“The Donna Kimberley School of Highland Dancing” is a non-profit community dance group based in Cramlington, a town in the North East of England. The aim of the school is to promote the art of Highland Dance through teaching and performances. The school has two highly experienced dance teachers, Donna and Heather.
Donna, with over 14 years of teaching experience, has been involved in Highland Dancing since the age of four. She is a qualified member of the UKA (United Kingdom Alliance of Professional Teachers of Dancing and Kindred Arts), which is validated by the Council of Dance Education and Training. The school is also a corporate member of the British Dance Council, Sports and Recreation Alliance, and the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing.
Heather, a former student of the school, has also been dancing since the age of four. She has achieved notable successes in her dancing career, such as competing in the Canadian Championships and becoming the All England Championship winner in her category. In 2015, she became the first dancer from the North East of England to qualify for the World Championship Finals, securing a top 20 spot. Heather is now a fully qualified Highland Dancing Teacher, having passed her BATD 'Members' exams with top marks.
The Donna Kimberley School of Highland Dancing prioritises quality over quantity and offers a very high standard of dance tuition. This dedication to excellence is reflected in the competition results of their dancers. Students have the opportunity to progress through different levels of exams and participate in Highland Dancing Competitions if they choose to do so. The school has had five dancers who have achieved the significant milestone of winning their Pre-Championships to become Championship Dancers.
Aside from teaching Highland Dancing, the school regularly performs for the public at fairs, fetes, charity events, and community venues such as homes for the elderly and over 60s clubs. They often collaborate with the North Tyneside Pipeband and also travel to dance festivals both within the United Kingdom and abroad. Some notable performances include appearances at the Worldfolk Dance Festival in Palma and the Seeboden Children's Folkdance Festival in Austria. They have also performed in Paris, including at Disneyland and in the International Gathering of Highland Dancing.
For more information about the Donna Kimberley School of Highland Dancing, including class schedules and contact details, please visit their new website. Any feedback regarding the site is greatly appreciated as they continue to improve its functionality.