The TipToe Teaching Family

Julie started dancing at the tender age of two, in a local school. Her passion for dance and performing grew as she got older, taking classes all Musical Theatre Genre, passing exams along the way. 

Julie gained professional experience through TV commercials and shows, film , stage shows, and pantomime. In 1986, Julie was studying for her teachers qualification with ISTD, when a dance school locally announced they would be closing due to teacher relocation. Julie saw this as a perfect opportunity, and with the support of her then teacher, she opened what soon became known as Tip Toe Stage School. 

Julie continued to gain professional experience, and was determined to gain all her qualifications to build a great school. Gaining Distinction (Highest mark) in her Associate Diploma with the ISTD, and for her Associate LAMDA Speech of Verse and Prose and for her LCMM Musical Theatre Associate Diploma, Julie had all the tools to inspire the next generation of performers. 

Julie believes that Continued Professional Development is key to keeping your school and ideas fresh and up to date. With this in mind, she embarked on her BTDA teaching diploma, which she successfully achieved. Most recently, Julie has studied to become an examiner for the BTDA and has been visiting other studios to examine their students for the past five years. 

Julie was awarded the Mayors Civic Award for community impact in 2015, then recognised as the best dance teacher for young people, at the SEEA Youngstars Awards 2017, two accolades she holds very dear. But in  Feb  2020, Julie  was  awarded  one  of  the  most  amazing  acolades  of  her  career!  Julie  was  announced  as  the  winner  of  the  Mayors Lifetime  Acheivement  Award  at  the  Civic  Ceremony! 

Julie loves learning new things in the dance world, and has recently been instrumental in devising the new Musical Theatre Program of Study for BTDA and is working with the team at BTDA to devise a new Contemporary Program of Study. 

"Dance Is an outer expression of an inner feeling!" A great lady once told me this, and it has stuck with me, its just dancing.... Strive to inspire, and be the best version of yourself. 

What is your favourite TipToe performance? 

All of them but you'd be hard pushed to beat New York!

What makes a good performer?

Simple - passion & dedication. Plus hardwork and commitment.

What are three things that every performer should remember when they go on stage? 

Your underwear - yes it's happened! To enjoy it and give and earn mutual respect from EVERYONE involved in making your performance happen. From chaperones, to dressers, tech crew and your other dancing colleagues - no one is more important than the other

What is your favourite musical? 

Billy Elliot

What advice would you give to our young performers? 

Make every performance YOUR best and don't judge yourself against anyone else. Be the best YOU can be.

Elena  started at Tip Toe as soon as she  could walk, she  would be in the baby class running around in her  nappy! And through the years Elena  has been through all the graded exams, all the performances and seen the school develop into how we are today. 

Elena  did a lot of professional performances when She  was younger including adverts, short films and a west end musical,  Billy Eliott.

Elena currently takes  the lead of our festival team at the school. Organising all externals performances and competitions. Knowing that she is  potentially helping to shape someone’s future through these experiences, makes it all worthwhile. 

What makes us different to everyone else is the fact that we truly have that family feel to the school, of course students come to get a great dance education, but they also make their best friends for life. 

Favourite Tip Toe performance?

I think it’s got to be New York. As much as I love our main shows, New York was just something special. Us all being there together right in the middle of time square, in a lovely new theatre, it was just so special. 

What makes a good performer?

Hard work. No one is born amazing at performing, performing you have to work at. And performing is totally different to just dancing, ‘performance’ changes a dance into a piece of art. 

3 things to remember on stage?

-Smile!

-This should be the best time you’ve ever performed it. 

-Enjoy it! 

Favourite musical? 

Recently this has changed to Dear Evan Hansen - absolutely amazing! However, I love Les Mis, Waitress and Billy Elliot is something special. 

Advice?

Give it! If you enjoy dancing, whether it’s as a hobby or a future career, just give it. You need to work so hard to constantly better yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others. You should always be striving to be better than you were the time before, but never compare yourself to your team mates.