ABOUT US
The Academy
Happy Feet Dance Academy was established in 1993 by Principal Diane Gould, and is one of Basingstoke’s most recognised and highly respected dance schools. As an Academy we specialise in providing a high standard of dance education and training, without the pressure of exams and offer a variety of dance disciplines including Tap, Advanced Tap, Modern Jazz, Hip Hop/Street and Musical Theatre.
We offer weekly classes for children aged 4 years and above and also provide Adult based classes in Tap and Jazz. Whilst we don’t participate in syllabus based exams, we offer our dancers an extensive range of optional performance opportunities throughout the year; from public performances at local community events to a variety of Street Dance competitions. We also offer our dancers the opportunity to take part in our bi-annual show, which showcases the work our teachers and members have been committed to during their weekly classes.
As an Academy we pride ourselves on our professional training, ensuring our dancers are taught the importance of technique and performance from a young age. Our Academy teachers offer a wealth of industry experience and this is implemented through their teaching, ensuring classes offer interesting and exciting choreography which is current and inventive.
Through our continued commitment to the local community, Happy Feet Dance Academy has raised to date in excess of £25,000 for a variety of charities close to our hearts including The Make a Wish Foundation, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, The British Heart Foundation and local charity St Michael’s Hospice.
2018 marks the celebration of 25 years of Happy Feet Dance Academy in Basingstoke, and we continue to welcome children and adults of all ages who want to share in our love and passion of dance. Whether it’s the first time in a pair of Tap shoes, or refreshing previous dance training; Happy Feet Dance Academy promises to enhance every members experience whilst at our academy.
The Teachers
Diane Gould
Principal
Diane’s passion for dance began at the age of 7 when she first attended Jeannine Greville School of Dancing
It was here that she excelled in various disciplines of dance including RAD Ballet, ISTD Modern, Tap and Jazz, winning numerous awards at the All England Dance Competitions and many festivals. She continued her training under the supervision of Diana Sylvester, founder and Principal of Basingstoke Academy of Dancing. In 1977, whilst in her final year at Basingstoke Academy of Dancing, Diane won the Basingstoke Music Festivals ‘Best All Rounder Scholarships Award’. Wishing to pursue a career in dance, she successfully auditioned for and obtained a coveted place at the highly respected ‘Arts Educational School’ in London on a three year professional dance course. She chose to specialise in Modern stage (obtaining honours in all her majors) Jazz and Tap.
Choreographer Arlene Phillips OBE spotted Diane’s talent and chose her to attend her prestigious AA Jazz class. Following her training at Arts Educational School, Diane worked for many choreographers. She proudly worked for TV Choreographer, Director Dougie Squires OBE, MVO as one of his famous “Second Generation dancers”. Diane also worked for the outstanding choreographer George May, dancing in the ‘All Laughter Summer Show’ starring “Little and Large “and other well-known artists. During her contract with George May, she danced in trade shows including a popular shoe company’s fashion Show for the London based advertising agency ‘Imagination’. Closer to home Diane also enjoyed two sessions in Pantomime at the Pavilion Bournemouth. Her professional career has enabled Diane to perform in beautiful theatres with many stars of that era.
Diane eventually left the professional stage to start a family and has two daughters Mia and Chanelle who are both dance at the Academy. Diane continued her love of dance teaching adults and she decided to introduce a small dance programme for children during the school holidays, based on” Dance for fun” trained the professional way! Due to her popularity, teaching and choreography skills, this non exam based Dance Academy has flourished over 25 years to become Happy Feet Dance Academy.
Diane has expanded the Academy over the years with the help of her daughter Mia who is Deputy Principal , by introducing new disciplines of dance including Hip Hop , Street and Club fit.
Mia Stewart
Deputy Principal
Deputy Academy Principal Mia Stewart, has been dancing since the age of 5 and has been a member of Happy Feet Dance Academy from day one. She has had the pleasure of being trained under the instruction of her Mum Diane Gould, Principal of the Academy and has established herself as a well-respected and award winning choreographer. Mia has trained in many styles of dance including Tap, Modern Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Street and Bollywood. She has been fortunate enough to work with industry experts including Vikkie Steege (Hampshire Dance), KOFI, Jake Nwogu, Hollie Victoria Robertson (winner of Strictly Dance Fever) and Adele Thompson (choreographer of West End Show ‘STOMP’). Mia also runs local fitness class ‘CLUB FIT’ on a weekly basis; offering ladies a high-intensity, full body workout session.
After primarily training in Tap and Jazz dance as a child; 2007 saw Mia audition for Hampshire Dance’s Hip Hop/Street dance troupe ‘NOCO’, where she was selected to become a member of the elite group and trained for 4 years in the technique and performance of Street and Hip Hop Dance. Throughout this time, she was fortunate enough to perform in a number of professional shows and competitions, one of which included the opportunity to perform at the prestigious Peacock Theatre in London at the Youth Dance England finals. Mia’s passion for this style of dance continued to grow and in 2008, she used her experience and introduced these new styles of dance to the academy.
The popularity of this style of dance has grown massively over the year’s and Mia now directs the academy’s three Street Dance crews; SYNERGY, RUBIX and PULSE, as well as running weekly classes for those children wishing to train in this discipline of dance. As well as this, Mia also choreographs on a weekly basis for the Ladies classes in both Tap and Jazz dance, regularly works with many of the children’s classes across the academy when required and is a member of Senior Jazz and SYNERGY Street Crew.
Mia has a real passion for being able to offer her dancers the best performance opportunities available, and has organised a number of successful public performances including; Basingstoke Live in 2013, 2014 and 2018, Balloons over Basingstoke, the opening of the Basingstoke Library and Discovery Centre, the prestigious Inspire Business Awards in 2010, The Place to be Proud of Awards in 2014, working in conjunction with TK Maxx and their 2016 Red Nose Day Fundraising campaign, the re-launch of Basingstoke Carnival Parade in 2016 and the Fitness Flex Easter Family Fun Day in 2017 in aid of St Michaels Hospice. The academy also regularly perform at local school fetes and professional events as part of their commitment to the local community.
Mia is a passionate choreographer and is continually expanding on her knowledge and experience to ensure she can offer her dancers the most exciting and up-to-date choreography both in class and at competitions. Her enthusiasm for dance, fitness and performance is something she hopes to install in all of her members and she is extremely proud to be an academy teacher at Happy Feet Dance Academy.
Professional Credits:
• 2009- Requested to be the Choreographer for ‘LoveSoulChoir’ in Southampton and Bournemouth
• 2012- Placed 3rd with HFDA Street Crew at ‘Dance Challenge UK’
• 2014- UDO Street Dance Championships Regionals- 2nd Place- PARALLEL CREW (Over 18’s)
• 2015- UDO Street Dance Championships Regionals- 1st Place- PARALLEL CREW (Over 18’s)
• 2016- UDO Street Dance Championship Regionals- 2nd Place- PARALLEL CREW (Over 18’s Advanced)
• 2016- UDO Street Dance Championship Regionals- 2nd Place- FUSION CREW (Over 16’s Beginners)
• 2017- UDO Street Dance Championship Regionals- 3rd Place- SYNERGY CREW (Over 18 Advanced)
• 2018- ‘Britain Does Variety’ Overall National Competition Winners-
• OMG CREW
• 2018- ‘Britain Does Variety’- Best National Dance Act (Overall 3rd place)- SYNERGY CREW
Jo Smith
Academy Teacher
Jo commenced dancing at Happy Feet Dance Academy at the age of 13 and has been teaching for the Academy for 10 years. Jo studied GCSE dance and went on to attend Farnborough College, where she obtained a National Diploma in Performing Arts. Whilst at college she studied a number of dance disciplines including Tap, Modern, Jazz, Lyrical, Bollywood/Belly Dancing, Street and Hip Hop. Jo teaches children Modern, Jazz, Tap, and character dance. She also teaches an adult Tap class for ladies who once danced and now wish to Tap again as a hobby, which has been popular . Jo continues to produce exciting and creative routines for our pupils and together with Diane and Mia choreographs for our Musical theatre workshops .
Grace Houldsworth
Academy Teacher
Having been a member of Happy Feet Dance Academy since the age of 7 and showing a real passion for dance; in 2009 Grace volunteered to assist in some of the Academy’s weekly classes and has since gone on to become a successful Assistant Teacher.
Following 2 years training from Diane, Mia and Jo; Grace now works with Mia as Assistant Choreographer for Street Dance crews RUBIX and PULSE and also works alongside Diane with the Mini and Junior Advanced Tap classes. As well her teaching, Grace is also a member of the Senior Jazz class and of the academy’s Street Dance crew SYNERGY. She has many achievements to her name including; UDO Street Dance Championship Regional winners for 4 years and Top National Dance Act at Britain Does Variety in 2018. Grace regularly performs as part of our community performances and is currently completing a ‘Certificate Course’ at Dance College in London.
Uniform
T-shirts, hoodies and dance bags are available to purchase at the Academy.
Academy Uniform
Dance Academy T-shirt
Black leggins
Black jazz shoes
Black tap shoes
Black socks
Senior Dancers
Black dance tops
Black leggins
Black dance trainers
Jazz shoes
Tap shoes
Academy T-shirt for events
Hip Hop
Hip hop/ Street T-shirts
Hoodie
Black leggins
Trainers
