Our Success Stories
Read all about KPSD dancers and graduates who have had unique opportunities to take part in fabulous shows or study at prestigious colleges and gain invaluable experience of the wonderful world of dance and performing arts!
If you have a Success Story that you would like to share with us (or would like to update your details in an existing article), please email dianne@katiephilpott.co.uk. Thank you.
Mia Harrison
Mia says: "I’ve been so lucky to have had so many experiences in dance due to the support of the teachers at KPSD such as competing in the ISTD Senior Ballet Awards, training at the Academy of Northern Ballet, competing in the KPSD choreographic competitions, competing at UK dance class championships and so much more."
"The KPSD team have helped me learn and grow as a dancer and as a person, helped me develop so many skills and values that I will take with me in the future and most importantly helped me discover my passion for dance.
"I will be going to study Medicine at Newcastle University with the hopes of becoming a doctor. I will miss dancing at KPSD so much but I can’t wait to join the dance society at Newcastle university to continue my dance journey."
Chloe Bell
“KPSD is where my love for dance first began and I am forever grateful to the teachers for encouraging and nurturing my abilities as well as teaching so many life lessons along the way. I will always cherish my journey at kpsd as well as the friends I have made along the way. I will miss it greatly. Thank you for everything!”
GEORGIA GOMERSAL
Georgia says: "Throughout my time in KPSD I enjoyed every lesson with Rachel, Sophie, Candy, Katie and Hannah, I just felt so happy to dance in any style because I realised when I got older that dance is my passion and will forever stay as my passion.
"Katie and the teachers have helped me with so many things such as, musicality, performance, technique, the tempo of the choreography, confidence and so many more things and it’s helped me get to where I am today. Candy has been a brilliant supportive teacher by keeping in touch when I was out achieving my goals, she always wanted me to help around events such as Hopton and Mirfield show and I’ll forever miss that.
Georgia left KPSD to on and study at Mechanics Performing Arts in Wakefield (Pearson BTEC HND Diploma Performing Arts - Dance level 5) where she attained Merit and is now heading to the University of Gloucestershire to study Dance (Level 6) BA (Hons),
Geogia added: "I can’t wait to go down there and see what opportunities we will get. I’ll miss KPSD so much but I will always remember everyone and will come back to tell you what I’ve been up to."
JEMIMA JOHNSTONE
Jemima has been a valuable member of the KPSD dancing family for many years. She graduates in summer 2022 and is heading to the Addict Dance Academy in Leicester to complete a BA (Hons) in Dance.
Jemima said: “Without KPSD I wouldn’t have found my love for dance. I have met friends for life along the way and I will forever cherish the teachers and experience I was so lucky to receive.”
SALLY HIRST
Sally is launching her career in the performing arts after graduating in summer 2022 from a BA Hons in Musical Theatre at Bird College - everyone at KPSD wishes her lots of luck!!
Sally studied Musical Theatre Level 3 at Mechanics Performing Arts at Wakefield College and appeared on stage at the Bradford Playhouse as Bonnie in Anything Goes! with Yorkshire Theatre Arts.
Sally began her dance career at KPSD when she was just three-years-old in the Creative Movement class and over the years took classes in tap, modern theatre, free jazz, gold jazz, contemporary, free ballet and pointe. She was awarded the Wellhouse Moravian Church 'Most Improved Dancer' Cup in 2013.
In 2013, Sally also secured a place at the Louise Browne Yorkshire Ballet Scholarship Centre in York and was accepted to perform with the Northern Youth Theatre Company in Leeds. Sally auditioned at Stagebox alongside more than 700 applicants. Only a handful of those who auditioned were given a place and Sally was delighted to be among them.
EMMA JONES
Emma joined KPSD at the age of three and went on to study ballet, tap, modern, jazz, contemporary, street and musical theatre.
After spending most of my childhood dancing at KPSD, I left in 2014 and I was offered a place at The Hammond school in Chester for their Level 6 diploma course in Professional Dance.
Upon graduating my first dance job was in Malta for KLS international, followed by dancing on cruise ships for MSC and Costa.
I fell in love with travelling and have just recently come back to the UK after working as Cabin Crew for Emirates in Dubai. My next plan is to go solo travelling for a few months!
Dancing at KPSD was the best experience when I was younger and brought me so many opportunities and amazing friends. I will always be grateful for my time there and don’t think I’d have done half of the things I have if it wasn’t for KPSD!
LUCY AUTY
Lucy began dancing with KPSD when she was three and over the years has trained in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, contemporary, street and musical theatre.
While at school, she gained a place at Phoenix Dance Theatre's Youth Academy. She graduated from the prestigious Preston College with a foundation degree in Teaching Dance in the Private Sector and also her DDI and DDE teaching qualifications in Imperial Ballet and Modern Theatre. She has achieved her Advanced 2 Modern and Advanced 1 ballet and won Ballet Dancer of the Year in 2017!
She enjoyed her first professional role in the wonderful world of pantomime working for James Brandon Company last Christmas in Aladdin at the Academy Theatre in Barnsley.
Now Lucy is enjoying life on the ocean waves, dancing on cruise ships having followed in Katie's footsteps!
CARA GREENHOUGH
Cara joined KPSD in the baby ballet class at the age of three and soon showed real talent across several genres of dance including ballet, tap, modern, jazz and street. She attended the CAT scheme at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds for three years and received the KPSD Senior Ballet award in 2012.
Cara then went on the complete a three-year professional dance training Diploma course at SLP College in Leeds.
She has now joined the performance teams on the Queen Mary II - following in the footsteps of her mentor Katie!
FRANCESCA BARRON
Francesca joined the KPSD family at the age of three and went on to earn a coveted place to study dance at Cambridge Performing Arts (Bodywork Studios).
Fran says: “I loved every minute of my time at the School from the ‘good toes, naughty toes’ to achieving great results all the way up to intermediate level and especially performing in the shows.
“Not only have I learnt excellent technique and confidence as a dancer, I have also made friends for life!”
She graduated from Cambridge Performing Arts and, having set her sights on following in her mentor Katie’s footsteps and working as a professional dancer, Fran is now performing with The Panto Company in Aviemore, Scotland.
ISABEL MOORE
Isabel auditioned alongside 150 gifted ballet students and successfully gained a place at the Louise Browne Yorkshire Ballet Scholarship Centre studying classical ballet, contemporary ballet and repertoire. She was then accepted into the world-renowned Elmhurst School for Dance in Birmingham.
After completing a year at Moorlands Ballet Elite, Issy decided she wanted to diversify, rather than solely studying classical ballet, and secured a place at SLP, where she now studies ballet and more commercial dance styles. She also studied for her DDI qualification at Moorlands and has been teaching classes herself! During her time at SLP she danced the wonderful lead role of Maria in West Side Story.
Her mum Donna said: "Issy continues to keep her ties with KPSD and misses the School and she is immensely grateful for Katie’s support over the years.”
GEORGIA GOMERSALL
GEORGIA GOMERSALL joined KPSD when she was just four and over the years has won the Choreographic Cup and the Wellhouse Cup for most improved dancer. Georgia is now flying high with her studies at the fabulous Wilkes Academy! Georgia is over the moon to be training at one of countries leading university training programs for the performing artist. She is studying for a BA Hons Degree in Musical Theatre. Her family couldn’t be happier and are all extremely proud that all Georgia's hard work and dedication paid off.
Georgia says: “My love of dance began at KPSD and I will be forever thankful for all the opportunities that have fuelled my passion for all things dance. All the support and encouragement of Katie and her team has meant so much. I have so many wonderful memories, friends and achievements I can carry with me on the next step of my performing arts journey”.
LARA FIRTH
HOLLY SUMMERS
HOLLY graduated from the highly-acclaimed Hammond School in Chester in 2016 with a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance. She enjoyed a variety of opportunities before moving to Malta in May 2017 to work as a professional dancer for KLS International. Since then she has gone on to enjoy two further contracts with KLS International in Malta, two contracts with Costa Cruises and perform in two shows at Benidorm Palace. She has also modelled for the Dancewear Central website and dance catalogues, performed as an extra on filming for various Netflix and Disney Plus shows and been busy with corporate work in the UK.
Here is quick look at Holly and her former KLS International dance troupe in action. What an inspiration to our younger KPSD dancers!!
Holly says: “It has been my dream to be a dancer ever since I started at KPSD at the age of three!”