Events, News & Student Success
TDS EVENTS
THE DANCE STUDIO ANNUAL SHOW 2026
TDS WIN MAJOR NI DANCE AWARDS
TOP PERFORMING SCHOOL IN BALLET
COUNTY DOWN, DANCE SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
RECENT NEWS
July 2026, 16 of our dancers qualified for the finals of Dance World Cup. This was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for our girls, who competed amongst 60 other countries, 11,500 dancers. Attaining beautiful scores across the board, we were so proud to represent Northern Ireland. Deepest thanks extends to our incredible sponsors, who made this opportunity possible;
Sam King, Dunluce Healthcare, Bedford Consulting, Loud Mouth Media, JSM McCully Furnishings, Bangor Marine, Coach Connections Ireland, The Nurture Nest, Curry's Bangor, M&D Financial Management and Moorcroft Foods.
STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
Molly Caven
Miss Molly trained at The Dance Studio from the age of 3 to 18 years old and is now a valued member of our weekly teaching faculty. After studying for two years, she recently attained her Level 5 Diploma in Dance Teaching with the British Ballet Organisation and is certified in Acrobatic Arts. In addition, she holds a range of secondary qualifications, including ADHD Awareness, Autism Awareness, and British Sign Language. By specialising in supporting students with SEN and additional needs, Molly is able to provide the highest level of care to all of our students at The Dance Studio and we are fortunate to have her.
"I started ballet when I was 3 years old and there was nothing I loved more than coming to dance and getting to see my teachers. I still remember my very first TDS show when I got to dress up as a strawberry, now I am here and still doing TDS shows, but in a slightly different way! Not only did Mr & Mrs Drake help me find my love of dance but they also gave me the opportunity to become an assistant and find my love of teaching. Thank you to The Dance Studio for everything; for all of the joy, love and opportunities you have provided me with. TDS means the world to me".
Katie McCullough
At 8 years old, Katie joined jazz lessons at The Dance Studio, before later enrolling in ballet at 13. By the age of 18, she was training full-time with Northern Ballet School and graduated in 2021. Since graduating, Katie has been cast as a professional dancer in the Disney feature film "Disenchanted" and has recently completed contracts as a dancer/vocalist in the musicals "We Will Rock You" and "Grease" onboard Royal Caribbean. Katie is represented by FLP Management and is now a fully certified Reformer Pilates Instructor, freelancing & travelling the world.
"I couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible training and endless support I got from Mr, Mrs and Tameron Drake. I loved my time at The Dance studio. They made classes so enjoyable and I feel so lucky to have been a part of it".
John Mclean
John trained in classical ballet and jazz at The Dance Studio before gaining a full time place to study dance at Bird College. In 2019 he performed live at 'The Brit Awards' with the artist 'Pink' describing it as "the most surreal moment in my life. I can't describe the feeling I got dancing on stage beside Pink". Since graduating as a professional dancer John has appeared in multiple advertisements, modelling shoots, London Fashion Week and music videos including "Love me more" by Sam Smith. He is currently networking with multiple agencies and has worked as a Costume Manager for "Another Dimension" , a world class agency for professional dancers. We could not be prouder of his ongoing success.
Emily Egan
Emily danced at The Dance Studio from 3 - 18 years old. When she turned 15, she became interested in pursuing a career in dance teaching and began assisting on a Saturday morning. After leaving TDS she moved to London to study Ballet Education at the Royal Academy of Dance, from which she graduated in 2020 with first class honours. After graduating as a qualified Ballet teacher Emily taught in London for three years, successfully preparing many students for RAD examinations. She has since relocated to teach in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Thailand, and Canada.
"All of these exciting opportunities would not have been possible without TDS. I cannot thank Mr and Mrs Drake enough for the years of excellent training which made it possible for me to pursue my dreams and achieve my goals. I danced with The Dance Studio from aged 3 and loved every moment of it".
Katie Killick
Katie Killick trained at The Dance Studio multiple times a week, in classical ballet and jazz from 3 - 18 years old. In 2020, she graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance in London and is now networking across London, teaching professionally at Chelsea Ballet Schools.
Alongside her successful teaching career, Katie has gained a wealth of performance experience & opportunities training under top industry choreographers such as Ricky Jinks (Company Jinks) and Joshua Base Pilmore. We are delighted to have her regularly fly over to teach and deliver workshops at TDS.
Charlotte Ballantine
Charlotte trained at TDS from 3-18 years old. At 18 she auditioned and gained a three year scholarship place to attend Stella Mann College of Performing Arts in Bedford. Since graduating, Charlotte has had much success working as a professional dancer on board cruise ships travelling around the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Northern Europe including Saga's Spirit of Adventure and the Costa Pacifica. She recently completed a contract with the MSC Grandiosa, the Carousel Cast, as Dance Captain & is truly living her dreams travelling the world as a professional dancer.
"I honestly could never thank Mr and Mrs Drake, and Tameron, enough for their teaching, encouragement and support. The Dance Studio was my life for so many years, it is very special to me; and I bring the Drake's incredible teaching into every professional contract I undertake. They also gave me the chance to help teach younger dancers, which I loved. I made the most amazing lifelong friends at TDS, through our love of dance. I will always remember my time at The Dance Studio so fondly".
Corinna Meier
Corinna trained at The Dance Studio in classical ballet, jazz and lyrical from 3 - 18 years old, achieving her RAD Ballet certifications up to Advanced, Vocational Level. Since completing her A-Levels, through which she attained A*A*A, she auditioned and gained a full time place to study at the Royal Academy of Dance in London. Corinna has specialist 1 - 1 experience in supporting children with SEN and additional needs. She will soon accept her chosen placement at Stranmillis University to study Primary Teaching, whilst continuing to support The Dance Studio, assisting and teaching as part of our weekly faculty.
"I have enjoyed every moment of my time at The Dance Studio. It has shaped me not only into the dancer, but also into the person that I am today. I cannot thank my teachers enough for the inspiration, lifelong memories and friendships that I have collated at this studio. TDS has provided me with nothing short of excellent training and I am so grateful to now be teaching and assisting alongside the faculty".
Madison Moss
Madison Moss trained at The Dance Studio for five years before accepting an unconditional offer at Liverpool Hope University to study Dance. Throughout her degree, Madison worked as a Personal Trainer, building her own brand “Moves With Madz”. Post graduation, she then took over a successful dance studio based in Liverpool, which is now named, “Miss Madison’s School of Dance” offering ballet, contemporary and jazz classes. She has since qualified in Level 3 Personal Training, Matt and Reformer Pilates.
"Really, I have Mr Drake, Mrs Drake and Tameron Drake to thank as they helped to build my self-confidence alongside my dance ability and technique. They always gave me the best training at TDS and I am so grateful for their constant belief and support that they provided me with to get me to where I am today!"
Harriet Armstrong
Harriet trained at The Dance Studio from 3 - 18 years old in classical ballet, jazz and lyrical. She then auditioned, receiving an offer on the day, to study full-time at Performers College. Harriet commenced her professional training through the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre & Dance Degree Programme September 2025 and we could not be prouder of her success.
“I will forever be grateful for the incredible 15 years I spent training at The Dance Studio. The support and encouragement from my teachers and peers has given me the confidence and opportunity to pursue a professional dance career. I have many happy memories and have made friends for life - once a TDS girl, always a TDS girl”
Mya Jansen Van Rensburg
Mya trained at The Dance Studio from 3 - 18 years old across classical ballet, jazz and lyrical. In 2025 she successfully auditioned, receiving multiple offers from prestigious colleges including; an offer on the day to study at Performers College, Essex and Italia Conti, who she has selected to commence her professional training with in September 2025.
“My time at The Dance Studio has been the most exciting & beautiful 15 years that I am extremely grateful for. Besides shaping me into the dancer I am today, TDS has moulded me into the person I am too. I’ve learnt so many valuable lessons and skills that I am positive I will carry with me through life. The thing I love most about TDS is that it has always been a safe space to learn and grow. I am forever thankful for the people I have met, and the opportunities that have been given to me and while my heart is heavy leaving behind what I could only call my second home, I am so excited to continue the work that The Dance Studio has started for me and forever grateful for the guidance, support and love I have been shown growing up at TDS".
& many more who, for example, have attended...
