Starlight Express School of Dance
About Us
Starlight Express School of Dance was established in 2003 by Toni A Oakley.The School caters for
all age ranges and standards. The school has grown dramatically since it opened in 2003 through
word of mouth and little advertisment. Toni’s training and career started at the young age of three
and with her great passion for dancing and continuous dedication she has continuously followed the
career path towards becoming a performer and teacher of dance. Toni decided that with her training
back ground and broad knowledge of dance & music that she could benefit others through sharing her
skills & passion for dance and so then the Starlight Express School of Dance was formed.
Toni continues working with the I.D.T.A, striving towards producing professionally groomed Dancers &
Teachersthrough her upto date knowledge in dance.
Who are the I.D.T.A?
The I.D.T.A stands for the International Dance Teachers Association founded in 1903 by a group of
dance teachers. The I.D.T.A, takes a prominent part in various bodies co-ordinating many large dance
seminars in UK and in other parts of the world. The I.D.T.A are members of the British Dance Council,
the Central Council For Physical Recreation, The Council For Dance Education and The Stage Dance
CouncilInternational. The I.D.T.A conducts over ¼ million amateur dance examinations as well as
professional examinations,for children and adults in all styles of dance, including subjects such as
Ballet /Tap through to Freestyle and Ballroom.
Toni's Background:
Toni’s dancing career started with her dance training at the Audrey Henwood School of Dance & Drama where she trained in disciplines such as Ballet, Tap, Modern Jazz passing all exams with Highly Commended and Honours with the I.D.T.A. She trained here up until her late teens and still enjoys dancing there for fun in her spare time.
Toni truly realised her ambition to be a dancer / teacher at her High School when her dance teacher and future friend Cathy Holland nurtured her skills. Cathy showed great faith in Toni’s abilities and with a little guidance and straight A’s in her dancing exams, Toni finally gained self belief and realised that her life calling was as a performer and teacher of dance
By this time Toni’s career path was well in place with a position running her own Dance School known as Tip Toes Dance School, in Halesowen in the West Midlands where she successfully taught a school of up to a 150 pupils for three years at the young age of 15. At the age of 16 Toni had a place on an A Level Dance Course & Performing Arts Course at Rowley Regis College in the West Midlands where she trained & graduated in Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, history, Larban Notation & Anatomy and Physiology with flying colours. Toni continued her teacher training qualifying as a teacher of dance with the I.D.T.A. with honours and the opportunity of a Scholarship. Toni’s training also consisted of intense training at Patterson College and Stage School in Covenrtry where she Graduated also with Honours. Some of Toni’s other achievements consist of, teaching the G.C.S.E DancTechnical Study to all the educational school teachers in the Midlands.Working a line of successful Jobs as a vocalist entertainer/ dancer, solo and with bands such as Renace on holiday parks and social clubs all over the UK.
She has also performed in a number of shows such as grease and a Tom Jones Tribute show with Northshore Production Company in which
she toured the UK with other artists such as Jason Steele.
Toni is also a well respected and referenced teacher of dance in a range of local educational schools such as St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Harbourne and Haslucks Green Junior School where she has choreographed successful shows such as Oliver, The Wizard of OZ and Mary Poppin’s and has entered students into local dance festivals and exams in which students have excelled with high grades.
She has also worked for a London Dance Company called the “National Dance Company” as an area manager training up and qualifying student dance teachers in freestyle dance and has also taught for other Dance schools such as Rebecca Aults, Fame and Theare Train.
Toni has also choregraphed succsesful shows such as "The Boy From Know Where" which has toured the Uk. She has also choreographed show work for singers including tribute acts and has even choregraphed Dance routines for UK Champion Body Builders.
Your Teachers.....
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