Teaching is a purposeful career choice, driven by passion — not a consolation prize.
At Train To Teach Dance, we believe teaching is a path dancers choose because they love dance, value connection, and want to pass that love on.
Many of our trainees join us while still dancing professionally, training intensely, or exploring their career paths. Others find deep fulfilment in nurturing confidence, sharing knowledge, and shaping the next generation. Teaching is not a leftover option — it’s a respected, rewarding career in its own right.
We also believe learning to teach is a powerful and empowering part of a dancer’s journey. As dance careers evolve and bodies change, teaching offers stability, longevity, and a lifelong connection to the art form you love. It’s a pathway built on passion, skill, and thoughtful planning.
We’re proud of the results our trainees achieve. Past students have consistently earned IDTA Distinctions, with exam marks ranging from 88–98%. These results show more than technique — they represent confident, well-prepared teachers who feel supported and ready.
Our graduates are now:
We don’t just help dancers gain qualifications — we advise, mentor, and guide each individual beyond training. Whether building a business, stepping into education, or growing within a studio family, we support the next chapter too.
Because when teachers feel supported for the long term, they don’t just succeed — they flourish.
At Train To Teach Dance, you’re not trained to fit a mould.
You’re nurtured to build a teaching career that feels right for you.
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At Train To Teach Dance we also offer IDTA level 3 Diploma in Dance Teacher Assistant for ages 15 yrs +
Maia qualified with a Distinction just before she turned 16 yrs and as an exceptional young Student Teacher she won a place at a vocational performing arts school.
Ready to choose your path
Sarah has recently taken her IDTA Level 4 Diploma in unit 1 & 2 passing with 91% Distinction she is currently preparing for unit 3 alongside studying to be a physiotherapist.. She assists at the Royal Academy of Dance and once qualifying will aim to teach both IDTA and RAD Ballet .
Meredith is training on our intensive Level 4 Diploma course whilst still dancing and performing. Meredith has passed unit 1 & 2 with 93% Distinction she will finish her training and take her unit 3 with us in March 2026 and we will then support and guide her into her teaching career of preparing to run her own classes nearer to her home.
Ananya was a member of West London Dance Academy for 15 years, starting at the age of 3yrs training with Miss Natalie she went on to take many IDTA exams right through to advanced 1 Ballet always achieving Distinctions . Ananya was nominated for an IDTA Theatre award twice. At the age of 16 yrs Ananya began her study as a Dance Teaching Assistant working at the Academy whilst intensively training under our Train To Teach Dance and qualified with 88% Distinction in her IDTA Level 3 Diploma in Dance Teaching Assistant . Ananya is now studying for a Degree at Oxford University and uses her qualification to continue to dance and assist in local dance classes.
Originally from Italy Francesca starting her training with us in 2019 with a 1 year Scholarship whilst assisting at our West London Dance Academy . Francesca completed her Scholarship in October 2020 with 93% Distinction in IDTA Level 4 Diploma in Ballet, some of her training was completed during lock down via the internet like our intentional students who train from abroad . Francesca has since gone on to train in ISTD and is working as Teacher in various Dance and Gymnastic Schools and around London .
Natalie was one of the very first dancers to train intensively on our Train to Teach Dance Course in March 2018. After graduating from the London Studio Centre with a BA (Hons) degree, Natalie was keen to qualify as an IDTA teacher, having grown up training with the IDTA syllabus in her hometown of Yorkshire.
She completed the course in just nine months, achieving an outstanding 95% Distinction in her IDTA Level 4 Diploma in Ballet in November 2018. Following her qualification, Natalie returned home and went on to establish her own dance school. She now runs a thriving and successful school with a fully equipped professional studio, ND Studios, based in West Yorkshire.
Since opening ND Studios, Natalie has entered many students for IDTA examinations and dance festivals, all with outstanding and consistent results, reflecting her dedication, high standards, and passion for teaching.
Kriya, Aditi, and Corinne have all been proud members of West London Dance Academy since the age of three. All three have recently passed their IDTA Intermediate Ballet examination and, while still of school age, are now training for the IDTA Level 3 Diploma in Dance Teaching Assistant through our Train To Teach Dance hands-on course. They will qualify in July 2026.
This programme allows them to train together while assisting in classes, giving them valuable hands-on teaching experience alongside their academic studies.
Kriya and Corinne will be leaving for university in July and will be able to use this qualification to work part-time as dance teaching assistants while continuing their studies. Aditi will progress on to the Level 4 Diploma in Dance Teaching, with the aim of becoming a fully qualified dance teacher before heading off to university in 2027.
Both qualifications are uniquely recognised by UCAS, providing a strong pathway for young dancers balancing academic and professional development.
Train To Teach Dance is a specialist programme designed to support dancers aged 16+ through intensive training, expert tuition, and meaningful hands-on teaching experience. More than simply producing qualified teachers, the programme nurtures a supportive community built on shared experience, encouragement, and lasting friendships, allowing dancers to grow with confidence both personally and professionally.
At the heart of the programme is the Dance Teaching Course, which provides a structured and supportive pathway into dance teaching, helping dancers and adults develop the skills, confidence, and professional understanding needed to teach safely and successfully.
Miss Natalie Parnell is the Founder of Train To Teach Dance and Principal & Director of West London Dance Academy. She is a Fellow of both the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD), also holding the Diploma in Dance Education (DDE).
She gained her teaching qualifications in Ballet, Tap, and Contemporary Modern Jazz after graduating from dance college at just 19 years old. Following her training, she enjoyed a successful professional performance career, working with choreographers and companies including Wayne Sleep and the late Roy Castle, while teaching at Pineapple Studios in London.
At 22, Miss Natalie opened her own dance school in Kent, training students across England and Europe to teacher status, with a 95% distinction rate in Ballet, Tap, and Modern Jazz examinations. After selling her school, she achieved her Fellowships qualifications in Ballet , Modern Jazz, Tap and Disco Freestyle in IDTA and ISTD with Distinctions and qualified as an Adjudicator for the British Dance Council, adjudicating alongside the late Len Goodman.
In 2010, she taught with a Hungarian Ballet Company, training performers and teachers in IDTA Ballet Associate, before joining West London Dance Academy in 2011. She became Principal in 2016 and opened her own fully equipped dance studio in 2020, creating a professional environment for high-quality training.
Miss Natalie has also choreographed and trained dancers for major productions, rehearsals, and charity events, collaborating with artists, pop bands, and television productions including S Club 7, ITV’s Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Take Away, Loose Women, and BBC Strictly Come Dancing.
After teaching for over 30 years, she developed Teacher Training Courses that are individually tailored to each dancer — whether via scholarship, intensive training, private tuition, in-person, or online. The courses are designed for all ages, from young dancers to adults, because every dancer’s journey is different.
“Every dancer’s journey is different. Part of my role is helping dancers and their families choose the right path at the right time — whether that’s gaining teaching qualifications, building experience, or developing skills that suit their strengths and passions. Not every dancer’s success looks the same, and there is no single ‘correct’ route.”
— Miss Natalie Parnell
