Stars Academy Dance and Stage School

Stars Academy is a dance and stage school in North Shields offering training across multiple disciplines for all ages and abilities, from age 2 through to professional level. The academy was founded on a vision to create a supportive, inspiring environment where students discover their strengths and develop their skills.

Victoria Thompson is the Principal, bringing over 20 years of experience as a teacher, adjudicator, and performer. She holds qualifications with IDTA, RAD, and NCDTA, and is a British Dance Council Adjudicator. Victoria has trained students from beginner to professional standard and has professional performance experience with major artists including Take That and Cheryl Cole. She is also organiser of Union Dance Competition.

The teaching team includes Ash, a street dance instructor with 18 years of teaching experience and over 25 years of dancing. His main styles are Hip Hop, Locking, and House. Ash has performed at Wembley Arena, The O2 Arena, and Sadler's Wells, appeared twice on The One Show, and is a BBC Charity Award-winning choreographer. He is a multi-time champion in BDO, SDI, 101, and IDO UK street dance competitions and has hosted Dance Beats Cancer for five consecutive years. Grace has trained at Stars Academy for over 10 years and assists with Mini and Junior Street classes whilst leading the Rosette Ballet and Tap class. Kailee has been at the academy for nearly 15 years, training across multiple styles, and has completed her International Supreme in Street with IDTA.

Classes run Monday through Thursday, covering Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Street, Acro, Musical Theatre, Cheerleading, and Stage School (for ages 3–18). The academy marked its 20th Anniversary in the year before the website was last updated. Students can take IDTA, NCDTA, and LAMDA examinations in dance, drama, and singing. Performance opportunities include annual shows, competitions and festivals at local, regional, and national level, and audition support for theatre, television, and film work. Private lessons are available on request. Uniforms can be purchased through the studio.

Your first class is free. Classes run weekday afternoons and evenings, arranged by age and level across multiple styles. Victoria, Ash, Grace, Kailee and other instructors teach in a supportive environment focused on building confidence and performance skills.

Victoria Thompson is Principal with 20+ years' experience as teacher, adjudicator and performer, qualified with IDTA, RAD, NCDTA and British Dance Council. Ash teaches street dance (Hip Hop, Locking, House) with 18 years' experience, performances at Wembley, The O2, Sadler's Wells, and multiple competition wins. Grace and Kailee are experienced dancers trained at the academy who now teach and assist.

The academy welcomes students from age 2 and trains all ages and abilities; first class is free.