Alumni
Click on the links below to see where some of our vocational pupils have ended up. A lot of our students love dancing purely as a hobby, however a few decide to pursue a career in the profession. These pupils attend vocational training, and we take great care to prepare them as best we can for auditions at top schools.
Ffion Rees
Mid Wales Dance academy gave me access to my chosen career as a dance teacher, I am now in my third year on the BA(Hons) Ballet Education course at the Royal academy of Dance and I'm also undertaking the LRAD course at the headquarters.
My past with MWDA helped me gain assisting jobs in London with Chelsea ballet schools and Savva ballet school, and has helped prepare me for teaching placements that I undertake through my course at Pineapple Dance Studios, Penny Parks school of Dancing, the Roche school and Ballet Black junior school, especially as I got the opportunity to assist/ teach with MWDA from the age of 12 until present.
At MWDA I learnt a variety of styles including: ballet, both RAD and Vagaonova styles, tap , modern jazz, street dance and chorus line. I was also able to undertake RAD ballet and IDTA tap exams in which I always achieved good marks thanks to my teachers!
There were always opportunities to learn and perform repertoire for annual shows and work with external company's e.g Owen Money pantomimes and Strictly Come Dancing.
Most importantly to me however at MWDA I made friends for life!
Bethan Cooper
Clara Rust
I joined Mid Wales Dance Academy at the age of three, and the school has been supporting me ever since. They've been like a second family to me and I wouldn't be where I am now without them. I have a BA (hons) in Contemporary Dance from Trinity Laban, and am a fully qualified Pilates teacher. I assist with MWDA classes throughout the week and love working with the younger pupils. I am hoping to qualify as a ballet teacher soon.
Clara Rust
My time at Mid Wales Dance Academy is filled with positive memories, great opportunities and lots of dancing. The summer schools and annual shows being some highlights, where we got to perform on a stage anyone would be lucky to be on. The weekly training at MWDA helped me achieve my goal of getting into London Contemporary Dance School, from where I graduated with a BA (hons), and I am currently assisting with classes at MWDA.
Josie Sinnadurai
I grew up in Wales and was a student at Mid-Wales Dance Academy for 7 years. Whilst training with MWDA, I was also a member of the associates with National Dance Company Wales for 3 years. Some of my personal highlights at MWDA include performing the Arabian solo in The Nutcracker, the lead role in Cinderella, and the contemporary piece “Hats”.
After leaving MWDA, I moved to London to train at London Contemporary Dance School, and graduated with a first class BA (hons) degree. After graduating, I joined NDCWales as an apprentice and toured extensively throughout Britain with them.
Alongside my contemporary dance training, I have also been training in flamenco since the age of three and began performing professionally at the age of thirteen. I have performed in both Britain and Spain, and have trained with many prestigious teachers. I am currently living in London and work as a freelance flamenco and contemporary dancer and choreographer. I teach both ballet and flamenco regularly for La Escuela de Baile, and recently spent a month in Germany, where I performed at a Klezmer music festival with a cast of dancers and musicians from all over the world.
Marla King
I became part of Mid Wales Dance Academy when I moved to Brecon at seven years old, where I took part in ballet classes, tap classes, and chorus line for a couple of years. During my time at secondary school I was taking part in three ballet classes a week - graded class, seniors and vocational, all of which were so beneficial to my development as a dancer. Thanks to the support of MWDA I am now training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds and am pursuing a professional career in dance as a performer.
Isabella Morgan
I studied at London Studio Centre on their BA(Hons) Theatre Dance course. Without my training at Mid Wales Dance Academy, I would not have had the confidence to go down this route. MWDA was pretty much a family to me, always making sure I was happy but also doing my best, so I'm very grateful that my mum put me in that pink leotard all those 15 years ago. I will forever be thankful for everyone at MWDA and will never forget my time at the school, it truly was one of the best parts of my childhood
Elise Norgate
A large chunk of my life has been spent in the studio with Mid Wales Dance Academy, as I started classes at the age of three and continued with the school until I was eighteen. I’m very grateful for the fabulous support, training and encouragement I received from the students and teachers alike. MWDA was fundamental for me in opening up opportunities for my dance future and I have very fond memories from the years I shared with my friends and teachers. I am currently studying at London Contemporary Dance School.
Cerys Price
After joining MWDAs Chorus Line class age 10 I soon found my passion for Musical Theatre and performance. With the encouragement and support from all the teachers and pupils over the years I found a love for dance as well. With my training at MWDA behind me, I have gone on to complete my BA in Music and Musical Theatre and most recently an MA in performance (vocal studies)at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Since graduating I have attained my first professional performance job as part of the Thomas Cook show teams. I look forward to travelling abroad for the summer, but also enjoy coming back and able to take part in classes at MWDA.
Laura Chesters
I moved to Brecon at the age of 12 and joined Mid Wales Dance Acadmy, which at that time was running under its original name ‘Ribbons Ballet School’ I stayed with them for six years until completing my A-levels. I moved on to study my dance degree full time at the UWIC for the next few years and totally loved it. After graduating I moved away from dance into Logistics (for some crazy reason). I returned to Brecon as events and venue manager at Buckland Hall and have now rejoined MWDA as an oldie!
Rowan Kennedy - Brown
Since joining Mid Wales Dance Academy at the age of four I have loved every single minute. Having done numerous ballet and tap exams and annual performances my confidence and dancing technique has grown dramatically. The school inspired me to persue a career in dance teaching, and supported me in completing my BA hons degree in Dance. The friendships I have made through my time with MWDA are friends for life. I would recommend the school to anyone and everyone as it has been a huge part of my life and continues to be to this day.
Megan Walker
I have been involved with the school since it’s opening in 1995. The pupils all talk about the MWDA family, and I am lucky enough to be treated as the ‘big sister’ within this. Through my training with the school I not only gained my Intermediate RAD ballet exam and numerous tap grades, but was also lucky enough to get accepted to train at the Royal Academy of Dance, and am now a fully qualified ballet teacher, and a partner in the business. I cannot tell you how many people I rave about my job to, I am very lucky to be so heavily involved in the school, and can’t wait to see where we go in the future.
Lucy Childs
I started at MWDA comparatively late in my teens, beginning with modern jazz classes and then ballet and Chorus Line as well. Being a part of MWDA not only gave me the chance to meet so many amazing and talented people but also provided me with all the skills I needed to get into The Hammond School of Performing Arts where I study BA (Hons) Musical Theatre. Without the confidence and skills I learnt at MWDA I would not have gotten this far or had the many fantastic opportunities granted to me, most recently being the chance to perform in UK Tours with Brendan Cole and Collabro. I’m so grateful to everyone at MWDA who helped me get one step closer to my dream of performing!
Sian Evans
I started dancing at MWDA at the age of 4. I attended classes in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Street and Chorus Line. During the years I have had lots of great opportunities including achieving a Distinction in my RAD Advanced exam, dancing with external organisations including Strictly Come Dancing and Owen Money and Peter Karrie Pantos. Thanks to the great teaching I received at MWDA I was lucky enough to get accepted onto Associate courses with Elmhurst School of Ballet, Ballet Cymru and National Dance Company of Wales. The highlight of my time with MWDA was when I was privileged enough to dance the role of Giselle. The end of year show was always great fun and a fantastic opportunity for every student to gain confidence. The amazing teaching skills and support I have received from the MWDA Family has enabled me to go on to train full time to be a professional ballet dancer with Kings International Ballet Academy.
Berwyn Cooper
I started at MWDA at the age of 6 in the Boys Ballet Class, which taught me the basics of what I know today, and gave me the passion to pursue a career in dance. Everyone at MWDA looks forward to the annual summer shows as they provide us with an amazing experience to strive and work for, and they give many the chance to perform and showcase their hard work. I was lucky enough to dance the role of Albrecht in the school's adaptation of Giselle which was a spectacular experience. The exceptional training I received at MWDA got me a place at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance where I am now in full time vocational training, hoping to become a professional dancer, and I recently danced in Matthew Bourne's new production of "Romeo & Juliet". I cannot express the gratitude I have for the school and the experiences and opportunities it's offered me which have got me to where I am today.
Shannon Evans
I joined Mid Wales Dance Academy when I was three years old, where I took part in ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz and chorus line classes. I have had the opportunity to study for RAD Ballet and IDTA Tap examinations, achieving a Distinction at Intermediate level for Ballet.
My experiences from being part of MWDA include performances in the annual show where my highlight was dancing the role of the sugar Plum Fairy. All the children look forward to the show as it is a way of showcasing all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes every week. There are also numerous other opportunities to perform, namely in local pantomimes and touring company shows. I have been given the opportunity to assist/teach with MWDA from the age of twelve, running my own Junior Technique class last year.
The weekly training at MWDA along with the encouragement and support of the dance teachers helped me gain a place on the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Dance) course at Millennium Performing Arts, London to train as a triple threat performer. I have made friends for life at MWDA and would highly recommend this school to anyone!