Meet The Team
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Kerry Brooks-Ball FIDTA
Principal
Kerry is the principal teacher and looks after the day to day running of the Academy. Since starting to dance at the age of 2, Kerry has progressed through many professional and teaching examinations with the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) including Fellowship Modern Jazz, Licentiate Tap & Theatre Craft and Ballet. Kerry is also a qualified gymnastic dance teacher with both the IDTA and the Acrobatic Arts programme.
Throughout the years, Kerry has also been involved in many high profile and local community projects from both a performing and a teaching side. After being a freelance teacher for many years, in September 2008 Kerry decided to fulfil her dreams and opened the doors to Arabesque Dance and Theatre Academy.
By January 2009, the academy had become so popular it moved into its own premises in Long Eaton's town centre.
Having just celebrated the Academy's 10 Year Anniversary to school continues to grow from strength to strength gaining many fantastic achievements along the way. With over 150 pupils attending classes each week, the Academy is the perfect place for both children and adults to enjoy all forms of dance. -
Betsymae Kirkland-Ball AIDTA
Assistant Teacher
Betsymae is a former member of the Academy and has danced with Kerry since the age of 5. She has participated in many competitions across the country, achieving a multitude of medals, trophies and bursary places. Betsymae has obtained many examination with the international Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) across her dancing years, achieving a high level distinction in her most recent Associate teaching qualification.
Upon graduating from the competitive team at 18, Betsymae decided to continue her training further, attending the 3 year Degree course at Bird College in London (2015-2018). Whilst at the college she broadened her study of subjects, and was part of a variety of productions including college shows, acting and musical performance, including The Pyjama Game in which she played the supporting role of ‘Poopsie’. Betsymae was the first academy student to progress into vocational training, graduating from Bird College UK in London in 2018 obtaining her BA (Hons) Degree in Professional Dance and Musical.
Upon her graduation, Betsymae continued her training at the academy. She continue to take regular classes training in Ballet, Modern, Tap and Gymnastic Dance and also teaches a broad range of theatre subjects including Street, Freestyle, Commercial, Contemporary and Rock and Roll whilst also assisting with festival choreography and adult classes.
Betsymae is a member of a local theatre company and has multiple credits with them including Yolanda/Ensemble in ‘In the heights’ and Margot in ‘Legally Blonde’. She also worked as Dance Captain with the company in their production ‘Ghost’ the Musical.
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Sian Scattergood AIDTA
Assistant Teacher
Sian has been dancing and singing from a very young age, competing in festivals and singing competitions from the ages of 4-16. At 17 Sian attended Performer's college for a foundation course which resulted in her gaining a place at the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts. Whilst Training, Sian gained a distinction in her DDI ISTD modern teaching exam and has recently passed her Associate teaching qualifications with the IDTA.
Upon graduating, Sian did a year’s contract as a lead singer at Warner Leisure Hotels in Holme Lacy. She then worked as a commercial dancer for Indigo Performance before Joining the countries no 1 ABBA tribute band and touring around the UK and Europe. Currently, Sian holds the position of Vice Principal at the Pauline Quirke Academy. Sian performs alongside her covers band 'The Mixers' and choreographs for many local theatre groups around Nottingham. -
Amy Meadows
Assistant Teacher
Previously, Amy began dancing from the age of 3, completing ISTD Advanced examinations in ballet, tap and modern and RAD Advanced Foundation ballet. She has taken part in several professional pantomimes and performed in the English Youth Ballet's The Sleeping Beauty; Amy also competed in festivals from the age of 5 winning numerous trophies & gaining multiple places as a Bursary Finalist. From the age of 16, she began gaining teaching experience, working at her dance school as a teaching assistant in ballet, tap and modern. Amy then furthered her professional training at Masters Performing Arts College in Essex, where she discovered a passion for Classical Ballet and upon leaving, decided to pursue a career in teaching dance.
Amy joined our teaching faculty in September 2017, where she currently teaches our Saturday Ballet Classes, Amy has most recently passed her IDTA Teaching qualifications with distinction. -
Emily Cobon
Assistant Teacher
Emily has danced with Kerry from the age of 5 and has been a member of the Academy since it opened in 2008. She has completed many IDTA examinations, achieving distinction in her most recent teaching qualifications at the Academy. Emily competed in festivals around the country from age 6 to 16, obtaining many medals and trophies, she also performed in Derby pantomime in the children’s ensemble of Peter Pan. Emily now teaches at the Academy and assists with choreography for the festival team
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Pre-Associate & Associate Teachers
The Academy is extremely lucky to have a large group of very talented, senior dancers who also like to assist and help out with many academy classes.
We are also very fortunate to have a handful of associate teachers who cover holidays, festival classes and much more, adding lots of experience and knowledge to our already very experienced and highly qualified teaching faculty.
