About Us 

Miss Joanne -

Principle of JESD

 Joanne started dancing at just 2½ years old. It was from this moment that her love for dance began, leading her to take classes in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Theatre and Jazz. Joanne was fortunate enough to perform and compete in many prestigious venues, including Sadler’s Wells Theatre and The Royal Albert Hall. 

Aged 16, Joanne successfully auditioned for a place on a 4 year Professional Dancers & Teachers of Dance course at Preston College. Here she attained her A levels and teaching qualifications for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). After qualifying, Joanne developed her teaching skills at local dance schools, nurseries, schools and gyms. She also spent a season performing as a professional character and parade dancer at Disneyland Paris. 

Joanne’s goal was always to open her own dance school so that she could inspire others to enjoy the magic of dance. In 2013, she established the 'Joanne Elaine School of Dancing' in High Legh, Knutsford. Starting with just one Baby Ballet class, she has seen the school grow steadily into to what it is now. Joanne is proud to see her school continue to grow, as more and more enthusiastic dancers join the excitement of JESD!

Miss Hannah - Teacher

Hannah Gerrard is a professional dancer specialising in ballet and contemporary. She trained at KSDance where she gained her Trinity Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance and ISTD dance teaching qualifications. She then went onto completing a year contract with Ballet Do Douro in Portugal.

She is now freelancing and has performed with Outside of the Box Productions, Møn Sommerkoncert, Denmark, Heavenly Fire Dance Theatre and has recently set up a new ensemble called Breath of Dance. She loves to travel and dance with professional musicians in the UK, Europe and beyond.