Our Events
We are proud to support and our Teams have performed at Otley Carnival for many years, worked with and supported Menston Thespian’s Pantomimes, as well as Eldwick Gala, Menston Primary School and Eldwick Primary School’s many events.
Our dancers have great opportunities to get involved with performances throughout the year, which we are very proud of.
They also have opportunities for personal achievement and recognition.
As we are IDTA International Dance Teachers Association trained and qualified, we give all our students the opportunity to be part of the IDTA Awards Programme. This gives our dancers a real sense of progression and achievement, which they can feel immensely proud of themselves for.
Louise’s history and passion for dance
Louise grew up in Menston, and from the age of 6, her love of music and dance was apparent. She attended classes in Shipley, not only in Freestyle but also Latin and Ballroom, although it became clear in her teens that Street and Freestyle were her first love. Starting to help out in the classes forged a real love for teaching others, so having achieved all her IDTA awards, she went on to qualify for her 3 IDTA Teaching Qualifications achieving Distinctions.
Outside the dance school environment, experiences dancing in Manchester, Warrington, Wigan and even Corfu, gave the opportunity to work with other amazingly talented dancers from varied dance backgrounds, where the creativity for music and choreography was off the charts! further enhancing and influencing Louise’s own dance style.
However, despite her passion for her dancing, Louise’s other love in life was travel. So, after graduating from university, Louise’s first career was 14 years in the Travel Industry, working both overseas and in the Uk, spanning various roles from grass roots to management. It was during the Uk period, whilst working full time, that Louise returned to Otley and her passion for Dance, creating and founding Footloose Dance 20 years ago.
Louise has, for the last 7 years focused on operating and teaching for her dance school full time, and lives in Eldwick with her 2 children.
“I am so proud to teach so many children! It’s so amazing to share my passion for music and dance with them, and see them embark on their own journeys of discovery and expression! It’s so important for them to have an outlet to lose themselves in, amongst all the pressures of life. So important. And I'm beyond proud that I get to play a part in that.
I love working with others in the industry, sharing ideas and choreography, and the music is still so inspiring, ever changing and evolving. I hope the kids feel my passion for music and dance, and it ignites something in them as well!”
history of the business
Footloose Dance was founded in 2004 by Louise Webster, our creator and Company Director. We started out in the dance studio of Club Energy Gym, in Otley, where we grew and remained established there for 13 years.
In 2017 we moved premises in Otley and expanded, providing additional classes in Menston and Eldwick, where we have now been for a further 7 years!
As well as teaching and developing many, many children’s love of dance, we have also produced fully qualified teaching staff, who started off from the ages of 8 in Footloose Dance!
