Dansworks Dance Academy of Performing Arts CIC Team
Where the Passion Begins
Karen Roe-ConnearnÂ
Fellow IDTA (BT; MJ; F); LIDTA (T; TC); AUKA; RAD Registered Teacher
​Founder, Director & Principal
Karen is Dansworks’ Principal and the star around which we all revolve; without her, nothing we do would be possible.
Karen began her dance training at the sprightly age of 3 and quickly gained many qualifications with both the RAD and IDTA in the disciplines of Ballet, Tap, Modern Jazz, National Dance, Character, Song and Dance (Musical Theatre), Greek, Ballroom and Latin. A keen dancer throughout her childhood, Karen also competed with much success in many dance festivals and championships around the UK, and starred in various musical productions to boot.
At the age of 16, Karen was accepted into the prestigious Northern Ballet School in Manchester, where she began full-time training to become a professional dancer. Whilst there, she gained several professional qualifications and studied Ballet, Tap, Modern Jazz, Singing, Drama and National Dance at an advanced level.
At 18, Karen’s career as a professional dancer was secured and she went on to work with large touring shows and smaller dance troupes all over the world, including Mexico, Italy, Switzerland and around the UK.
In 1988, Karen began her dance teaching career, teaching RAD Ballet and IDTA, NATD and UKA grades and medals in Tap, Modern Jazz, Irish, National and Character, whilst also choreographing solos and groups for dance festivals, shows and local amateur theatre groups. During this time, Karen also spent 3 years working full-time in a Special Educational Needs environment at Tor View School and gained many skills that she now utilises daily in her dance teaching classes.
After a 3 year break, the unhappy result of a prolonged serious illness, Karen was keen to return to the world of dance, and in 2008 she was incredibly proud to launch Dansworks Dance Academy. Since this time, Karen has continued her professional development and has undertaken advanced teaching courses in Break Dance, Street Dance, Acrobatic Arts & Dance and Disability.
Karen takes her professional development seriously and always pursues perfection; she has consistently achieved a 90% or above pass rate in all her teaching exams and has recently attained Fellowship status in more than one genre with the IDTA. In the coming years, Karen intends to continue passing her professional qualifications with flying colours, as she works towards achieving Examiner status with IDTA.