AVRIL GORMAN, A.R.A.D
Patron
Capture Dance Academy has the honour of calling Mrs Avril Gorman, A.R.A.D, our Patron.
Josie, the Principal, was lucky enough to have been taught from a young age by Avril in RAD Ballet as well as being taken under her wing as an assistant ballet teacher at the Tudor School of Dance and Mayfield Preparatory School. It is this wonderful lady that inspired the career Josie has pursued to this date and being able to ask her to become patron was a privilege.
In 1958 and at the age of 10, Avril began ballet lessons in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, and over the course of her training was taught by Pauline Thompson, Sylvia Light, Mary Deverson and Madame Helena Lehmiski. Between 1959-1966 she progressed through the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus from Grades 1-5 in addition to vocational grades at Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced level. As well as ballet, she also trained in Latin and Ballroom at the Billy Pond School between the years 1964-1968, however ballet remained her main focus.
The start of her career began in 1965, at just 16 years old! Avril left school to become assistant ballet teacher at the Tudor School of Dance as well the Independent Mayfield School, now know as Mayfield Preparatory School (she continued here until retirement!). Those in the industry are aware that we as dance practitioners sometimes have to wear multiple hats and so, in this year she became a nursery assistant and later a registered childminder. In years to follow she also took on more work teaching ballet in other independent schools… she really is the definition of a hard worker!
The year 1982 saw the opening of the Avril Gorman School of Dance, where she was Principal and which ran in two locations until 2015. In 1989 she also became Principal of the Tudor School of Dance. She ran both well respected schools through ups and down, saw many students grow in ability and through life, and even got to introduce the magic of ballet to the children of past students in the same way they themselves experienced it. Many people did not think the day would come as she continued to show the same passion for dance throughout her years, however in 2021 she then retired…
The place where her career started was was also the place in which it came a close as she hung up her ballet shoes ready for a well deserved rest.
Avril holds the RAD Life Membership which is awarded to those who have taught and been a member of the academy for 42+ years. In total her career spanned over 56 years during which she taught countless students all who hold her in the highest respect. Though many of her students have gone on to pursue a career in dance, she also taught many valuable life lessons that students have taken with them in their different walks of life.
She truly is an inspiration.
