Why Choose Gem’s?
Choosing a dance school is about more than finding the closest class at the right time.
At Gem’s Dance & Performing Arts Academy, we are proudly independent. We are not part of a franchise and we have not bought the right to deliver somebody else’s set programme.
Choosing a dance school is about more than finding the closest class at the right time.
Why Choose Gem’s?
At Gem’s Dance & Performing Arts Academy, we are proudly independent. We are not part of a franchise and we have not bought the right to deliver somebody else’s set programme.
Our teachers have trained for years to gain recognised teaching qualifications, continue to undertake professional development and invest significantly in their own training and education.
That means we are not handed a fixed lesson plan and told exactly what to teach each week.
Instead, we use our professional knowledge and experience to plan lessons around the dancers in front of us.
Teaching the Child, Not Just the Class
No two groups are identical, and no two dancers learn in exactly the same way.
Being independent gives our teachers the flexibility to adapt lessons to suit age, ability, confidence, additional needs and individual progress.
In one class, you may see several groups working on different skills at the same time. One dancer may be consolidating a basic technique while another is ready for a more advanced progression. Someone else may need an activity explained or demonstrated differently.
That is not a departure from the lesson plan — that is the lesson plan.
Our aim is not to make every dancer fit one programme. It is to use qualified professional judgement to help each dancer progress safely and confidently.
Qualified — and Still Learning
Qualifying as a dance teacher is not the end of training.
Our teachers continue to attend courses, seminars, workshops and additional qualifications throughout their careers. Across the team, that professional development represents years of study and a considerable personal financial investment.
Why?
Because dance develops. Teaching develops. Safeguarding develops. Knowledge about SEND, anatomy, safe practice and child development develops.
We believe our teaching should develop too.
Independent, But Professionally Connected
Being independent does not mean working in isolation.
We deliberately choose to be members of respected professional organisations that provide recognised qualifications, examinations, training, technical standards and opportunities for our dancers.
International Dance Teachers Association — IDTA
The IDTA is one of the world’s largest professional dance teaching and examination organisations, with members across more than 50 countries.
It is a recognised awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual in England, Qualifications Wales and CCEA in Northern Ireland for specific regulated qualifications. These include recognised graded and vocational dance qualifications, with some Level 3 qualifications attracting UCAS Tariff points.
For our dancers and teachers, IDTA membership gives access to structured syllabi, examinations, professional teaching qualifications, technical training and internationally recognised standards.
LAMDA
LAMDA examinations develop performance, communication, acting and musical theatre skills through structured assessment.
LAMDA is also a recognised awarding organisation, with many of its qualifications sitting on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. Not every LAMDA examination is regulated, but its recognised graded qualifications provide a clear progression route for students developing performance and communication skills.
For Gem’s students, LAMDA gives another way to gain recognised achievement alongside dance training — particularly in drama, musical theatre and communication.
ADFP
The Association of Dance & Freestyle Professionals provides a structured competitive pathway for Freestyle and related disciplines.
For our dancers, ADFP participation offers opportunities to compete, progress through recognised competitive levels, develop performance skills and become part of the wider freestyle dance community.
We choose to participate because it gives our competitive dancers clear progression, external opportunities and experience beyond their regular weekly classes.
DanceCirque
DanceCirque provides specialist training and licensing for teachers delivering aerial-based dance activities.
For us, this is particularly important because aerial work requires specialist knowledge, safe progressions and appropriate teacher training.
Rather than simply adding aerial equipment and “having a go”, we have invested in dedicated training so that Cheer & Aerial Fusion is delivered within a structured, safety-conscious framework.
Professional Freedom With Professional Standards
For us, independence means freedom to teach responsively — not freedom from standards.
We choose our professional organisations because they add genuine value: recognised qualifications, external assessment, technical frameworks, continued professional development and specialist knowledge.
That gives our teachers the flexibility to adapt lessons while still working within respected professional standards.
And ultimately, that means we can focus on what matters most: the dancer in front of us.
