A few testimonials from SK Dance Studio’s dancers and parents
Nicola Ciotta – Professional Dancer and Dance Teacher
“As soon as I could walk I was wanting to dance, so from the age 2½ I started training with Susan Kielb. The 14 years that I studied there I learned, not only solid technique and performance skills but also team work, confidence and respect.
These are all very important factors for a dance career, but also for day-to-day life and business. We not only worked hard at SK Dance but played hard too, and I have many, many great memories of trips all over the country, performing in some of the grandest theatres in Europe. Susan has a great teaching ethos and instills an inner drive to succeed without rivalry or competition between others.
The solid training I had as a child at SK Dance helped me take my love of dance to the next level and I gained a place at the Northern Ballet School, Manchester. After graduating NBS on the Dance Teacher’s course, I enjoyed a very successful dance career all over the world working for Costa Cruise Lines, Legends, Showstoppers, Thursford Christmas Spectacular, Moore Entertainment and Paul Holman Associates to name a few. Now I’m a ballet teacher in my adopted home city of New York, and I’m thrilled to be supporting the dancing dreams of a new generation of dancers, just as Susan did for me. Thank you Susan for enabling my dream of being a dancer”.
Louise Stout – Parent & Adult Ballet & Tap Dancer
“I joined the Susan Kielb School of Dance at the age of 11 and loved it from the very start. Susan’s supportive and inspiring teaching style took me all the way through to passing my dance teaching qualifications just before leaving for Australia.
On returning to the UK, I came back to SK Dance as part of the adult tap and ballet classes and continue to love dance to this day. I have amazing memories of performing with the Susan Kielb dancers in some of the UK’s best known theatres and am thrilled that my own daughter is now enjoying the opportunity to do the same. She started dance classes with Susan at the age of 2½, and thanks to the attentive and nurturing tuition she’s getting at SK Dance Studio, is really developing confidence and her own skills as a young dancer.
In 2017 at the age of 11, she won a place on the prestigious Cecchetti Associates programme, which alongside class work at SK Dance Studio, has really helped her to progress her ballet training. Then in 2019 aged 13, Violet successfully auditioned to join the KS Dance Classical Associates programme with Royal Ballet School trained ex professional ballerina Kate Simmons.
I can’t thank Susan enough for everything she does to make sure dancers reach their own individual potential. This school is about quality not quantity. Class sizes are sensible so children really get the attention they need to develop. Every child is an individual, not just another dancer in a massive class”.
Paige Murray – Dancer in our student class
“I’ve been a pupil at SK Dance Studio since the age of two. I learned and loved everything about it, and gradually became more and more immersed in the world of dance.
The classes are thoroughly enjoyable and I have enjoyed every part of my dancing experience from the exams, that have been a lot of hard work but in the end very rewarding, to the best part, the dancing school shows.
I have performed at many fantastic places with SK Dance Studio over the years, such as the Liverpool Empire, Blackpool Opera House and my ultimate favourite – Disneyland Paris.
I love every minute spent in the dance studio and have many cherished memories of the school from the past 17 years.
Susan has shown me the magic of performing and that with passion and practice you can achieve anything you set out to do.
Her influence on my life has been immeasurable, and I can’t thank her and the rest of the team enough for what they have done for me. They’ve been like a second family!”.
Lorraine Tomlinson and her dancer daughter Abby
“My daughter has danced with SK Dance Studio for 13 years and I’ve seen her grow from a cute little girl standing on stage at the Palace Theatre in Manchester to a graceful dancer who has just completed her Grade 5 ballet exam and Silver tap. Susan and her assistant teachers always put the girls first and help them achieve their full potential.
The shows are always stunningly professional and its great to see a dance school where the teacher doesn’t come on the stage to help the youngest members – they do it all by themselves and love every minute of it, which goes to prove how well they are taught.
My daughter has enjoyed her time so much with Susan that she too wants to pursue a career as a dance teacher. This is very much a family run school and you can be sure of a warm welcome” – Lorraine.
“I’ve been dancing at SK Dance Studio since the age of 3 and 13 years on, I still love it. Susan is a great teacher and individual.
The rest of the teaching staff are equally as good. It’s a great all round experience and I love it – I’ve never even thought about leaving!” – Abby.
Andreah Doherty – ex Student and Adult Dancer
“For as long as I can remember I have always loved to dance. I was thrilled when I went to SK Dance aged 5 and started to learn all sorts of new styles. As we progressed up the school we took exams, had presentation evenings and performed in whole school shows.
When I was 8 we performed The Tales of Beatrix Potter in a variety show called ‘Hits of Great Musicals’ at The Opera House Theatre, Blackpool Winter Gardens.
It was a magical experience to perform on a huge stage in front of an enormous audience.
I went on to perform with SK Dance at the Liverpool Empire, Manchester Palace and even at Disneyland Paris. We went on trips to the theatre to see Ballets such as Coppelia, and then learned to dance the parts at summer school.
SK Dance has such a family feel, everyone is supportive of one another and we have great fun. I still dance twice a week, in the adult ballet and tap classes”.