Biography

James began dancing as soon as he could walk, but didn’t start formal lessons until the age of 10 at his local dance school in Hampshire. He trained in various genres, including Latin, Ballroom, Freestyle, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Line Dance, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Ballet, and Kathak, qualifying as a professional with the Imperial Society for Teachers' of Dancing in Latin American dance with a 96% Honours Grade in his Associate in 2003.

Over the next 13 years, James served as Chief Instructor at Angela's School of Dancing in Aldershot, choreographing performances in London’s West End and training students for exams and social dancing. He then went on to become Founder, Principal and Director of his own school SimplyDance Limited, for 15 years. During this time he trained dancers for IDTA examinations and professionals for teaching qualifications, as well as continuing his own professional development, achieving IDTA Fellowship Qualifications in multiple dance forms, and adjudicating across the UK at Regional and National level.

From 2018 to 2024, James taught workshops and classes for the Cairngorm School of Dance and started his own classes in Grantown-on-Spey in 2021. He is currently the Chairperson of the IDTA South East Area after serving on the Committee for 9 years, organising events and supporting fellow Dance Teachers.

In 2024, he founded his own dance movement “Bumba” – an inclusive and body positive dance fitness class that champions well-being and inclusivity. James is passionate about these topics and through his teaching and work in the dance world, he hopes to educate and support others and champion for diversity, equality and inclusion for all.

Credits

Teaching

Teacher | Angelas School of Dancing 2002-2013

Teacher | Self Employed 2002-Present

Teacher | The Fleet U3A 2003-2015

Principal & Director | SimplyDance Limited 2005-2020

Teacher | Stagecoach Chertsey 2012-2015

Teacher | Cairngorm School of Dance 2018-2024

Adjudicating

James has adjudicated for various independant schools around the UK in Latin, Ballroom, Freestyle, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Street. He has adjudicated numerous IDTA Nationwide Medalist of the Year Regional Qualifying events and National Grand Finals since 2010.

IDTA Nationwide Medalist of The Year | Street Finals | 2015 | 2017 | 2020 | 2025

IDTA Nationwide Medalist of The Year | Freestyle & Rock n Roll Finals | 2016 | 2018 | 2022 | 2024

Come Dancing with Toe 2 Toe & Poppy Scotland | 2020 | 2022 | 2023

Workshops

James teaches lectures and workshop days across the UK for independent schools, IDTA areas and national IDTA events and loves every opportunity to share his work with dancers and professionals around the UK. If you would like James to run a workshop at your school, email him below.