Get to Know Us
UC Dance has been established in Derby and Burton on Trent since 2017, providing dance classes and fantastic opportunities for all ages. The school provides a chance for young people to dance in a school in the local area of Derby and Burton without prejudice.
UC Dance is the sister company of Upbeat Community Dance which has been providing community dance classes and projects in Derby for over thirty years. In September 2017 UC Dance bought DanceTek and the membership grew to over 150 pupils, now we have over 240 active members. The School teaches all theatrical dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, acrobatics, contemporary, lyrical and theatre craft, progressing ballet technique, stretch and flex, pointe work, musical theatre, classical greek, professional training and specialist training for those who want to enter the field of dance or performing arts as a profession. As winner of the Best Dance Studio 2024 , UK Adult champions, U Dance National Finalists, IDTA Global Festival Finalists and All England Regional bronze medallists' and National Finalists here at UC Dance we know what it takes to get the very best out of each dancer whether they attend just for fun, are a competition team member or want a career in the arts. In July 2023 and 2024 UC Dance also represented Team England at the Dance World Cup in Portugal and Prague achieving 5th in the world. An amazing achievement.
The School has membership with the IDTA, NATD, CDMT and ISTD and is an recognised Arts Award Centre providing examination opportunities with these dance associations. We hold an annual performance for all of our dance members to gain experience of dancing on stage and to build confidence and team building skills. We are also a Dance Den member and CDMT recognised school ensuring that UC Dance is a safe and nurturing environment for all members.
We believe that everyone can achieve!
Amanda Skevington
Co-Principal
​
IDTA, NATD, ISTD , B.A (Hons), PGCE, PGDipLM
​
I have been teaching dance for over thirty years, teaching all theatrical styles as part of the IDTA and NATD. I was lucky enough to train in contemporary dance and worked with some of the most prolific choreographers in the world of contemporary dance including Akram Khan, Richard Alston, Lea Anderson, Paul Douglas and Jacob Marley. I danced professionally for a number of years and as a freelance artist worked with a variety of organisations including the BBC, East of England Orchestra, The National Trust, Dance 4 and Deda before entering into the teaching profession initially with Upbeat Community Dance and then into secondary education. After four years I moved into further education and worked at Burton College developing and managing the dance, acting and music courses. After sixteen years I moved to Liverpool to manage a large arts faculty .I have been an examiner for GCSE dance and BTEC Performing Arts. I have taught many young people and am proud to say that the dancers I have trained have progressed to top stage schools including Urdang, Performers College, Italia Conti, LIPA, London Contemporary School of Dance, Laban, London Studio Centre, Northern Contemporary and Stella Mann. I am also an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals.
Samantha Walker
Co-Principal
​
IDTA, Cert Ed.
​
I have danced since the age of five starting my dance training at The Hughes School of Dance and Drama and progressed through the school to become an Associate teacher for the IDTA. I am trained in classical ballet, modern jazz, tap and theatre craft. I have worked as a professional dancer across the country but as soon as I began to teach I knew this was the career I wanted to pursue. I am extremely lucky to have had great successes through teaching dance and have enjoyed the many different pathways it has taken me. After the Hughes I spent thirteen years teaching for an IDTA examiner progressing into becoming a Dance Lecturer for Burton and South Derbyshire College teaching dance from L1 to Foundation Degree. I taught dance techniques in ballet and modern jazz, musical theatre, contemporary, body conditioning, circus, audition techniques and movement. I was awarded a grade one Outstanding teacher status during this time too. All of this whilst still teaching in the evenings for Upbeat Community Dance and DanceTek. I have a love for choreography and my teaching roles have enabled me to fulfil this passion. I worked as a choreographer for a production company and since then I have choreographed pieces for the Royal Albert Hall, Her Majesty's Theatre and Sadlers Wells alongside Amanda Skevington. In addition to this I have been fortunate enough to have choreographed pieces that have been performed at DisneyLand Paris, Move It! London, Thailand, dance school shows, BTEC/FD assessment pieces, audition routines and many more. I was also Derby’ s Basketball cheerleading coach for three years. Whilst lecturing I gained my CertEd through Nottingham Trent University and currently work as a Performing Arts Higher Level Learning Ambassador in an outstanding primary school in Derby teaching dance and performing arts across school. I have trained dancers currently working in the industry performing across the world from the theatre to TV and film.
