About Us

Throughout the academic year at Malone Dance Academy (Dundalk, Co Louth & Rathfriland, Co Down) pupils are prepared for  PTD (Professional Teachers of Dancing) examinations in several dance forms & are also given the opportunity to take part in various on-stage performances.

The PTD is a recognised dance society & is a member of the Council for Dance Education & Training (CDET),  a member the Guild of Professional Teachers of Dancing & a member of the Society of Teachers of Speech & Drama (STSD).

Malone Dance Academy was created in 2005 when Cheryl gained Pre-registered Teachers Status with the PTD.  She has been studying dance from 1986 and has always had a flare for the Performing Arts.

QUALIFICATIONS

Presently it is simply not enough to teach dance because you have a flare for choreography or have a Performing Arts Degree.  These are not teaching qualifications.    

In order to enforce safe dance practise it is only correct that a teacher should hold appropriate qualifications.  Teaching qualifications are gained over several years through continual training & assessment, vigorous study going in depth into prevention of injury, etc & finally by examination.  Therefore it is very important for any parent or adult seeking dance classes to ensure that the teacher is fully & properly qualified.

Cheryl holds her three Professional Major Examinations in Classical Ballet:- Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate & Advanced foundation.
These are the pre-requisites necessary to take the Teaching Examinations.
Cheryl gained her Professional Major Examinations & her Teaching Qualifications (A.P.T.D & St. Tchr PTD) with the PTD.
Cheryl also holds up to her Grade 8 in ISTD Classical Ballet & also holds several Grades in ISTD Classical Greek Dancing (Imperial Society for Teachers of Dance).

In January 2010, Cheryl was invited by St Pauls High School, Bessbrook, Co Armagh (just outside Newry) to join their teaching staff to assist the delivery of the GCSE & A LEVEL Dance with particular focus on the Classical Ballet components.

 

Continued Professional Development

In order to promote longer lasting, sustainable and rewarding careers through dance: It is very important for all Dance Teachers to continue their Professional Development.
Recently in 2008, through her Continual Professional Development, Cheryl gained Honours in her Professional Award Examination in Classical Ballet. She is also at present, working in greater depth in several dance genres such as Tap & Jazz.  Cheryl is also now actively studying towards her Advanced Ballet.
Cheryl also attends regular workshops with the PTD, to keep up-to-date with examination material & upcoming developments within the dance world.

 

Cheryl's Interest In Performing Arts

Cheryl also graduated with a BA HONS Degree in Drama in 2005 from Queens University, Belfast and was a member of the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff for 3 years. She took to the stage singing, dancing & acting at the Grand Opera House Belfast in several productions such as 'The Beggar's Opera', 'The Mikado' & The Northern Ireland Youth Opera Performance Night. Cheryl in 2002 toured Wales as a cast member of The Welsh National Opera's production of the well-known Broadway Musical 'Sweeney Todd - the Demon Barber of Fleet Street'.