Zoe Powell

I started dancing at Patricia Lindley School of Dancing, Filey, at the age of 7 and still teach there today. In 1998, I started a University degree in dance; throughout my studies, I developed many skills to enhance my teaching and dancing. For example: technique, anatomy, choreography, performance skills, with an independent research dissertation into diet and nutrition. I also performed in the Edinburgh Festival as part of the University dance company. In the summer of 2001, I graduated with a BA (Hons) Dance Degree.

Duringthis time I also studied for my IDTA Associate qualifications which would makeme a professional IDTA teacher. After achieving high marks in my first exam, Iwas nominated by the examiner, for the John Dilworth Scholarship Award. After along selection process, I was awarded the scholarship for being an 'outstanding candidate’ - out of over 500 candidates worldwide. More recently, I was also awarded the Bill Tasker Award for the Classical Sequence exam. I am very proudof these awards as they are professional recognition of my ability as a danceteacher. I am currently training to take my Licentiate qualifications.

After I finished University, I started competing in Solo Style...as a hobby!!! I was lucky enough to win my first competition and got'the bug'. At the end of that year I won the British Masters, and a few monthslater won the European Championships! Just over a year after my firstcompetition I came 4th at the World Dance Masters.While continuing to compete I managed to build up a group of dancers who I trained in this style. This continues to this day and I am VERY lucky to have trained several World, European and British Champions! More recently I became a judge for the WorldDance Masters.

I now run Garage Dance Studio and also teach within thedance school where I originally trained. I recently added Zumba and Zumbatomic to my repertoire of skills. I teach many different classes during the week, my youngest pupil is 3 and my oldest is 80!I have lots of successful competitors and I am very proud of each and every oneof them. Equally, I adore my social classes and they continue to inspire me todo what I love doing everyday. I love my job and put 100% into every class thatI teach, with the hope that every pupil develops the same love and passion for music and dance that I have!