ABOUT EMMA
Emma Trickett is the principal teacher at Miss Emma's Dancing. Her extensive movement experience began with a childhood full of music and gymnastics, and she fell in love with movement expression and performance at the age of five after playing a dancing sunflower in a school show! Emma has dedicated 29 years to Ballroom & Latin dancing and has been inspired by incredible teachers throughout her dance career. She earned her first dance-teaching qualification in 2005 (21 years ago!) and has taught a diverse range of students, from complete beginners to those preparing for competitions and auditions.
Emma has explored many aspects of dance, enjoying not only social dancing but also memorable performance opportunities and competition. Emma values dance for its endless opportunities to learn, grow and experience. Her passion for dance history has shaped her teaching, and she has developed a keen interest in how multisensory cues can enhance the perception of rhythm, primarily through meaningful experiences with deaf students, helping them to experience shared rhythm and boosting their engagement and confidence in dance. As a passionate and experienced dance professional, Emma enjoys continuous professional development and sharing her knowledge and skills with others.
In addition to her work in dance education, Emma founded The Moving Body Clinic in 2006 to financially support her continued professional dance training. This rewarding work provided valuable insights into movement disorders and further enriched her teaching practice. In late 2013, Emma relocated from Southampton to rural Wiltshire and subsequently established Miss Emma’s Dancing on 7th February 2014. She is incredibly proud of the local dance community she has established over the years, and she would like to thank her students for their support.
Miss Emma’s Dancing successfully weathered COVID-19, but Emma underwent multiple brain surgeries in 2022. Her recovery has given her a first-hand understanding of the challenges of health setbacks, reduced physical capacity, limited independent mobility, and the extensive processes needed to regain basic daily functions. For their continued care, Emma would like to thank Malmesbury Primary Care Centre, Southmead Hospital, Royal United Hospital Bath, Swindon Hospital, Bristol Royal Infirmary, St Michael’s Hospital, Sulis Hospital, Spire Bristol Hospital, NHS Physiotherapy & Neuro-Physiotherapy, CK Clinic Physiotherapy, Tetbury Chiropractic, the Dance Professionals Fund/Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund, and The Hospital Saturday Fund.
Like many who experience a life-changing event, Emma now finds joy in the simple things. She loves spending time with her rescue animals (her fur-family) and delving into dance history and music theory. Special thanks go to her friend Haydyn for his daily care and support, plus his outstanding commitment to keeping our lovely dance community together throughout this time (assisted by Alethea), to Carole for being such a good friend, and to her little cat for keeping her company throughout everything. Emma would also like to mention Fred & Beryl Coates for their initial encouragement of her dance career, sports coach Mr Austin for his confidence in her abilities, and Tracie Gooch for the lovely example of what a caring dance community can be.
Emma’s professional Dance & Gymnastics qualifications
Royal Academy of Dance (RAD): Registered Teacher
International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA): Professional Teacher of Dance (Ballroom)
International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA): Professional Teacher of Dance (Latin-American)
The Guild of Professional Teachers of Dance, Movement to Music and Dramatic Arts: Member
British Gymnastics: Intermediate Level Primary Teachers Award
Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS, New York): Laban/Bartenieff residencies attended (Edinburgh)
Welcome Host
Adherence to the Code of Professional Conduct and Practice prepared by the Council for Dance, Drama & Musical Theatre (CDMT), supported by the International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA)
Adherence to the Code of Professional Practice for teachers registered with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD)
Enhanced DBS (every 3 years)
Current PPL PRS music licences
Current study: Benesh Movement Notation
Further Professional training
2012: Emma completed an inspiring dance residency led by Peggy Hackney, an internationally recognised dance educator known for her work in Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis as the Director of Dance & Laban at NYU and UC Berkeley in the USA. Focusing on movement signatures and the relationship to breath, body and spatial phrasing offered a vital perspective on non-verbal communication.
2012: Emma furthered her movement training at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (New York), attending their partner site in Edinburgh. She fell in love with Edinburgh and found the Laban/Bartenieff residencies to be essential to her development as a dancer. Eager to continue her studies, she remains dedicated to exploring the skills she has learned.
2013-2016: Emma received professional training from Chris Green, a distinguished IDTA Fellow & Examiner. She is deeply grateful to Chris for sharing her exceptional expertise during this time. Emma looks forward to further opportunities to study with Chris as the depth of her knowledge, technique and attention to detail are truly incredible.
Continuing professional development with the RAD, IDTA and British Gymnastics.
Student Support & Achievements
Emma takes great joy in watching her students’ progress and is dedicated to their development.
From 2014 to 2020, Emma taught dance and gymnastics at local primary schools, guiding students through performances at the Wyvern Theatre for the Wiltshire Dance Festival in both 2019 and 2020, each event drawing audiences exceeding 600. Emma joined her students on stage for each performance to support those experiencing nerves (she enjoyed dancing as an antelope in one of the shows!) and choreographed the use of British Sign Language to support audience inclusion. Her creative approach fostered a welcoming and inspiring environment for young performers, blending artistry with accessibility through sign language choreography. Emma worked closely with school staff and parents to ensure each production ran smoothly, encouraging teamwork and building confidence among her pupils. She took pride in nurturing students of varying abilities, adapting routines to showcase their strengths and promote a sense of achievement.
Emma successfully led a primary school gymnastics team to first place at both the 2019 and 2020 Wiltshire Schools Gymnastics Competitions within the local cluster, marking a significant accomplishment. Under her guidance, the team not only demonstrated exceptional technical skill but also displayed remarkable teamwork and discipline. Emma’s coaching approach emphasised both individual growth and collective spirit, ensuring that each child felt valued and motivated. The victories served to boost the school’s reputation in sports and inspired other pupils to participate in extracurricular activities.
Emma has choreographed showcases for masquerade balls and vintage events, enabling adult students to gain confidence through public performance. She has also instructed BTEC students at BDC Theatre College on the formal and social dances of wartime England in preparation for exam performances, and led dance workshops for international students at Stonar School. In addition, Emma’s expertise extends to designing immersive dance experiences that blend historical accuracy with creative flair, incorporating period music to enhance authenticity. Her ability to adapt teaching methods for a wide range of learners, from absolute beginners to more advanced dancers, has seen her invited to collaborate on interdisciplinary projects, including theatre productions and themed community festivals.
She has prepared dancers for participation in the renowned Vienna Opera Ball on multiple occasions. Her role involved rigorous training sessions, ensuring that each dancer mastered the Viennese Waltz and the etiquette required for such a prestigious event. The Vienna Opera Ball is celebrated for its elegance and high standards, so her guidance was crucial in equipping dancers to confidently showcase their talents.
In 2015, Emma arranged a student excursion to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom to enhance her students’ dance education. The visit provided the group with an opportunity to experience one of Britain’s most iconic dance venues first-hand. The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing that the trip inspired them to pursue dance with renewed enthusiasm and confidence.
Community Contributions
Emma’s commitment to dance and the arts extends to volunteering her time and expertise to engage the local community.
Emma has coordinated dance initiatives supporting local causes and charities, including Oak & Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre, HarFest, Heart Rhythm Charity, Fibromyalgia UK, and facilitating the acquisition of specialist gymnastics equipment for St. Joseph's Primary School. Her work not only benefits the charities directly but also strengthens community ties through creativity and collaboration.
She operates a non-profit dancewear shop that benefits local animal charities, such as The Littlest Lives Rescue, Help-a-Hedgehog Hospital, and Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital. Through the shop, Emma not only provides affordable dance attire and accessories to her community, but also channels all proceeds directly to these organisations, helping to fund vital veterinary care, rescue operations, and habitat support for animals in need. Her efforts have helped raise awareness for animal welfare causes and have fostered a spirit of generosity and collaboration among her students.
Her commitment to community engagement includes choreographing for local theatre productions, developing creative routines that highlight performers’ strengths and enhancing the overall audience experience. In addition, she has played a pivotal role in preparing Young Farmers for dance competitions, providing tailored training and choreography, fostering teamwork and confidence among participants. Her involvement in these activities reflects her dedication to nurturing local talent and strengthening community bonds through the arts.
In 2018, Emma offered free dance lessons for a year to 15 students, providing much-needed support to those experiencing financial hardship within the community. These weekly classes not only enabled participants to access high-quality dance education regardless of their economic circumstances but also fostered a sense of belonging and self-esteem.
