Miss Donya Keys

Birthplace: York
Age started dancing: 2yrs
Trained at: Elmhurst Ballet School

Short Bio: 
Donya Keys was born in York. She started dancing at the age of two and a half years old. She has passed her Royal Academy of Dance Major (Vocational) examinations and all grades with Distinction. In 1996, Donya became an associate with The Royal Ballet as well as dancing at the Louise Brown Yorkshire Scholarship Centre for seven years.

In 1998, Donya danced as an associate with the Northern Ballet Theatre for five years along side achieving the Dame Alicia Markova Scholarship awarded to her in 1999 and the Gladice Thorpe award in 2003. Also in this year, Donya was accepted into vocational schools, Central school of Ballet, English National Ballet and Northern Ballet school but choose Elmhurst Dance School in association with the Birmingham Royal Ballet where she gained an A Level in Dance and Diploma in Dance.

She then went onto performing with the Birmingham Royal Ballet as a soloist in façade and later danced in firebird in 2005. Donya has danced with companies which include, Royal Opera Company, European Ballet Company and Yorkshire youth ballet theatre. Donya then progressed to become a qualified teacher, undertaking a Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies at the Royal Academy of Dance.

Donya started teaching in 2006 and being based in the London area, taught at many dance schools as well as taking her classes into private schools. She is DBS checked. She now has own ballet school, bringing all her experience and knowledge back to her hometown of York. En Pointe opened in January 2013, and Donya opened the En Pointe Studios in January 2016.

As well as running En Pointe, Donya is also an Associate teacher with the Royal Ballet school, an Associate teacher for Ballet Boost and a teacher mentor for the Royal Academy of Dance.

Qualifications:

• Royal Academy of Dance Registered Teacher

• Certificate in Ballet Teaching studies

• All Classical Certificates with the RAD

• Diploma in Professional Dance

• A Level in Dance

• Child Protection in Education level 2

• Progressing Ballet Technique Certified

• First Aid

• Infection Control Course

Highlight of career:
Working along side the best in the industry with The Royal Ballet School and being apart of their teaching faculty.

Favourite thing about working at En Pointe: 

"The feeling that I'm making a difference to the lives of children as well as passing on my dance knowledge to the next generation of young dancers."

Miss Jo

Birthplace: New Zealand
Age started dancing: 5yrs
Trained at: Whitireia Performance Centre (New Zealand)

Short Bio: 
Jo began ballet classes at age five and has been dancing ever since. Originally from New Zealand she holds a Diploma of Commercial Dance from the Whitireia Performance Centre. Jo has reached associate level in both RAD Ballet and AJDA Jazz (American Jazz Dance Association). She has achieved her Advanced 1 ISTD Modern Theatre, studied contemporary, and holds a Junior Jazz Teaching Certificate with the AJDA.

Jo spent the majority of her professional dance career working onboard Princess Cruises as both a Dancer and Assistant Company Performance Manager completing ten contracts over seven years. She has always continued teaching dance on an intermittent basis as her international career allowed and in 2021 began her Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies with the Royal Academy of Dance.

Qualifications:

• Whitireia Performance Centre - Diploma of Commercial Dance

• R.A.D (Royal Academy of Dance) - Advanced 2

• A.J.D.A (American Jazz Dance Association) - Junior Teaching Certificate

• A.J.D.A (American Jazz Dance Association) - Solo Seal

• I.S.T.D (Imperial Society of Dance) - Modern Theatre - Advanced 1

• N.Z.A.M.D (New Zealand Association of Modern Dance) - Contemporary- Level 4

Highlight of career:
Having the opportunity to perform and travel all over the world

Favourite thing about working at En Pointe:

"Sharing my love of dance"

Miss Heather

Birthplace: Darlington 
Age started dancing: 5yrs
Trained at: Ballet West

Short Bio: 
Heather started dancing at the age of 5 learning RAD & BTDA Ballet, BTDA Tap and BTDA Modern. She was offered a part scholarship to train vocationally at Ballet West where she gained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance. After graduating she had the amazing opportunity to tour China (2010) performing The Nutcracker, as much as she loved performing teaching was her one true passion. Heather settled down in Asia for 11 years progressing and developing her teaching skills, she has experience in producing, choreographing and directing performances, preparing and entering students for competitions, organising RAD examinations and managing a school. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance

• Classical Certificates with the RAD

• ISTD Full Teaching Membership

• Classical/Tap/Modern/Lyrical Certificates with the BTDA

• Enhanced DBS Certificate

• First Aid Essentials Course

• Equality and Diversity

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

• Mental Wellbeing in Children and Young People

• Child Protection in Sport and Physical Activity

Highlight of career: Touring China and being able to explore many cities and experience new cultures.

Favourite thing about working at En Pointe: 

"I have felt the warm, friendly and welcoming vibe since day one! I love how the children feel excited when they enter the classroom and I look forward to developing their passion and interest further!”

Mr Edgar

Birthplace: Sheffield
Age started dancing: 3yrs
Trained at: Academy of Northern Ballet

Short Bio: 
Edgar began his training in Sheffield aged 3, and achieved up to RAD Grade 4 before being accepted into the Academy of Northern Ballet in Leeds, aged 12. He trained for four years as part of the professional CAT programme, leaving the Academy to focus on academic studies after achieving RAD Intermediate Ballet with distinction. He began his role as an indoor climbing instructor in 2013. After volunteering in several primary and ballet schools, Edgar undertook a Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies and now runs his own small Royal Academy of Dance school in Sheffield.
Alongside En Pointe, Edgar teaches at the Academy of Northern Ballet as well as freelance chaperone and teaching work for the Royal Academy of Dance

Qualifications:

• Classical Certificates with the RAD

• Qualified and registered teacher with RAD

• Climbing Wall Instructor award (CWI)

• Emergency and Outdoor First Aid

• Infection Control Course

Highlight of career: Taking on my own RAD school.

Favourite thing about working at En Pointe: 

"I don't know yet, but I'm very excited to find out”

Miss Claudia

Birthplace: Eastbourne  

Age started dancing: 2yrs
Trained at: London Studio Centre 

Short Bio: 
Claudia was born in Eastbourne but spent her childhood growing up in the North East of England. She attended a performing arts school at the age of two but specialised in Ballet where she trained and completed the Royal Academy of Dance examinations. Claudia was lucky enough to be accepted and awarded a full scholarship to attend The London Studio Centre when she was sixteen years old. She was trained by high profile and world renowned teachers until the age of twenty when she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Dance. Claudia’s professional credits have included becoming part of a renowned dance company under the artistic direction of Dollie Henry ‘Body of People’ where she extended her knowledge and specialised in Jazz. Following her love of Ballet she was lucky enough to tour with Ballet West in Scotland. Jumping straight back into Musical Theatre Claudia also toured with shows including West Side Story and Hairspray. To further her training Claudia moved to America pursuing her dream of travel and performed in more than ten different production shows ranging from Musical Theatre, Jazz, Contemporary and Ballet. With hard work and dedication Claudia was hired as an aerialist gaining skills such as trapeze and silks sailing the high seas with Royal Caribbean International. Claudia’s passion to become the best possible artist she could be is never ending, as she has worked in all genres of the entertainment industry. Whilst living in Australia in 2018 Claudia had the privilege of working along side Sydney Dance Company whilst also choreographing for the Ballet Finalists at the Asian Grand Prix held in Sydney. Since returning to England, Claudia believes in sharing her love and passion of Performing Arts to a new generation of people who will continue to grow and complete their own individual journey in the years to come. 

Qualifications:

• Classical certificates with the RAD

• Qualified and registered teacher with RAD

• Jazz/Tap certificates with BTDA

• Qualified Aerialist C6 USA

• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Dance

• First Aid Highlight 

• Infection Control Course

Highlight of career: Transferring my Love of Dance into the air whilst being trained as an Aerialist. 

Favourite thing about working at En Pointe: 

“I am thrilled to be a part of the En Pointe team, whom I call my Dance Family. We all share a Love of Dance and teaching at En Pointe has been the most rewarding experience of my life.