
Welcome!
Thank you for visiting my website!
I'm Donna, Founder and Director of Orkney Dance & Fitness Ltd.
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We offer a variety of fitness and dance classes both online and in person and are based in West Mainland Orkney.
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The "ODAF Crew" are a welcoming and friendly community of ages, shapes and sizes with a passion to get everyone moving regardless of experience or fitness levels.
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We offer memberships or pay as you go options and run classes all year round.
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I am a Qualified Fitness Instructor, Dance Teacher and winner of Instructor of the Year for Scotland 2020 and finalist in the Resilient Business Category for the Women's Enterprise Awards, Scotland 2023.
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I have numerous qualifications and experiences in the Dance and Fitness Industry.
With my background in Dance and Performance and recent studies in Dance Fitness and Dance Health, I have so much to offer and share with my local community from specialist fitness classes, dance classes to birthday parties.
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Come join us and find out how to get fit, stay fit and have fun!
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Donna
My Story
I fell in love with dance and performance at an early age. I was 9 years old when my school organised a theatre trip to London to watch Starlight Express. I bought the cassette and programme and learnt every word from beginner to end! But it wasn't until the age of around 13 that I joined my first professional dance class at the Hilton Hall Dance Academy . From here I was was lucky to perform in the West End in London's Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket.
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Between 2000-2002 I audtioned and successfully gained a place at a local Dance college and obtained a BTEC National Diploma in Dance. Here I gained more experience in performance in Dance, Singing and Acting. I was cast as the Pink Lady "Frenchie" in Grease the Musical for our end of year performance at the Hazlitt Theatre. I also started teaching school age children around Kent in local Primary Schools.
I landed my first professional job in the industry after passing my qualification with Distinction as a professional performer in Malaga, Spain in 2003, then went onto work on cruise ships and other areas of Spain performing in shows and running family entertainment programmes. In 2005 I returned to the UK and became a famous Redcoat at Butlins Minehead, then onto Butlins Skegness.
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In 2007 I met my now husband and I was living back in the South East of England. I discovered this new fitness class called Zumba. And the rest is history!
We moved to Orkney in June 2017 and I started teaching classes such as Aqua Fit, Floorbarre, Zumba, Zumba Kids and Clubbercise. Then March 2020 came along and into lockdown we went.
I used this time to diversify and up-skill and created a business entirely online and now we are back dancing in classes again, I have mixed the two ideas together and now live stream in person classes and have created a whole on demand library of classes and workouts for people to do whenever they like.
In March 2022, Orkney Dance & Fitness Ltd was registered and we became a Social Enterprise.
I am currently studying for my Level 4 Dance Teaching Diploma and have set up a dance school for children in the West Mainland.
People and community are at the heart of everything I do. We are so much more than a local fitness class. We are inclusive and welcoming and I believe in giving back to my local community and breaking down any barriers to dance and fitness people may have.
Join me in a class, whether online or in person and see how much you can have whilst getting fit!
Donna
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Qualifications, certifications, CPD's and awards and achievement's
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BTEC National Diploma in Dance
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IDTA Graduate Teacher in Modern Jazz
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IDTA Diploma in Anatomy and Physiology
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NVQ Level 2 in Customer Services
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Shallow Water Exercise Certification
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Neuroplasticity in Parkinson's Level 2
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Active IQ Level 2 in Fitness Instructing (Exercise to Music)
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Active IQ Level 2 in Understanding nutrition, performance and healthy eating
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Active IQ Level 3 in Designing Exercise programmes for Older Adults
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Active IQ Level 3 in Supporting pre and post natal clients with exercise and nutrition
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Chair based exercise for frailer older adults
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OTAGO strength and balance exercise programme leader award
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Certifications and CPD's
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ICG Indoor cycling group certificate
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Zumba Basic steps level 1 certification
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Zumba Basic steps level 2 certification
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Zumba Kids certification
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Zumba Gold certification
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Aqua Zumba certification
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Zumba Step certification
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Zumba Toning certification
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Clubbercise Instructor certification
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Clubbercise Kids Combo (Family Clubbercise, U13's and U18's)
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Boogie Bounce Certified Instructor
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Boogie Bands Certified Instructor
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Boogie Bounce Kidz Certified Instructor
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NSPCC Certificate in child protection in Sport & Physical Activity
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Achievements
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2 x motions in Scottish parliament
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Winner of Community Fitness Instructor of the year for Scotland 2020
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Finalist for Resilient Business of the Year Women's Enterprise Scotland 2023
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Scottish Ballet Elevate Freelance Dance Artist
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Dance for Parkinson's Freelance Dance Artist
Contact
I am always happy to help anyone on their fitness journey. No question is too silly, give me a shout today!
07935 553383