Life Members & Honorary Members

Background & Training

• Origin: Born in Italy, Fabio started dancing at 6 years old and represented Italy in dance until 2011  .
• Professional partnership: Since 2011, he has been dancing and teaching alongside Amy D’Angelo (née Ward), born in Hull and a former British Ballroom & Latin Champion  .

Competitive Career Highlights

• Italian National Achievements:
• Vice-Italian Ballroom Champion in 2009  .
• International Competitions:
• Partnering with Amy, they started competing internationally from 2011, representing the United Kingdom in adult standard competitions  .
• Notable results include top-30 finishes in events across Europe—Cambrils (Spain), Bratislava (Slovakia), Vienna, and more  .

Teaching & Performance Career

• D’Angelo Dance Academy – Based in Hedon (Hull area). Co-founded and run by Fabio and Amy. They are both:
• Professional dancers for England, former British finalists
• Qualified international teachers and adjudicator, chairperson (full scruteneer qualification)
• Members of IDTA (International Dance Teachers’ Association) and BDC (British Dance Council)
• Recipients of the IDTA Arthur J Gallagher Award for top marks in professional exams  .
• Performance highlights:
• Appeared on stage at the Royal Windsor Theatre, featuring alongside celebrities like Joanne Clifton and Russell Grant  .

Summary

Fabio D’Angelo is a highly accomplished Italian-born ballroom dancer, former national competitor, now established in the UK. He has achieved high-ranking competitive results, is a qualified international teacher/adjudicator, and co-runs the successful D’Angelo Dance Academy in Hedon with Amy, where they coach, teach, and perform.

Dawn started dancing at 7 and was introduced into the Dance Award system through the Classical
Sequence branch. Subsequently she took medals in several genrés, entered and partnered in IDTA
medalist competitions and in 1974 won Medalist of the Year in Classical and Modern Sequence for the
Tonks and Bates School of Dance. She qualified at 17 in Classical Sequence and ballroom. She
continued studying for further degrees in other branches at John Knight Dance Studios and at 29 was
appointed IDTA examiner.
She continues to fully support the dance award system, and has entered thousands of pupils in Ballroom,
Latin, Sequence, Freestyle, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Country and Western, Cheerleading, Dance Exercise and Club
Dance style awards, also training numerous professionals in all branches.
Dawn has been a member of the Midlands Area Committee for 26 years and is Chairman. Dawn has also
served as Chairman of the Nationwide Committee and the Sequence Faculty and is a member of the
Ballroom and Freestyle Faculty. Dawn considers it a privilege be a part of the IDTA being President from
2010-2011, and from 2017-2018,
In 2024 Dawn was proud and honoured to be awarded the IDTA Distinguished Service Award for her
lifetime commitment to dance and the Association.

I am delighted to welcome Vicky Race to the NATD Management Team. Vicky will join the Council of Management as a Non-Executive Director with effect from June offering advice to Council on Safeguarding matters. Vicky has over 20 years’ experience working in safeguarding roles in education, the emergency services and for her local authority. As an experienced safeguarding professional Vicky has provided training, consultation and support widely across the dance sector. As a dance teacher of 25 years, she is keen to support and promote best practice in Dance.  This unique dual skills base enables an understanding of both good safeguarding and the world of dance allowing her bring the two together to support high quality safeguarding practice across the sector.

I am delighted and extremely honoured to be awarded Honorary membership of the NATD.

Having been General Secretary of the Theatre Dance Council International for the past 8 years I have worked closely with our eight member associations, which of course includes the “National”. I was absolutely delighted when the NATD decided to re-join the TDCI once again several years ago, having previously been a member for many years!.

My role in the TDCI includes organising all our major events. These include the British Theatre Championships, the English Theatre Championships, the TDCI Champion of Champions & Bursary Awards, the National Scholarships, the TDCI World Performer, and Theatre and Freestyle Carl Awards. The NATD are involved in all these events!!

I also deal with over 20 organisers of our regional Championships throughout the year, who present over 100 TDCI Championship titles in various genres of theatre dance. Ensuring they receive their certificates and medallions in good time, ready for their events. Also the competitors must have a TDCI registration card to compete in these events, so liaising with the teachers is a daily task required in order that all the Championship dancers are able to have the opportunity to compete in these prestigious events.

I am always busy and involved with many other tasks in the TDCI, and also as a Director of the Allied Dancing Association. However, I have always loved the National Association of Teachers of Dancing and the work it does, and what it offers it’s members.

It is fantastic that we have 8 associations under the TDCI umbrella for Theatre dance, and I am now proud to say I am an honorary member of two of these associations, being the IDTA and now the NATD. Thank you so much for bestowing this honour on me.

Chris Booth

TDCI General Secretary

Training: Studio One / Millennium Performing Arts (Full Scholarship) – National Diploma

Theatre credits include: Resident Director / Dance Captain & u/s Kathy in Singin’ In The Rain (Kilworth House Theatre); Queen in Jack And The Beanstalk (Chelmsford Theatre); Wicked Stepsister in Cinderella (De Montford Hall, Leicester); u/s Marie and Adele in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella (Gillian Lynne Theare, West End); Gale & u/s Judy Haynes in White Christmas (Dominion Theatre, West End and Curve, Leicester); Demeter / Dance Captain in Cats (Kilworth House Theatre); Missy in The Marvelous Wonderettes(Upstairs at the Gatehouse & Theatre Royal Windsor); Chess(London Coliseum); 42^nd Street (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane); Patty Simcox in Grease (Curve, Leicester); Serena in Legally Blonde (Curve, Leicester & South Korea); Kiss Me Kate(Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris  & Grand Theatre, Luxembourg); Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Wyvern Theatre, Swindon); u/s Dale in Top Hat (UK Tour & Japan); Cinderella in Cinderella (Civic Theatre, Chelmsford); u/s Jenny Lind in Barnum (Chichester Festival Theatre); Dick Whittington (Hackney Empire); West Side Story (Royal Festival Hall); Thursford Christmas Spectacular (Thursford). 

Other credits include: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella(Workshop); Dance Captain in All Star Musicals (ITV); Associate Choreographer to Nick Winston for Kiss Me, Kate(Oper Graz); Lead Vocalist on the Pacific Sun; Chicago (RCCL); Future Cinema Presents: Who Framed Roger Rabbit(Troxy); Surprise Surprise (ITV); Ant and Dec’s Push The Button (ITV); The Generation Game (BBC); Royal Variety Performance (London Palladium / ITV); The One Show(BBC); Tonight at the London Palladium (ITV).

• Current/reigning World Champion in Professional Ballroom Showdance
• DVIDA American Smooth Professional qualifications
• Current/reigning British Professional Ballroom Showdance Champion.
• 20 times UK CLOSED and BRITISH NATIONAL champion.
• Worlds finalists in Youth, Amateur and Professional Showdance
• International Rising Star Professional Champions
• World Gold Cup winners
• Winners of the “Le Classique Dance Award”

• Current/reigning World Champion in Professional Ballroom Showdance
• DVIDA American Smooth Professional qualifications
• Current/reigning British Professional Ballroom Showdance Champion.
• 20 times UK CLOSED and BRITISH NATIONAL champion.
• Currently Mark is the only person in British Dancing to win British National Ballroom Championship at every possible category including juvenile, junior, youth, amateur , professional and professional showdance. Altogether winning 32 British National and UK Championships titles.
• Worlds finalists in Youth, Amateur and Professional Showdance
• International Rising Star Professional Champions
• World Gold Cup winners
• Winners of the “Le Classique Dance Award”

I’m one of the country’s leading Chairman on the open, medallist, university and international circuit. I’ve 44 years of experience as an adjudicator and I’m on the executive committee of the Dance Promoters Association where I assist in running the prestigious United Kingdon closed Championships at the Bournemouth Summer Festival.

I took my first medal at the age of 8 with the NATD with the fantastic Syd Perkin and Edna Duffield School of Dance in Stoke on Trent.

Dancing has been my life and continues to inspire me whenever I take part.

James Groom, BA (Hons), MA, LRAD, LNATD, RAD RTS

James began his dance training in Essex with Hazel Ellesse at Talents Theatre School, where he studied all styles and gained qualifications with the NATD in ballet, tap, modern, and freestyle. In 2016, he moved to London to attend the Royal Academy of Dance, specialising in ballet teaching. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in Ballet Education, achieved the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance (LRAD), and became an RAD Registered Teacher (RAD RTS).

To further his academic studies, James completed the Professional Award in Benesh Movement Notation (PABMN) in 2022, qualifying as a Benesh Movement Notator with the ability to record movement in written form. Additionally, he has earned an MA in Education from the University of Reading.

Currently, James holds the role of Benesh International Lead Officer at the Headquarters of the Royal Academy of Dance. He also serves as a sessional lecturer for the RAD’s Faculty of Education, contributing to various teacher training programmes, including the BABE, LRAD, and CDT programmes. In addition to his work at the RAD, James has delivered lectures and adjudicated for the NATD and was awarded Honorary Membership in 2024.

ANNE GLEAVE – Dance Story

In 1969 Anne’s parents intention was that she and her Sister would be able to dance when they were older as a social grace, so at the age of 6 Anne and her sister were taken to the local dance school.

Anne took all her medals first as lady and then as man, and it was during a medalist competition that she was approached by a 10 year old young man and her first partnership was formed.

1973 – 4th in the Juvenile Ballroom International Championships

1977 – 6th in the Junior Ballroom International Championships.

1978 – Winner of the V. Waltz at the Blackpool Junior Dance Festival

It was her love of Latin American however, that made Anne search for a partner and pursue this as a career and in 1979 formed a partnership with James McKechan.

1983/4 – Finalists in the European, British Open, United Kingdom and International Amateur Latin Championships

1984 – started dancing with John Wood and a career change dancing Ballroom

1985 – British Professional Rising Star winners

1987 – winners of the Segue competition at the United Kingdom Championships

1988 – winners of the Closed British Championships

1989 – British Open and World Professional Ballroom Champions

1991 and 1993 – British Open Professional Ballroom Champions

1989, 1991 and 1992 – European Professional Ballroom Champions

Retired in 1994 at the Team Match in Blackpool.

2003 – British team captain, as part of the Open Ceremony of the British Team Match, Anne danced with Peter Eggleton and Karen Hilton danced with Bill Irvine in a ‘duel’

Red Button Commentary for the BBC Strictly Come Dancing Series

2011 – co-presenter of the first Freedom to Dance Open to the World Competitions
There are currently 27 countries, and 77 Ambassadors involved in Freedom to Dance International events Worldwide.

2016 – Returned with Partner John Wood to Demonstrate at the World Superstars Japan

2019 – Presented with the Imperial Highness Prince Makasa Award for Lifetime Achievement, presented by Her Imperial Royal Highness Princess Akiko of Makasa.

2023 – Freedom to Dance helped sponsor dancers from Step Change Studios to compete in the first ever Blind and Partially Sighted Ballroom and Latin American dance category.

Originally from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Jordan trained at the Anne Taylor Academy of Dance and graduated as Head Boy from the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in 2013. After a successful performing career, he earned an MA with Distinction in Theatre Directing from Rose Bruford College and a Certificate in Education from the University of Hull. Most recently, he completed his Certification as an Intimacy Coordinator at the National Film and Television School.

Jordan’s credits as a director/ choreographer include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (European Tour); Kerry Ellis Does Christmas (Leatherhead Theatre); Sleeping Beauty (Brighton Metropole); At Last, It’s Summer (London Palladium); Build a Rocket (GMFringe Award Nominee – UK Tour and Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Government Inspector (The Scottish Institute); The Tempest (Theatre Space North East); The Theory of Relativity (Mas Alba, Barcelona); Robin Hood (Leeds Conservatoire/City Varieties); Sweet Charity (Festival Theatre Studios, Edinburgh); The Wizard of Oz (UK Open-Air Tour); Aladdin (Brighton Centre); INK (Courtyard, Rose Bruford); Peter Pan: The Musical (European Tour); At Last, It’s Summer (Workshop and Concept Album recorded at Abbey Road Studios and Capitol Records, Los Angeles, featuring Kerry Ellis, Jason Manford, David Bedella, Anita Dobson & Janie Dee), and Happy (R&D and Community Tour, Sheffield Crucible).

As one of the Creative Producers at Brick Lane Music Hall, Jordan has choreographed and directed numerous pantomimes, variety shows, and summer productions. Since 2017, he has been the Project Coordinator for  Brick Lane Music Hall’s schools initiative in East London, working to inspire and nurture young talent, particularly children who have not had access to theatre.

In addition, Jordan is a recognised adjudicator of dance competitions and festivals, and is a member of the All England Dance panel. His recent adjudication credits include: TDCI Scholarships; UK National Championships; NATD Theatrical Scholarships; Ultimate Victory Dance Championships; StarzUK (International and UK competitions); Magnetar Events; Solent Dance Festival; Strictly MT Festival; All Stars Dance Competition; Dance Devotion; Huntingdonshire Festival of Dance and the Arts; Ash Dance Festival; Euphoria Dance Events; and Dance Equality.

Website: www.jordan-langford.com

Alisa and Kyle Taylor are the 3 time British National Professional Ballroom Champions, and 2 time UK Champions. They have been 3 time finalists in the World Championships, twice finalists of the British Open, Open Worlds, and European Championships. Last year they finished in 4th position of the WDC World Rankings.

Alisa was a former Junior World Champion and U21 World finalist.

Nicky Miles has been involved in the dance world for over 50 years.  He is passionately committed to inspiring and encouraging people to dance.

A protégé of Anne Lingard, Bill Irvine MBE and Peggy Spencer MBE, he co -runs a successful dance school which has taught and produced accomplished dancers and teachers of dance for decades.  Its alumni include national champions and world class competitive dancers.  

Nicky was heavily involved in the era of Saturday Night Fever and Grease which bought freestyle to the masses. Many of those pupils still attend classes, and now bring their own children making this the perfect family fitness genre.  He also routinely organises and scrutineers high profile dance events, including the British Open, British Closed, Society events and University Grand Finals, still offering many events to the newer competitive dancer.

He now promotes many events including venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Blackpool Winter Gardens, Bishopsgate Institute, plus many other venues throughout the UK and abroad on a weekly basis. 

Jack is thrilled to be an NATD Honorary Member. He started dancing at the

age of 3 at the Christine Kearsley School of Dance in South West London.

Training at an NATD accredited school gave him the best possible foundation

for a career in dance.

Jack trained at ArtsEd.

Choreography credits include: At Last, It’s Summer (The London

Palladium); Aladdin (The Brighton Centre); Goldilocks: The Ballet (Sadler’s Wells &

UK Tour); Kerry Ellis Does Christmas (Leatherhead Theatre); Madame Chandelier

Saves Opera (UK Tour); Pippin (Peter Sarah Theatre); Peter & The Loose Boys,

Goldilocks & the Bare Bears, Robin Hood, Pinocchio (Brick Lane Music Hall); Fruit-

tella Campaign (Heart Radio & Global); The Elf Express (Ironworks Studios); The

Elves Save Christmas (Brighton Christmas Festival); EuroVibes (St Peter’s

Pavilion); Riddles & Romance (Udderbelly Boulevard); Rocky Horror Show (The

Grand, Brighton); and Se7en (No Mans Fort).

Director credits include: The Elf Express (Ironwork Studios); Eurovibes (St

Peters Pavillion); The Elves Save Christmas (Brighton Christmas Festival); Down

Memory Lane (Queens Theatre, Hornchurch); Associate Director – Build a

Rocket (Edinburgh Fringe & UK Tour)- nominated for Best New Play at Fringe

2023.

Performer credits include: Goldilocks: The Ballet (Sadler’s Wells); The Royal

Ballet’s Cinderella (The Royal Opera House); The Secret Garden (Peacock

Theatre); Jack & the Beanstalk (Lyric Hammersmith); Alice in Wonderland

(Phoenix Theatre & UK Tour); Cinderella: The Ballet (UK Tour); Princess & The Frog:

The Ballet (Leicester Square Theatre); Inside Out (Rambert); Aladdin (Brighton

Centre); SAS: Rogue Heroes (BBC/Kudos); All Of Us Strangers (Film4); and IPPA

Awards 2018 & 2019 (The O2 Arena for HUMTV).

Jack is one of the Creative Producers and Resident Choreographer at Brick

Lane Music Hall and is Creative Supervisor at E3. He has been nominated for

three Carl Alan Awards and his recent production of Goldilocks: The Ballet has

been nominated for two Off West End Awards. Jack is an All England Dance

adjudicator and adjudicates festivals and dance competitions across the UK.

Website: jackpallister.co.uk

Instagram: @jackmichaelpallister

Twitter: @Jack_Pallister

Kyle and Alisa Margulis are the 3 time British National Professional Ballroom Champions, and 2 time UK Champions. They have been 3 time finalists in the World Championships, twice finalists of the British Open, Open Worlds, and European Championships. Last year they finished in 4th position of the WDC World Rankings.

Kyle has been the Amateur World Champion, European Champion, and winner of all 3 ‘Grand Slam’ championships.

Kyle is also the most decorated British National Champion in history, winning a total of 22 titles.

Julie is a Fellow and multi faculty Examiner for the ISTD. She was formerly the Chairperson for Dancesport and Chairperson of the Latin American faculty for the ISTD.

She is the proud recipient of both the Carl Alan Award and Imperial Award.

She holds a Championship adjudicator licence and a qualified scrutineer.

She has always been very active within the dance industry and currently a member of the WDO Education Committee. She’s a former Director of the BDC, Vice Chair of the UKEDC and a member of the Board of the Sports and Recreation – (Dance division).

As a competitor she enjoyed a successful 10-year dance career, many moons ago she was a finalist in the Latin American Closed British and UK Championships. 

Julie commenced her teaching and professional career at the tender age of sixteen at the Olga Wilmot School of Dancing. She continues to enjoy her passion for dance, teaching, lecturing, adjudicating and invigilating in the UK and overseas.

Oliver trained at The London Studio Centre and went on to tour with The Jazz Co. Since then, he has built up an extensive career in the commercial dance industry performing on stages around the world, showcasing his talent performing for renowned music artists such as Rhianna, Katy Perry, Coldplay, The Pet Shop Boys, Bananarama, Kylie Minogue and Sir Rod Stewart. He has featured in films including Cinderella (Sony Pictures), Cruella (Disney) and Barbie (Warner Bros) and most recently completed work on the film adaptation of Wicked (Universal Pictures). 

Oliver is also featured performing in many global television commercials for prestigious brands like Dolce and Gabbana, Burberry and Sony.

Alongside his dance partner, Oliver is currently the resident dancer at The Ritz London.