NURTURE
“Where little chubby feet grow gracefully into solid beautifully performing pointes”
- Jorja (current pupil)
Our Team
At Alloa Ballet Company our staff are trained to deliver professional and expert dance education to students of all ages and abilities. We are proud that many of our staff are former Alloa Ballet Company or Stirling Academy of Dance students. Our Senior students are encouraged to assist with Junior classes and we offer work experience placements to students from local high schools.
Heather Shrimpton RAD RTS, AISTD, FDI
Principal and Studio Owner
Heather trained with Basingstoke Academy of Dance before moving up to Stirling to study at Stirling University, where she gained a BSc (Hons) in Biology. During her time at university, she continued her dance training at the Scottish Academy of Dance, gaining her teaching qualification with the Royal Academy of Dance and Associate with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance.
Throughout a varied career, Heather was the Special Needs Dance Co-ordinator and then Dance Artist for Clackmannanshire Council, sourcing funding, teaching within local schools, organising workshops with Dance UK and lecturing at national dance conferences. She is currently a primary teacher in a local school.
She successfully passed her motorbike training, and enjoys riding out on her motorbike. However she won’t be turning up to class on it – there is not enough room for the stereo, syllabus, registers, scarves, shoes . . . . . . .Heather also has her day skipper and the Yachtmaster Theory which enables her to enjoy her passion of sailing .
Heather has choreographed and directed numerous children’s musical theatre and amateur operatic societies.
FUN FACT
Heather has 3 motorbikes and loves to sail.
Ariana Balkwill
FUN FACT
Bobbi McIntyre
Bobbi started dancing at age two and despite what life has thrown her way, she has always found her way back to dance and the world of performing.
She gained an NC in Acting and Theatre Performance with Monument Performing Arts School before going on to complete her HND in Musical Theatre in 2016. During Bobbi’s time with MPAS, she performed in ‘Godspell’, ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ and ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’.
She recently performed with SABOS in their production of Nunsense. Following a successful run, Bobbi joined SABOS’ Youth Team and choreographed their 2022 summer youth show, ‘Wonderland’.
Bobbi also teaches at Monument Dance Centre and manages their Doune Branch. She is currently working towards her ISTD DDE in Modern.
FUN FACT
Elisha Black
Elisha has been dancing for 17 years. She trained with Alloa Ballet Company, Stirling Academy of Dance for 13 years where she studied a range of dance styles such as ballet, tap, jazz and modern. Elisha found her love for performing as she starred in many local performances. She completed many exams while at the company. Elisha found her love for teaching while at the school and is thrilled to be back and now teaching at Alloa Ballet Company. Elisha currently teaches the adult tap classes.
FUN FACT
At the age of 24 Elisha is now just learning how to cook proper meals rather than just chicken nuggets and chips!
Julia Stewart
Having danced with Alloa Ballet Company since the age of three, Julia’s love for dance has grown massively and she now loves sharing her passion when teaching. She is currently studying a BSc in Sport and Fitness and hopes to go into the field of P.E Teaching / Sports Therapy. Her favourite styles of dance are ballet and contemporary but she does love to get the tap shoes back out. Julia also coaches gymnastics and is hoping to become qualified in Acrobatic Dance within the next year. Julia is our adult ballet tutor and occasionally coaches the ballet students.
FUN FACT
If Julia had to eat anything for the rest of her life it would be pasta!