About AJ's School of Dance & Performing Arts
At AJ's, we are passionate about nurturing children and helping them achieve their dreams. Founded by Amy Mathews in 2004, our welcoming dance school in Cartergate, Newark, Nottinghamshire has grown into a vibrant community.
We offer a variety of classes for all ages and abilities, from ballet to contemporary, hip-hop to musical theatre. Our down-to-earth and dedicated teachers empower students to build confidence, self-esteem, and discipline.
Our Mission Statement
At AJ's School of Dance & Performing Arts, we inspire the next generation of dancers. With a strong foundation and a nurturing environment, we empower students to be their best selves. We believe in fostering confidence, creativity, and discipline while providing unique performance opportunities. Come join us and discover the joy of dance. Together, let's achieve greatness.
Train to Make It Happen
Amy Mathews
Principal/Director
AJ's School of Dance & Performing Arts
Our Team
Principal
Amy Mathews
I'm Amy, the founder of AJ's School of Dance & Performing Arts. I'm thrilled to share that we have over 200 students attending our classes every week. From Street Dance to Musical Theatre, we offer a range of styles for all ages.
At AJ's, we believe in creating amazing memories and building a solid foundation for our students. That's why we participate in local events, hold an awesome annual dance show, and even bring in professional performers like "Flawless" and "Diversity". We want to make sure our students get that WOW factor and the chance to perform in incredible places like "Her Majesty Theatre," Disney Land Paris Parade, and football stadiums.
I'm surrounded by a team of passionate teachers who love coaching our pupils. We're here to nurture their talent, boost their confidence, and help them achieve their dreams. Whether you're looking for a fun and friendly environment to make new friends or you're ready to take your skills to the next level for industry opportunities or college auditions, join us today and let us guide you on your journey.
Vice Principal
Kaylie Booth
Kaylie Booth
My main job role is to manage staff and classes and general duties in reception. I ensure that things run as smoothly as possible within the dance school. I am responsible for the accounts and enrolling pupils. I am there to help any student or parent at any time.
I really enjoy my job role within the school and have built some great relationships with parents and students alike. I feel confident that parents and students can come to me with any issues and I will go above and beyond to make your time at our school as pleasant as possible.
I am extremely passionate about my role within the school and I enjoy watching our children grow with confidence and their ability.
Teacher
Roxie Carey
We are pleased to introduce Roxie, our Dance & Musical Theatre Tutor at AJ's School of Dance. Roxie’s love of performing began at a young age in Ireland, where she trained extensively in her local studio and completed her 2 year BTEC equivalent Dance Course at CSN, Cork before auditioning for Performing Arts Colleges in the UK. She was very successful throughout her audition process and was awarded awarded two full scholarships to study professionally in the UK. She trained at Leicester College of Performing Arts where she received her Diploma.
Roxie has an impressive performing experience in England, including lead roles in Musical Theatre productions such as Fame & Sweet Charity. She has also performed in Conventions, Corporate events, Fashion Show’s, Weddings and more as a Dancer & Solo/Ensemble singer. She is very accomplished as a Performing Arts teacher & has many years of experience training young people and preparing them for the industry. Her drive to share her passion of the arts is evident in her approach to performing arts education.
As a dance and singing tutor at AJ's School of Dance, Roxie encourages her students to aim for excellence in all aspects of the Arts. She believes that when it comes to performing, you should never limit yourself but also strive to become an all-round performer. Her goal is to provide her students with the skills they need to succeed in the industry while ensuring they find themselves as a Performer and find growth & joy in the learning process.
We are delighted to have Roxie as part of our team and look forward to seeing our students grow under her expert guidance
Teacher
Elliott Richardson
Elliott Richardson is a professional dancer, originally from Newark, training at AJ’s School Of Dance since a young age up until joining Addict Dance Academy for college in 2015, he fell in love with dance and decided it would be a career he would pursue. As well as training at Addict for 2 years of college and 3 years of university, Elliott trained all over the UK as well as venturing out to Los Angeles and training with some of the worlds greatest dancers and choreographers. Due to his hard work, training and networking skills, Elliott broke through into the UK industry while still in college, being represented by various top agencies. Some of Elliott’s credits include: Dance 100 (Netflix), Take That, Eurovision 2023, The EMA’s, Pussycat Dolls, David Guetta, Ed Sheeran, Mabel, The Brits, The Voice UK, Jingle Jangle (Netflix), Euros 2020 Closing ceremony and many more. Since graduating in 2020, Elliott has continued to work in the industry as well as pass his knowledge onto his students while continuing to train and improve both as a dancer and teacher with hopes to eventually be someone everyone can look up to, as an undeniably great talent in the dance world.
Elliott’s classes offer growth and knowledge from very beginners to advanced professionals, including foundations of various styles, as well as a fun but educational environment with vast knowledge of the dance industry.
Teacher
Katie Rudkin
Katie began her professional training at Stella Mann college of performing arts in Bedford.
After graduating, Katie went on to work in the commercial dance industry in London, dancing for programmes and commercials such as Channel 4’s 8 out of 10 cats does countdown, Barclaycard, Elizabeth Arden, Santander and dancing behind artists such as LMFAO, The Vamps, JaySean and more, including live performances at Wembley stadium and Festivals around the UK.
Katie went on to dancing abroad in Cabarets and shows across the world, working in the Middle East, Paris, and just recently dance captain for the famous La Folie Douce in Val D’isere.
Katie’s creative experience has taken her to choreograph Pantomimes including Lincoln Theatre Royal, working as a creative for travel company TUI with their show casts world wide and just recently, creating for Channel 5’s Jane and friends with Jane McDonald.
Throughout Katie’s Career, Katie has taught extensively at performing arts schools, universities
and colleges such as GSA (Guilford school of acting) and WestEnd Wendies, Teaching students from 3 years old to Adults.
Katie believes, over the 12 years she has been teaching she has refined a teaching technique that caters to each class’ needs, personality and talent.
Constantly seeking the perfect balance of creating a fun yet disciplined experience for all.
Teacher
Deanna Love
We are delighted to introduce Deanna, our talented dance instructor at AJ's School of Dance. Deanna is an all-round dancer/performer who received her training at Addict Academy.
Deanna is a fantastic teacher who excels in a variety of dance styles, including ballet, tap, contemporary, hip hop, jazz and commercial. Her passion for dance and teaching is evident in her innovative and fresh approach to instruction. Deanna's young and dynamic personality brings a unique perspective to our team.
In addition to her work as a dance instructor, Deanna is also a choreographer for productions in her home city of Lincoln. Her creativity and attention to detail make her an invaluable member of our team.
Deanna is committed to providing her students with the skills they need to succeed in the industry. She is passionate about helping her students achieve their goals and is dedicated to ensuring they have fun while learning.
We are thrilled to have Deanna as part of our team.
Patron
Harriet Watson
We are delighted to announce that Harriet has accepted the invitation to become a patron for AJ's School of Dance.
Harriet's decision to join our team was inspired by her sister Amy's incredible journey of building a dance school from scratch, starting with a few students at the age of 18 and now offering a full-time college course.
Harriet is thrilled to share her knowledge within musical theatre with our students.
She has an impressive resume, having performed in SIX The Musical for four years on the UK tour and West End. Currently, she is set to become a cast member of an exciting new production being announced soon. Her experience and expertise in musical theatre will undoubtedly inspire and motivate our students.
Harriet is proud of her sister's remarkable achievements and feels honored to be a part of AJ's School of Dance. She is excited to contribute to our academy's growth and success and looks forward to showcasing what Savage has to offer to the country.
We are thrilled to have Harriet as a patron, and her involvement with our academy will undoubtedly benefit our students and the school as a whole.
We're here to help!
If you have any questions at all about which classes might be the best option for you or your child please do not hesitate to contact us today!
WHAT OUR PARENTS SAY