During my training at Elmhurst Ballet school I was awarded the Sylphide cup for the best dancer of the year and then at the age of 16 I was whisked away to dance in my first ballet company.
Quickly becoming a soloist and principal dancer I toured the world for many years in various companies including the famous Roland Petit’s Ballet de Marseilles.
Gillian Winn in Gershwin’s ‘Songbook’.
On hanging up my pointe shoes I then appeared in many opera’s, west end shows, television series and films, like ‘Shakespeare in Love’ and ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’. Most recently Gillian collaborated with the violinist Takane Funatsu dancing in Bach’s Partita 2 for violin.
I choreographed movement in plays, then having assisted choreographers at the Royal Opera House and English national Opera I focused on having a family.
The pas de trois in ‘Aagon’
Soon after, my interest in teaching began (and quite by chance) after teaching a dance/drama class at my children’s nursery. The response was so positive that I was encouraged to pursue my objective of starting my own ballet school, gaining a qualification through achieving the coveted ‘Professional Dancer’s Teaching Diploma’ at the Royal Academy of Dance with a Distinction of 91%.
From humble beginnings the school has grown at an astonishing rate as the parent’s grapevine spreads far and wide.
One of Gillian Winn’s leading roles, Carabosse, in ‘The Sleeping Beauty’
Having great fun as the can can dancer in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ thrilled to see it on television on Christmas day!
