About Us & How it Started!
JL Dance Academy was founded in 2010 in Ripley, Derbyshire. Principal Miss Joanne Howarth, started teaching her own Dance Lessons in a small hire-room at Mill Hill School. With her successes Miss Joanne's classes quickly became very popular! Frequently having waiting lists and being approached with demand for more Dance Classes and variety, she decided it was time to search for a more permanent home for what was quickly becoming "JL Dance Academy"! Along with the support of Family and Friends, Joanne set out on an adventure! Turning a run-down industrial unit in Ripley into a Professional Dance Studio, which now teaches over one hundred and fifty students!
(And yes, that's her in the photo holding the saw...)
 Reception Hall |
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 Studio 1 |
 Studio 1 |
 Studio 1 |
 Studio 1 |
 Reception Hall |
 Boy's Changing Room |
 Girl's Changing Room |
 Studio 1 |
 Staff Office |
 Reception Hall |
 Studio 2 |
 Studio 1 |
 Studio 1 |
 Studio 1 |
 Studio 1 |
 Reception Floor |
 When Twist & Pulse visited |
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 Jordan & Perri's First visit |
 When Jordan & Perri came back |
 When Ashley Banjo & Perri visited |
 Professional Ballerina Sinead Bunn |
 Sinead Bunn Ballet Master Class |
 Diversity's Master Class |
 Nick Collier's Workshop |
Things to shout about!
Since opening in Ripley, JL Dance Academy has been visited by Britain's Got Talent Finalists; "Twist & Pulse", Nick Collier from "Matilda" and "Wicked". Full-time Professional Ballerina Sinead Bunn from Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, Germany. As well as Diversity's Perri Kiely, Jordan Banjo and Ashley Banjo!
These amazingly talented guest Teachers delivered Workshops and Master Classes in Ballet, Street Dance and Musical Theatre.
JL Dance Academy has had Students successfully audition for The English Youth Ballet, Evolution Foundation College, and Elmhurst Junior Associate. They now host an annual Christmas Show and compete in the Mercia Dance Festival, where they were awarded 2nd place overall on their 3rd year of competing against schools who've been established for far longer!
As well as working along side a number of Local Schools, keeping friendly relationships with other Dance Schools, and having partnered for events with larger entities like Virgin Active and the Derby City School Sports Partnership, JL Dance & Performing Arts Academy is also part of "TheBestOf" an exclusive business directory which only accept the highest calibre businesses in their category. Please check out the links below to find out what they have to say about us!
Proudly part of Thebestof Heanor and Ripley
“Bringing trusted Heanor and Ripley businesses and the community together.”
Awarded 2nd Place “Most Loved Dance School in the UK 2014”
Placed in Top 5 “Most Loved Businesses in Heanor and Ripley 2014”
