Ex-Pupil Success stories!
Meet the MPDA Alumni
Since the creation of MPDA, we are blessed to have seen many talented students walk through our doors. Our teachers endeavour to nurture the talent of each and every one of our pupils, and we are proud to say that some have now gone on to greater things.
Many of our teen students have successfully auditioned for professional dance and performing arts colleges, which will set them up ready for a career in the showbiz industry. We are so excited to see what they achieve in the coming years! In the meantime, please read below to find out more about our individual success stories from MPDA!
Lola
My MPDA journey!Lola is now training professionally…..
“I was lucky enough to join Mini Professionals when it was in its first year when I was just 9 years old. From the very first lesson, I felt at home and I instantly fell in love with the classes. It’s been an honour to watch MPDA grow and to have been a part of the incredible school.
Over the many years I was given countless opportunities to perform, compete, and train with the amazing teachers! Due to the outstanding training and support at Mini Professionals over the years, I gained places at some of the top performing arts colleges in the country- including Bird, Performers and Wilkes, which meant that I had a lot of deliberation to do as all of the colleges are amazing!
Lola was also our MPDA ambassador!
Many of our younger students looked up to dancers like Lola….
I eventually settled on Wilkes, which is where I am currently training to be a professional dancer. I will also be able to graduate with a degree in Musical Theatre. After this, I hope to travel the world performing on cruise ships, I’d love to be in West End shows and also gain work as a commercial dancer.
Finally, whilst at MPDA, I was given the opportunity to teach Acro/gymnastics which was an incredibly opportunity which I’m very grateful for! This means I now have some teaching experience which I can utilise in the future, as I’d love to choreograph and teach others in my future career.”
Josie
Hear about my experience....Josie is now at full time dance college…
“I first joined MPDA in 2016 and it made me feel like a completely different person! I went from hiding at the back of class to attending as many dance classes as possible at MPDA. This was all thanks to the amazing teachers and wonderful environment
.
After successfully auditioning for vocational colleges, I am now attending Performers College in Essex where I am training full time in dancing, singing and acting. I am so grateful to MPDA as I am able to do what I love full time and they prepared me for this. In the future, after my full time training; I’d love to be performing abroad, cast in a West End show, or dancing on TV! I’d also love to teach and choreograph as I find it very rewarding- especially as the teachers at MPDA inspired my personal journey so much!”
Katy
Hear about my experience....Katy is now in full time vocational training.
“I started dancing at MPDA in 2016, aged 11 following a summer camp, which I loved. I quickly made wonderful friends, and soon the class became the highlight of my week. I continued to take classes at MPDA until 2021, when I successfully auditioned for the level 3 diploma course at Dancebox Studios and Theatreworks. I felt that my time at MPDA excellently prepared me for vocational training, I had a great understanding of core techniques, and what was expected of me. I also found the audition workshops in singing, acting and dance very helpful, as they reflected a typical audition environment. I graduated from Dancebox in July 2023 with a distinction. I pleased to have recently joined the three year BA (hons) Theatre Dance course on the jazz pathway at London Studio Centre.”
Olivia
My time at MPDA!Olivia is now training full time at Urdang!
In 2014 aged 11, I joined the newly founded Mini Professionals Dance Academy . It was here and over the next 8 years that I took classes in Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical, Commercial, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Heels and Acro. I loved being part of the MPDA family and was quickly made to feel welcome, making some wonderful friends. I was a member of the Elite Squad and thoroughly enjoyed assisting with dance classes encouraging and sharing my enthusiasm for dance with other students.
I realised that my passion was based in dance and musical theatre practice and it became my ambition to be an industry professional. MPDA made an invaluable contribution to the skills and qualities required, greatly supporting me in my journey to achieve the next level.
The technical training in classes and the many performance opportunities and experiences provided a great foundation for me. My teachers were fun, professional and inspirational. I became a Dance scholar at school, and took my RAD Ballet exams, LCME (Musical Theatre singing) and LAMDA (Acting) exams. MPDA holds a special place in my heart and I am very proud to say I was a student.
After for studying for 1 year at Bird College Conservatoire for Dance & Musical Theatre on their Pre Professional Foundation Programme, I successfully auditioned for multiple top Performing Arts colleges. In September 2023 I started at The Urdang Academy London, where I am studying for a BA(Hons) in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre Degree.
Upon graduating, I hope to have a career as a musical west end performer and dancer. I’d also like to teach and choreograph, sharing my passion for performing with the next generation!
Lena is now enjoying university life!
I began my journey at MPDA after attending a friend’s dance birthday party, hosted by Principal Bethany Gorton. Having previously taken part in ballet classes, as well as ballroom and hip hop throughout primary school, I fell back in love with dancing and knew that I wanted to join Mini Professionals immediately. I started attending Friday Mids when I was 10 and have gone on to attend hip hop, ballet, jazz, lyrical and of course Squad (Squad B, Competition squad and Elite Squad). Throughout my time dancing I have performed at many events such as Dancing Oxford, the Light Festival, at old peoples’ homes, summer fetes and of course Disney’s Time to Shine. Whilst I love to dance myself, I have also felt much enjoyment when working as a teaching assistant for weekly tinies classes, as well as across all ages at the holiday dance camps. It is safe to say that MPDA has well and truly made me the person I am today.
I made some of my very closest friends at the studio and the training at MPDA has given me the confidence to push myself and follow my ambitions. I also now know myself more and understand my body through dance. I am eternally grateful to Bethany for founding MPDA and allowing me to thrive.
MPDA and providing a safe space for me to thrive. I owe a lot of my love of dance to April Harvey whose choreography and commitment to teaching has inspired and motivated me. Since leaving MPDA, after a very emotional leavers’ show, I have continued dancing alongside my studies at the University of Bath. I am a part of the Dance Society for which I compete as a member of the Advanced Jazz and Advanced Lyrical teams, having had an extremely successful competition season in 2024. I am also a part of the Cheerleading team’s dance division in which I am a member of the Performance Pom team, the select Small Pom Competition team and have recently been selected as the Dance Coach for six teams in the upcoming academic year (2024/25).
Theo
Theo went on to train at The Royal Ballet School!
Theo was one of Mini Professional Dance Academy’s first students and he attended 1-1 private lessons with Miss Bethany who spotted his incredible potential from a young age! He was heavily involved in MPDA life, attending classes frequently with us to instil the basis of his training. After his years at MPDA, Theo successfully auditioned for Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham. This meant that Theo moved away from home at a young age to receive this professional vocational dance tutoring. Elmhurst provided Theo with impeccable training, so much so that he was awarded the prize for ‘Excellence in Ballet’ in his final year at the school.
Thereafter, Theo auditioned for The Royal Ballet Upper School. This is one of the best dance academies in the world, and he fought off stiff competition from thousands of hopefuls to be awarded a place! This meant that he received training the premises in Covent Garden for 3 years. During this time, Theo took part in a number of the Royal Ballet Summer productions which were staged at the impressive Royal Opera House.
Theo also prepared Frederick Ashton’s “Dance of the blessed spirits” for try into the school’s Lynn Seymour Award, where he danced in three other choreographed pieces. More recently, Theo danced in the Royal Ballet Company’s “The Nutcracker” where he took on the role of multiple characters at different performances.
Since graduating from The Royal Ballet School, Theo has joined the Joffrey studio company in in Chicago for dancers with exceptional promise, in the hope of joining the main Joffrey company. We could not be more proud of how far Theo has come! A real life Billy Elliot.
Ella
Hear about my experience....Ella is now a dance specialised physiotherapist!
Ella joined MPDA at the age of 15 and 8 years later, it is still a significant part of her life! Ella thanks MPDA for introducing her to multiple styles of dance and she is grateful for the nurturing, warm and motivating environment which MPDA always provided during her time there. Ella had the pleasure of being part of MPDA’s first Elite squad. The team performed at various events around Oxford including Cowley Road Carnival and Dancin’ Oxford. When Ella left MPDA at the age of 18, she knew she wanted to continue with dance alongside also pursuing her passion for healthcare.
This led Ella to study physiotherapy at the University of Liverpool, where she also joined the dance society. This meant that Ella could still continue with her training and take part in performance opportunities and showcases with the uni. Alongside studying for her degree, Ella completed a level 4 certificate in sports massage, with the aim of providing a specialised service to dancers so that she could combine both of her passions at once!
Alongside Ella’s physiotherapist training, she has volunteered for organisations such as ‘Dance for Parkinsons’ and ‘The brain charity’. She credits MPDA for suitably preparing her for such roles, as she was able to gather experience in teaching assisting during her time at the studios. In addition to her physio training, this gave Ella the skills needed to work with clients and communicate her knowledge effectively.
Now, Ella still re-visits MPDA and takes part in the fantastic adult dance classes we have on offer. Ella appreciates how MPDA gave her the confidence and determination to pursue a successful career in healthcare, and she is thrilled that she can still continue with her passion for dance. In the next stage of her life, Ella is excited to embark on a professional career in physiotherapy, potentially work with the dancers at MPDA in due course!