The Angela Watson Story

Angela’s training

Angela began dancing at the age of seven at The Academy of Ballet in Edinburgh, under the watchful eyes of Joan Tucker and Jack Spurgeon. At the age of seventeen she studied full time at The Academy of Ballet and then at The Stella Mann School in London. Training in ballet, jazz, tap, choreography, character and notation.

Her professional dance career spanned a fulfilling eleven years where she worked with ballet and modern companies, taking her to Scotland, London, Europe, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Asia and Dubai. Her commercial work involved two tours on board cruise ships, as well as various slots on television. Her last engagement as a professional dancer was in London dancing for Yehudi Menuhin.

Angela’s teaching career

After qualifying from The Royal Academy of Dance, Angela taught in many private ballet schools in Cape Town, here in Edinburgh at Dancebase and Telford College (now Edinburgh College). She then went on to set up the Angela Watson School of Dance in 2002.

The school has only grown in strength since and is now very well established, earning a reputation for fun, stimulating classes with high standards throughout. Exam results from the Angela Watson School of Dance are excellent, and the bi-annual shows are always a huge hit with children and parents alike.

Angela says, “Running the dance school and teaching young people to dance is extremely rewarding. I am so lucky to be doing the job I do and I love every moment of it.”

Hayley started her professional dance training at The Dance School of Scotland from 2000 to 2006. During her time there she performed the role of Young Juliet in Scottish Ballet’s production of “Romeo & Juliet”, as well as performing in the Dance School’s annual showcase. She then went on to complete 3 years of professional dance training at Edinburgh’s Telford College, graduating with a BA (Hons) Dance Degree.

Most recently, Hayley has gained her Classical Ballet Teaching Certificate with the Royal Academy of Dance. Her complete teaching experience includes the Angela Watson School of Dance (since 2010), McNally Dance Academy Kelso, Morningside Dance Academy, BA Taking Flight Tour workshops at Reid Kerr, Telford College, and a placement at Broughton High School. Hayley is our competition team and summer dance camp coach, she is a huge part of the dance school and loved by all.

Zelie is our adult jazz and tap teacher, our musical theatre teacher alongside Diana Randolph Saunders and delivers many other dance classes in the school.

Zelie started dancing at an early age and soon joined a stage school in London. She performed on stages such as The Royal Theatre, Drury Lane and Saddlers wells on the Westend. Zelie was also a Ballet associate of the Urdang Academy in London.

Zelie moved to Scotland and did her vocational training in Edinburgh College (Telford College) and gained a 1st Class BA (hons). Upon graduating she performed with various Scottish dance companies and toured the UK. Zelie was also very involved in teaching from an early stage, so she has brought a wide range of levels from community dance to SQA exam work all over Scotland.

In 2009 Zelie started as a dance lecturer at the Performing Arts School of Scotland, Edinburgh College and still delivers dance technique on the PASS Musical Theatre courses.

Zelie often travels to NYC to see new and upcoming Musicals on Broadway and take part in workshops to bring back the new techniques to Scotland.

Zelie is an enthusiastic dedicated teacher who brings the love of dance into every class.

Diana Randolph Saunderson, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, studied dance for many years and received her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She then studied acting and voice in Los Angeles and went on to perform in numerous musicals and concerts in the US and Europe. After moving to Edinburgh, Diana taught musical theatre to children and teens at Waverley Care, Stagecoach Performing Arts, and various after school clubs and community centres in the South Edinburgh community.

Having completed her TQFE teaching qualification, she is currently the course leader for HND Musical Theatre at Edinburgh College and is doing her Masters at RCS. Additionally, she still performs and loves hiking, film, theatre, and watching European crime drama on the telly.

Cat was dancing before she could walk! Coming from a musical household meant it was only natural that she progressed into the industry. Cat begun her journey at the Manor School of Ballet and STEPS dance school. Cat then found a passion for the voice. Having performed around the country she then went on to complete a HND in Musical Theatre and achieved a 1st Class BA(hons) in Dance & Drama at PASS, Edinburgh College.

Cat is a performer, theatre maker, facilitator and director. She loves working with children and students alike as she believes that there is nothing more rewarding than supporting and encouraging others to find and grow their talents.

Lucy began dancing at age 3 with Central Scotland Ballet School where she did all of her RAD ballet exams, later joining Scottish Ballet associates. Alongside dancing, Lucy trained in competitive artistic gymnastics, representing her country as a member of the Scotland Squad. This also led her to become a qualified gymnastics coach in 2016.

Since graduating from Northern Ballet School in 2020, Lucy has worked on both stage and screen. As a soloist with Edinburgh Festival Ballet Company for 2 years, she toured Denmark in "The Nutcracker" and appeared in "Hamlet" alongside Sir Ian McKellen at the Edinburgh Fringe. As well as this she taught at the EFB School from beginners ballet up to the full time students. Lucy has most recently worked with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, where she danced in their production of "Memoria" at the Edinburgh International Festival and has trained at the Ailey Studios in New York. Lucy has also danced on screen with notable appearances in Apple TV's "The Buccaneers" and the upcoming Sky television series "Lockerbie."

Rebecca grew up in Lancashire, where she began dancing at the age of 3. Having performed throughout her childhood with both her local school and English Youth Ballet, taken RAD and ISTD exams, she decided to pursue dance as a career. She gained a place at Northern Ballet School, Manchester, where she trained for 3 years and completed RAD ballet to Advanced 1, and ISTD tap and modern to Advanced 2. After graduating in 2020, she has completed a contract on a holiday resort and now dances professionally in and around Edinburgh.

Rebecca moved to Scotland in 2021 and has been pursuing dance education ever since. In addition to teaching modern, ballet and the competition teams here at Angela Watson’s, she is a lecturer of Jazz and Tap at the Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film and TV (formerly known as The MGA Academy).