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Gina has a lifetime of love for dance. As a youngster she won the North East RAD Ballet Scholarship and then went on to train at Northern Ballet School, graduating with a Teaching Diploma and teaching qualifications from both RAD and ISTD. She was also given the NBS award for Choreography.
Whilst training, Gina performed a season with Manchester City Ballet before moving on to travel and dance.
The next ten years were taken up with work as a Dance Captain/Choreographer. This work allowed her to access (and learn from) a multitude of talent all over the world.
At the turn of the millennium, Gina decided to lay down roots. Gina returned to the North East and began working in Further Education at Degree level and for Susan Bentley. She continued to gain teaching qualifications with both IDTA and NCDTA before transitioning to full time Vocational Training. Gina recently fulfilled the position of Course Director on the Level Four Diploma course at ILA Performing Arts Centre. She delivers Dance Training to learners working at Diploma level as well as working with the children from 3yrs and upwards.
After joining the faculty over 20 years ago, Gina was proud to take on the role of Principal at Simply Dance Academy in September 2022. She cherishes her years teaching the children at Simply Dance and is looking forward to many years to come.
Nicola began dancing at an early age at the Susan Bentley School of Dance.
At 16 she went on to study at Phil Winston's Theatre Works. After graduation Nicola joined the Carnival Cruise Lines onboard the Carnival Imagination as a Dancer/Entertainer. She went on to perform on board the Carnival Paradise and Carnival Spirit.
Nicola has also worked for Warner Leisure Hotels as a Dancer and with the Susan Bentley Starlight Dancers.
Most recently Nicola has worked with the Cirque du Millennial touring show with Olive Media and Sunny Adams.
As well as being a qualified dance teacher with the NCDTA, Nicola is a qualified fitness instructor running her own business Vivid Fitness North East.
Kate started dancing at the Susan Bentley School of Dance aged 3. Through Susan's help and guidance she has gained many qualifications most recently Associate Stage NCDTA. With continued support and encouragement from Susan and Gina, Kate started her professional dance career dancing extensively on the international cabaret circuit including touring with the fabulous comedy duo the Krankies and Bucks Fizz.
Her TV and music video credits include working for ITV, Channel 4, local band So What Robot and Calvin Harris. Kate has also choreographed for the Newcastle Eagles basketball team cheerleaders, the Newcastle E-Gals.
Kate absolutely loves working for the Simply Dance Academy and with all of the teachers there, saying it feels like one big family to her. She gets the most enjoyment from watching her pupils grow in confidence and seeing their success in exams and performance.
Kate hopes to spend many more happy years teaching with us.
Julie trained at the Susan Bentley School of Dance from a very young age and took all of her teaching qualifications with Susan, the most recent being the N.C.D.T.A Associate Modern. Julie has been teaching at the school since 2000.
With Susan and Gina's encouragement and support, Julie also danced professionally for many years. Her professional career started at age 16 when she was given the opportunity to perform as a member of the Susan Bentley Starlight Dancers and continued to do so for many years, working widely on the cabaret circuit. She toured the country dancing in variety shows and concerts alongside variety acts such as international drag duo Titti Shawtage and the famous Krankies.
Her television work includes a television series for Tyne Tees and Channel 4's Big Breakfast. Julie absolutely loves performing and teaching and is very proud to have been given the opportunities she has and to work alongside all the other great teachers at the school.
Julie is always very enthusiastic and is full of energy and it gives her great pleasure watching the pupils grow and develop their dancing skills and most of all enjoy dancing. She hopes her teaching career continues for many years to come.
Biography coming soon.
Susan began her dance training in her hometown of Blackpool. With a passion for performing and a love for dancing, her talents were quickly recognised and she soon became professional at the age of sixteen. Working for the Oxford Corporation, Susan travelled the length and breadth of the country.
After settling with her family in Newcastle, Susan gave up touring and began to establish her own school in 1981. The Susan Bentley School of Dance, later renamed Simply Dance Academy. Over the years the school has grown into one of the largest in the north east of England, and has now been successful for 43 years.
Whilst running the academy, Susan managed a troupe of professional cabaret dancers. The Starlight Dancers from the academy performed at theatrical and corporate events.
The Starlight Dancers have been the opening act for Tina Turner, Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams. Many of the pupils have gone on to work with artists such as Natan Ingrosso, Kreptonal, Take That and Steps.
Susan became an examiner for the Northern Counties Dance Teachers Association in 1988 and greatly enjoys meeting new teachers and helping them with their training and to share the same passion and enthusiasm she holds for dancing.
Susan retired from teaching in 2022 but continues to stay in touch and is always on hand to inspire and support academy staff and students.