Hilary Taitt

ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Hilary embarked on her Dance and Performing Arts training at Barking College of Technology twenty years ago, were she gained a Higher National Diploma in ‘Pure Dance’ at distinction level. From Barking her next step was the prestigious Jazz Dance School, located at that time in Bath Avon. She won a scholarship from the local bursary committee and trained for three years majoring in Jazz and American Street Dance. Her last stage of training was at Performers Dance College in Essex. Once again she won a three year scholarship through the Norman Ashton Foundation. There she trained in Drama gaining Lamda qualifications and majored in Jazz Dance and Anatomy and Dance Physiology graduating as a teacher at distinction level, under the I.S.T.D examination board.

The last ten years have been a labour of love, seeing Hilary teach in numerous schools and colleges in and around the London area. Most recently she wrote and directed the smash hit urban dance show ‘Bloodbabies’. This new and exciting urban Hip-Hop spectacular, takes an insightful look into why so many of our youth are currently being killed in gang related acts of violence. Through Dance, Hip-hop music and motion graphics the show depicts the contributing reasons as to why our nation is falling prey to the perils of youth on youth violence. ‘Bloodbabies’ challenges the debt that society has and will continue to inevitably pay until we decide to take control and instigate the changes that are needed within our homes, our schools and our communities as it asks “How many more lives ?”.

Hilary has always pledged that Taitt Academy will always strive to be different, from other dance schools. Taking raw talent from the streets of urban London life, the aim is to develop to only the highest standards in urban dance movement. Encompassing the core elements of dance Taitt Academy takes old traditions and delivers them with a funky new twist. The aim of the Academy is to enable students to gain skills at a high level, either for recreational purposes, or as a solid foundation to further their training at full-time vocational training schools or colleges.