Some people were made to perform
Others were born to teach
Have you thought of attending a Local Dance Teacher Training Centre so you can continue your dance journey with a group of like minded teachers to the highest standard, without judgement, pressure or moving away from home?!
History
Roynon Dance Centre was founded in 1971 by Mrs Virginia Wilkinson and became one of the first ISTD Approved Dance Centres in the UK in 2004. Since then Roynon Dance Centre has trained hundreds of aspiring dance teachers from across the UK. Mrs Wilkinson passed in 2023, and was a much loved member of our dance community. She was a highly regarded ISTD examiner in the UK and internationally.
Jessica was trained by Mrs Wilkinson from an early age, and assisted in Mrs Wilkinsons practical DDE classes for several years, before being able to start teaching the Tap and Modern classes herself.
Naturally, as Mrs Wilkinson started to retire, Jessica took on more and more responsibility, eventually taking over the running of the whole Centre in 2020.
Our Values
Professional, Supportive,
Positive, Inspiring,
Passionate, Education
Our Professional and Supportive environment will help you thrive as a dance educator.
We put positivity and passion into learning, sparking a love for dance education.
Empowering you to inspire a future generation of dancers.
“Roynon Dance Centre has brilliant teachers who are very professional and support your individual needs to get you through your DDE.”
Meet the Team
Jessica King
FISTD Tap; LISTD Modern Theatre; DDE Ballet; Affiliate Teacher of the Royal Ballet School.
Jessica started her teaching career working at several schools across Hampshire. She quickly realised she had a deep passion for training students at Vocational age and began to explore developing her skills at this level.
In 2015 she became principal of a local dance school, now known as King’s Academy of Performing Arts and in 2023 took over JM School of Dance too.
Jessica strives to continue to learn. By 2018, she had completed courses with the ISTD in Modern and Tap, and had taken her Advanced 2 Tap, Modern and Ballet exams, as well as the ISTD’s prestigious Licentiate Exam. She trained for her Licentiate Tap with Jackie Hayward, and in May passed the exam with 93%. In August she passed her Licentiate Modern Exam with 90% after training with Cathy Stevens. Because of these qualifications, Jessica applied and was approved to be a Tutor for the ISTD, enabling her to tutor all 5 units of the DDE qualification.
Jessica passed the ISTD’s final, most respected and high status exam in Tap after training with Miss Heather Rees, and now holds Fellowship status. She is currently training for Fellowship Modern with Tereza Theodoulou and Cathy Stevens.
Training with incredible, inspiring tutors, who have helped shape and create the syllabi we follow, means Jessica has first hand knowledge of the exercises, build ups and concepts that dance teachers need, and can pass these on to her students, and aspiring student teachers at Roynon Dance Centre.
Outside of the ISTD, Jessica is a Progressing Ballet Technique, Alixa Flexibility and a Rosina Andrews Method certified teacher, enabling her to teach Pirouette and Leap Surgery classes. She was a Tap Attack Associate member for over 2 years which ignited her passion for tap and exploring both ISTD and American tap drove her ambition to become a tap tutor.
After a rigorous application process, she secured one of thirty spots worldwide to become an Afflicate Teacher of the Royal Ballet School. Jessica regularly goes to London and attends CPD with the RBS to enhance her skills as a dance educator.
Outside of the studio, Jessica runs Roynon Dancewear, is a pointe shoe specialist fitter, and is a mummy to 2 beautiful children.
She says ‘I love running RDC. Teaching the practical DDE classes are my favourite classes of the week. I believe in collaboration over competition always, and think it’s amazing when aspiring teachers feel comfortable to share their methods and opinions in lessons and we can all continue to learn together. It makes for such a wonderful environment to develop ourselves as dance educators, and that's a really special thing to be a part of.’’
Dance Teacher Journey
Enquire
Submit a form on the contact us page and we’ll send you a prospectus. Book in a free call with Jess to discuss the course.
Apply
Apply for the Level 4 ISTD Diploma in Dance Education with us at RDC.
You’ll need to submit any Unit 3 Certificates (Intermediate Exam) if you have them.
Study
The Dance Teacher Programme takes 2 - 5 years part-time. You will complete Units 1,2, 4 & 5 at this time. We’ll create a bespoke programme and payment structure for you.
Qualify
On successful completion of the 3 written units (1,2, & 5) and a 2-hour practical teaching exam (Unit 4), you will become a fully qualified dance teacher with the ISTD in that genre.
