Heather Gladding
FISTD
Fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
As a professional dancer, I have been fortunate to have a rewarding career, dancing with some of the top dancers in the world, teaching some of the world's most acclaimed Actors and Theatre companies and I am excited to share my experience with you. I believe that everyone in the world should have access to proper training, which is one of the many reasons I am proud to be a certified instructor, having a Fellowship of the ISTD.
I love infusing new styles and techniques into my classes, and there is nothing that inspires me more than seeing the joy and excitement that dance can bring to people.
Join me for one of my classes and experience for yourself all that the dance world has to offer. You won’t be disappointed.
Heather Gladding
H
Emma Porter
Heather is an amazing dance teacher. I found her not only extremely knowledgeable in both Latin and ballroom but patient and motivating. I attended both group and 121 sessions and even managed to drag my partner along. Heather was really good at adapting her style to our individual needs and experience. My partner often struggled to hear the beat of the music so Heather would try different styles of music or music he was more familiar with and enjoyed which really worked for him.
I would definitely recommend Heather as a dance teacher, as well as improving your dance skills it’s a great way to switch off from work or just life in general
Adrian George
I was originally trained in contemporary dance, jazz, ballet, tap etc. I found my way to Heather’s classes through friends who recommended that I might like to try a dance style that I had not studied before.
Heather’s classes were such fun! First and foremost she is a wonderful dancer… she has a natural ease. Rhythm and movement flow through her body. I truly believe she was born to dance.
She is also a wonderful, patient, precise and technical teacher. The placement of the foot, knee, hip, body, shoulder, head, arm, wrist and fingers are all accounted for. Everything is connected and she shares this knowledge generously with her students.
I was a member of Guyz in Sync — an all-male Latin formation/show dance team that Heather and her partner Hadass put together. We attended numerous competitions, nationally and internationally, and pretty much always took Gold. We were the first all-male Latin show dance team to appear on Sky TV’s Got to Dance and were Semi finalists. What an amazing experience! None of this would’ve happened without Heather’s vision and determination.
The knowledge, skills and sheer joy that Heather shared as a teacher and a coach has stayed with me… and years later I still dance every week. The skill and confidence I gained in Heather’s classes has allowed me to find friends no matter which country I am in. I have danced the Texan Two-Step with a cowboy in New York. I danced a cha cha cha with an old lady in People’s Park, Shanghai and when I moved to Singapore in 2017 within a few weeks I was in a studio dancing the samba. What an adventure and a joy each encounter has been!
Chip Nazmi
Spending my time as a student at Studio La Danza London has been one of the best experiences in my life.
As someone who has been fighting for equality in the dance world for a very long time, Heather naturally promotes a fun and inclusive environment where everyone feels totally safe to express themselves in their own individual way.
The classes are always full of laughter and some of the fellow students have become close friends over the years.
It wasn’t just a place to learn to dance but rather a community. A place which I called my second home for many years.
Michele Enright
I searched hard for a place to learn to dance that made me feel truly welcome and found it here. I knew absolutely nothing. I started with group classes and then added private lessons as I wanted to get better and better. Heather has both knowledge and patience in abundance. Highly recommended!
Graham Ashwell
Heather introduced me to the world of ballroom and latin dancing through her LGBT+ dance classes, and she helped me to fall in love with dancing from day 1!
More than 15 years later, I still dance with the community that Heather introduced me to. Her lessons were focused on ensuring that everyone felt confident with the basic steps - but just as importantly, everyone made new friends.
Heather was instrumental in developing the thriving LGBT ballroom scene in London and passionately fought to make same-sex dancing visible to a mainstream audience. This culminated in our all male dance troupe ‘Guyz In Sync’ - taught and choreographed by Heather and Hadass - reaching the semi-finals of the national television program ‘Got To Dance’ in 2011.
I couldn’t recommend Heather’s classes more!
David Jameson
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Heather’s classes are fun and easy to follow, whatever your previous dance experience.
Her knowledge is based on many years of experience and that comes across in her teaching.
I have had group classes and private lessons with her over the years and have always come away with something new, as well as having a laugh. The added bonus is that I’ve met many of my best friends through her classes!