Our Team

Amanda Horne

Principal

Ballet, Performing Arts, Pre-Competition Class, Tap, Theatre Craft, Theatre Dance

Amanda began dancing at the age of 2 and has never stopped since. As a teenager she was a freestyle and rock n roll champion reaching the British finals on numerous occasions. She then switched styles and trained in contemporary dance at the world famous Laban Centre in London. On graduating she returned to Sheffield and gained her teaching qualifications in ballet, tap, modern jazz, theatre craft, freestyle and rock n roll and opened Ecco in 1993. The school has grown from one class a week to classes 6 days of the week. In 2012 she achieved her goal of owning her own studio. Amanda is married to Rob and has 2 children who have both inherited a love of dance and performing.

Helen Tomlinson

Dance Teacher

Commercial, Comp Crew, Freestyle/Street

Helen began dancing competitively at Ecco Theatre Arts when she was 12 and started training for her teaching qualifications at 17. She qualified as a dance teacher in 2010 and has been teaching freestyle, street, commercial, rock n roll and slow dance classes for Ecco for the last 6 years. Helen says "There is nothing more fulfilling to me than helping my students realise their potential and seeing them grow in confidence and ability." In 2014 she decided to branch out into teaching dance inspired fitness classes for adults and has discovered a real passion for encouraging women to get into exercise helping them achieve their fitness and weight loss goals. She currently runs classes around Sheffield details of which can be found at www.dancefitwithhelen.com. Helen is also a championship adjudicator for the Association of Dance and Freestyle Professionals judging at competitions around the UK. In addition to her dance teaching qualifications in freestyle and rock n roll, she holds a First Class BA Honours Degree in Arts Management.

Rebecca Gadsby

Dance Teacher

Freestyle/Street

Rebecca began dancing at the age of 6 and danced competitively with Ecco Theatre Arts in freestyle disco and rock n roll competitions until the age of 16, in which time she reached championship status with her dance partner.
After studying Art and Design at college, she returned to train for her teaching qualification in freestyle dance. Qualifying in 2008 with the International Dance Teachers Association, she has since been teaching freestyle disco, commercial street and rock n roll classes at Ecco. Becky loves making classes fun for all and enjoys seeing her students go from strength to strength. 

Carly Winter

Dance Teacher

Contemporary, Freestyle/Street.

Carly started dancing at the age of 4 and danced competitively with Ecco Theatre Arts in freestyle and rock n roll, reaching championship status. From 2004 she continued dancing into further education, beginning training in contemporary dance at college and university. Graduating from Chester university in 2009 with a BA HONS in Dance, Carly has performed with various dance companies throughout north Wales and Cheshire gaining experience on stage. In 2010 she also began her teaching career becoming a dance practitioner for North East Wales Dance working in schools and the community. Since moving back to Sheffield Carly has continued to build her dance career working in schools and the community across Sheffield and taking her passion for dance and fitness to develop her own dance fit classes. In 2011 she qualified with the IDTA in freestyle and now teaches freestyle and contemporary at Ecco. Carly loves to perform, create and inspire.

Harriet Stanley

Dance Teacher

Comp Crew

Harriet started dancing when she was 4 years old. She was a member of our freestyle competition team and reached championship status in both slow freestyle solo and fast freestyle pairs. Her and her dance partner won many rock 'n' roll titles over their years competing together. During her time as a student she was also nominated for an IDTA Freestyle Scholarship. At the age of 14 she gained a place on the Northern School of Contemporary Dance's CAT scheme. In 2020, she successfully completed her Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) in Contemporary Dance. Harriet holds her IDTA Associate teaching qualification in Freestyle and she loves being a part of the Ecco Comp Crew.

Rebecca Vida

Dance Teacher

Theatre Dance

Rebecca starting dancing at the age of 4 and hasn't stopped dancing since. She has taken many Tap, Ballet, Modern Jazz and Theatre Craft exams and been in too many dance shows to remember! She continued her love of performing at college and university going on to gain a BA (Hons) in Physical & Dance Theatre. In 2012, Becky was lucky enough to dance and perform in the London 2012 Olympic Closing ceremony, performing alongside One Direction, Pet Shop Boys, Rita Ora and many more. She considers this one of her greatest achievements. After returning back home from university, Becky returned to Ecco and began teaching Ballet, Tap and Theatre Craft. She is now preparing for her Diploma in dance teaching in Ballet.

Charlotte Oxley

Dance Teacher

Pre-School Dance

Charlotte has been dancing at Ecco since the age of 4 and has studied Ballet, Tap, Theatre Craft, Contemporary, Freestyle and Rock and Roll. She currently teaches our pre-juvenile ballet and tap class and still attends Commercial and Adult Tap. During her time as a student at Ecco, she was nominated for an IDTA Freestyle Scholarship and won Ecco’s Special Recognition award. Not only is she invested in dance, she is dedicated to teaching and cares deeply about developing good teaching practice. Charlotte has a degree in Early Years and Primary Education. She is currently working towards furthering her teaching qualifications with us here at Ecco.

Kayleigh Horne

Dance & Gymnastics Teacher

Baby Ballet, Flex & Acro 

Kayleigh began dancing at 2 years old and was a competitive dancer for Ecco. At 16, she fell in love with Contemporary dance. She went on to study dance at college and in 2013 she enrolled at Chester University. After 3 years, Kayleigh graduated with BA Honours degree in Contemporary Dance. Whilst at university, Kayleigh became a dancer for Encompass Collective and performed in many pieces across the North West. After completing her degree, Kayleigh came back home and taught at Ecco. In July 2017, Kayleigh packed up her life and moved to France to become a performer and dancer at Disneyland Paris. Over her 5 and a half year Disney career, Kayleigh performed in many parades and shows including 'Mickey And The Magician' and 'Disney Junior Dream Factory.' Kayleigh is now back on English soil and is a permanent teacher for Ecco, teaching Baby Ballet and Flex & Acro classes. Alongside dance teaching, Kayleigh owns Ecco Gymnastics Club teaching gymnastics at Wisewood Sports Centre.

Abygael Oxley

Drama Teacher

Performing Arts

Abygael has always loved singing and acting and started Performing Arts at the age of 10. During her years as a student she had many leading roles in Ecco productions such as Dorothy in Wizard of Oz, Jasmine in Aladdin and Blousey Brown in Bugsy Malone and worked her way through IDTA Musical Theatre examinations. A notable achievement was when she was asked to sing the English and Canadian national anthem at a Sheffield Eagles match. Abygael went on to study at Leeds Beckett University and gained a BA Honours Degree in Performing Arts. She is now training to be a secondary school drama teacher.