About Us
Sarah Linnitt L.N.A.T.D. Principal of Footloose Dance School
My name is Sarah Linnitt and I am the principal of Footloose Dance School.
I am 33 years old and have been dancing since I was 3. My life long dream has been to open my own dance school so it's an exciting time for me.
I have spent most of my dancing life with the Marye Simmons School of Dancing and I still teach for them now. Marye is one of my inspirations and she inspired me to become a dance teacher and take my professional qualifications.
I started my teaching qualifications at the age of 16 and, after a short break from dancing, became fully qualified with the NATD (national association for the teachers of dancing) in 2005. I now hold a Licentiate certificate in Ballroom and Associate certificates in Latin American, Classical sequence and Old Time and Rock and Roll. I continue to study however and am looking to take my professional qualifications in Freestyle, Viennese Waltz, Salsa and Argentine Tango.
One of my biggest ambitions is to examine for the NATD and adjudicate at NATD competitions.
I continue to increase my dance knowledge by regularly attending workshops taken by professional ballroom and latin dancers and I continue to train with Marye Simmons
Lisa Tartaglia A.N.A.T.D. Childrens Dance teacher
My name is Lisa Tartaglia and I teach children classes for Footloose Dance School as well as adult and children classes for Marye & Shelley Simmons School of Dancing. I began my dancing journey at the age of 4 learning Ballet and Tap with Marye Simmons and Jane Williams (a former student of Marye Simmons).
I continued to dance to the age of 13, but then decided to try performing arts where I became a member of the Kettering District and Youth Theatre Group, who produced pantomimes at the McKinley Theatre in Kettering every year. Most of my time with them was spent in the Chorus, singing and dancing, however, I did audition and won the part of the Witch one year, a great experience!
At the age of 18, I left the Theatre Group to complete my studies before starting full time employment. It was then 8 years later that I returned to dance with Marye Simmons in Ballroom, Latin American, Tap and Stage / Musical Theatre.
I am now 32 years old and am a fully qualified teacher with the NATD (National Association of Teachers of Dancing), teaching dance to adults and children on a part time basis for both Footloose Dance School and Marye & Shelley Simmons School of Dancing, as well working for Royal & Derngate. I hold Associate certificates in Ballroom and Freestyle. I do however, plan to continue my studies with and gain professional qualifications in Rock n Roll, Street and Latin American.
I am really excited to be a part of Footloose Dance School and believe it will be a great success!
Elizabeth Rogers A.N.A.T.D. Adult dance teacher
I am Liz Rogers and I started dancing with Sharon Potter when I was 9 years old in the village where I lived with my family. I learnt ballroom and latin american and took examinations up to Gold Cross level.
I was 16 when dancing took a back seat whilst I went off to train as a nurse in the lovely county of Berkshire where I stayed for 10 years, got married and had my first two children. Family bereavements brought me back to Kettering. There I had two more children and was a stay at home mum. When my 2nd son was three he started dancing with Marye Simmons . Very soon after both my husband and I started classes. When my marriage broke down dancing became the hobby that my children and I did together.
I met my "present" husband when I worked as a special needs assistant at a local school, he also liked to dance.
Several years ago an opportunity arose that has allowed me to pursue a dream. Having taken all my examinations to national award level I was given the chance along with the stress to teach a complete novice in 5 weeks to dance a waltz, quickstep and CCC. This novice was John Griff from BBC Radio Northampton and it was an event to raise money for Children in Need.
From that experience I felt I wanted to do more teaching and from there began my education in teaching dance.
I have spent the last two years learning the trade with my good pal Sarah Linnitt, Footloose principal and her mentor Marye Simmons. I qualified as a teacher in February 2011 and am ready to teach solo!