About Us
More than dance. A place to grow, belong and thrive.
Meet Sophie.
Sophie Day is the Founder & Principal of Sophie Gallie Dance Academy and an Affiliated Teacher of The Royal Ballet School.
Sophie founded SGDA in 2011 with a simple aim: to create a dance school where children can receive excellent training while still being allowed to be children. She is particularly passionate about early years dance education and creating an environment where dancers feel safe, understood, challenged and genuinely excited to learn.
Over the past 15 years, Sophie has grown SGDA into the academy it is today, while keeping the same belief at its heart: every dancer matters, and there is no single definition of success in dance.
Sophie leads the academy alongside Vice Principal Miss Warburton, Miss Eccleston-Tuohy and Miss Mather, with each teacher bringing their own specialist knowledge, experience and personality to the SGDA team.
Why choose SGDA
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Our teachers know their craft. We don’t just teach steps and routines, we teach children how to dance well, with a real understanding of technique, artistry and how their bodies work.
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We don’t rush dancers through grades, levels or exams simply to collect the next certificate. Progress is based on readiness, technique and what is genuinely best for the individual dancer.
If your priority is simply moving up as quickly as possible or chasing the next exam, SGDA may not be the right fit. If you want high-quality, safe training that gives your child strong foundations and long-term progression, you’ll feel very at home here.
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We get to know the dancer in front of us. Their strengths, their confidence, how they learn and when they need to be challenged or supported. No child should ever feel like just another number in a class.
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We have high expectations for our dancers because we know what they are capable of. But excellent training should never come at the expense of a child’s confidence, wellbeing or love of dance.
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From theatre performances and examinations to associate programmes, workshops and vocational pathways, we give dancers opportunities to experience more when the time is right for them. SGDA already highlights successful placements with programmes including Elmhurst Young Dancers, CAT, National Youth Ballet and Royal Ballet School.
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Children learn best when they feel safe, happy and supported. We want SGDA to be somewhere dancers genuinely look forward to coming each week, while parents know they are receiving excellent training.
The highest standards of training, with your child at the centre of every decision.
Our Ethos
At SGDA, we believe excellent dance training and a caring, supportive environment should always go hand in hand.
Every dancer is different, so we support each child as an individual, helping them build strong technique, confidence and a genuine love of dance.
Success looks different for everyone. What matters to us is that every dancer feels valued, makes progress and knows they belong.
Excellent Training
We take teaching seriously. Our dancers are taught by experienced, specialist teachers who explain the how and why, building strong technique safely and giving every child the foundations to become the best dancer they can be.
Known as an Individual
No child should ever just be another dancer in the room. We get to know our students, how they learn, what they need and what makes them tick, so we can support and challenge them as individuals.
Opportunities to Remember
Shows, exams, workshops, associate programmes and special performance opportunities all form part of life at SGDA. We want our dancers to have experiences they can be proud of, whatever level they dance at.
Confidence That Grows
We love seeing children become more confident, independent and sure of themselves. Sometimes that growth happens through dance, sometimes through performing, friendships or simply finding somewhere they feel comfortable being themselves.
Somewhere They Love To Be
SGProbably the most important one. We want children to genuinely look forward to dance. SGDA should feel warm, welcoming and safe, while still being a place where they are learning, progressing and being taught properly. Parents describe the academy as caring and professional, and talk about their children loving their dance days.
Progress at the Right Pace
There isn't one version of success at SGDA. Some dancers want to take exams, audition for associate programmes or pursue vocational training. Others simply want to improve, perform and enjoy their classes. We make sure every dancer has somewhere to progress.
Performances & Opportunities
Performance is a big part of life at SGDA. Every dancer has opportunities to perform, from smaller academy sharings and events through to our full-scale theatre productions.
In May 2026, we celebrated 15 years of SGDA with our anniversary production at The Brindley Theatre, bringing together dancers from across the academy for a very special weekend of performance, memories and celebration.
For dancers who want to take their training further, we also support and prepare students for auditions, associate programmes and additional training opportunities. Our dancers have successfully gained places with programmes including Elmhurst Young Dancers, CAT, National Youth Ballet and The Royal Ballet School Associates.
Some of our students go on to full-time vocational training or university, while many simply continue dancing because they love it. Our aim is to give every dancer opportunities that are right for them, wherever they want dance to take them.
Opportunities for every dancer. Whatever their journey.
