needed for dance in PE.
As part of her job role, it was required to organise and host annual dance festivals encouraging local schools to take part. This was successfully held at the local theatre where over 100 students took part performing on stage all their routines which they had been learning during their dance clubs. This festival was then repeated throughout the Ribble Valley where another 100+ students took part. It just shows how important those dance clubs are for the students to help them gain enough confidence to get up on a stage and perform in front of all their peers. It’s a huge achievement for them.
The time spent meeting different children, teachers and getting involved in such a vast range of dance activities has gained Katie invaluable experience. In the same year she also began a 2 year GCSE DANCE programme for a local high school working on all aspects of their examination. They were coached throughout all of their practical and theory lessons where the majority of students passed A-C. From this it lead to help coach for a 3rd year at a second high school gaining further experience in the new GCSE DANCE syllabus.
The knowledge from teaching on GCSE and Alevel programmes and associate programmes has allowed Katie to train various students through their associate exams and now KTZ have their own students who have trained and qualified with associates in various exam boards.
Whilst running the studio for the past 14 years Katie has also started, organised and run successful dance festivals under the name of chance2dance both in person and online. These have been attended by hundreds of students from novice to experienced dancers where there has been something for everyone to take part in. Her experience in festivals and all styles of dance has made her lucky enough to adjudicate many times at local dance festivals, dance competitions and high school dance competitions. This is something Katie absolutely loves to do – bringing confidence to those young dancers and watch such amazing talent emerging in the area.
Ktz have recently developed an associates programme for their own students lead by Katie – and they now have over 25 students each month learning from professionals in the industry, choreographers and attending workshops to further gain experience and have those once in a lifetime opportunities to broaden their dancing.
Ktz is now becoming involved in the development of a brand new exam syllabus and from September 2021 – will now be able to offer our student exams in ballet, tap, modern, street, lyrical/contemporary, musical theatre, vocals aswell as a range of medal tests. Just another branch to their ever expanding school.
Not only this but the introduction of the brand new “BABY K’ classes. These classes will range from baby yoga, baby massage, sensory and ballet/tap for our toddling students, encouraging parents to be involved in dance & movement with their child from a very early age.
Throughout her time teaching, Katie has produced and choreographed over 30 shows and there will be many more to come. Dance and more importantly teaching/choreographing & inspiring dance is her absolute passion and she can’t wait to share another decade of dance with you all!
