Founder and Principal
Jacqui Wilson
Managing Director/Head teacher
Jacqui oversees all that goes on at DanceUK. Opening ‘Jacqui Wilson Dance School’ in 1990, she has grown the school from a small programme of classes to what we know and love it as today.
Jacqui has many years of experience and continues to pass on her expertise to dancers and staff alike. By the age of 17, she had achieved her first teaching qualification with the BATD and continued with full time training at Elizabeth Henderson School of Dance in Glasgow. By age 22 she had achieved her ISTD Diploma in Classical ballet with further qualifications in ISTD Modern Theatre, Jazz and Tap following soon after. She also qualified in Rock N Roll too from the Ballroom and Latin world so ” Strictly ” an all rounder! ‘
From 1990-95, she was Dance Tutor and Resident Choreographer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD) where she taught on the BA Acting and Opera Courses. Many of those students are now successful actors in TV and film today.
She also taught at The Dance school of Scotland, a specialist dance school in Knightswood Secondary School in Glasgow, training the senior students for ISTD Advanced 1 and 2 Tap, the highest exams a tap dancer can achieve!
In 2005 Jacqui took the school in an exciting new direction with the launch of DanceUK. With new premises, exponential growth, an innovative website, online shop, Youtube channel and specialist courses such as mini-movers, Young Performers and StreetdanceUK created and trademarked, we were ready for the next level.
Today, Dance UK run successful Academies in 7 locations, welcoming some 850 students every week. The ethos is still the same today: ‘Whether a child dances for a once a week hobby or a future career, Jacqui and her team will always provide the best training and current trends to ensure every pupil can fulfil their potential and achieve their dreams’
And whatever Dance UK Teacher you have, due to our ongoing Staff Training and development, you will receive the same high standard of tuition and service.
Jacqui loves being able to incorporate her passion for dance, teaching, staging and directing, and creative business all into one! She says she is very lucky to get to do what she loves every day. Whether that’s on stage presenting a show, planning and organising in HQ or spinning around in our Mini Movers class on a Saturday morning, Miss Wilson loves it all. Moreover, she loves seeing how pupils move on to successful ‘grown up’ careers too. And whether that’s Performing, Teaching or any Sector, she is proud to have passed on great memories and transferable skills for life. She is especially delighted when past pupils bring their own little ones back to join DanceUK. That says it all for her!
In her spare time, Jacqui is happiest at home with her family, that is Martin, our resident DanceUK Tech-wizz and graphic designer and children: Eve, Joy, Rose and Ben, all of whom dance, perform professionally or teach. It’s a DanceUK family for sure!
Jacqui is very proud of them and all of us at Dance UK.