CRAIG HOPKINS /
PRINCIPAL
Craig began dancing at the age of 10 after seeing his older cousin compete in a local dance training session. He caught the dancing bug and was soon entering competitions!
Craig had an amazing freestyle career and retired at the age of 21 after winning prestigious titles all over the UK and Ireland. These included: London Championships, Edinburgh & Glasgow Championships, Diva, Euro Dance and Icon. His dream finally came true when he was crowned Disco King in 2015 at which he wore his last sponsored costume from the top freestyle designer, Stoned Boutique after many years of being dressed by the company.
Craig also studied at The Urdang Academy, one of the top musical theatre colleges in London. He received a sponsored scholarship studying, jazz, ballet, commercial, hip hop, acting and singing. After graduating in 2016, Craig went on to teach freestyle for dance schools in various different countries. Craig became a fully qualified dance teacher with the ADFP in 2018.
His first professional job was dancing in Sleeping Beauty alongside comedian and actor Warwick Davis in Woking. Craig then completed two contracts as a dancer with Celebrity Cruises, enabling him to perform whilst travelling the world.
It has always been Craig's dream to teach and pass on his passion for dance to others.
MADDISON JOHNSON /
STUDENT TEACHER
Maddison began dancing at the age of 6 after previously training in gymnastics at the age of 5. She has since loved performing and shortly after began competing in freestyle competitions.
Maddison’s freestyle journey was filled with magical moments such as when she achieved a premier championship status in both her fast and slow solo sections by the age of 13. In the same year she also won the title of ‘Street Dance World Champion’ at the Worlds, which was held at the Blackpool Tower. Alongside this journey she was training in Modern, Jazz, Ballet and Lyrical in which she won titles such as ‘Dancer of the Year’ at South Cambridgeshire festival and solo modern winner at Stars Of The Future.
For Maddison, freestyle was able to help with her self-confidence and self-belief which she would like to be able to share with other aspiring dancers. It has been a strength that has carried her through the next phase of her dance training.
Currently, Maddison is training at the London Studio Centre, one of London’s top performing dance theatre universities after receiving a scholarship. In 2023, they selected her to perform with a small number of dancers at London’s biggest dance convention, ‘Move it’, as well as other dance festivals in North London.
Maddison is extremely excited to be working alongside Craig at his fantastic dance school, helping to teach and train new talented dancers.