Our Team
Meet the dedicated team behind Sophie Gallie Dance Academy, committed to inspiring, supporting and developing every dancer who walks through our doors.
Mrs (Sophie) Day - Founder & Principal
Sophie is the Founder & Principal of Sophie Gallie Dance Academy (SGDA) and an Affiliated Teacher of the Royal Ballet School. She began vocational training at age 11, having already performed with the National Youth Ballet at just 10. These early experiences shaped her belief in training that is structured, nurturing and centred entirely around the individual child.
In 2011, Sophie founded SGDA with a clear vision: high-quality dance training combined with genuine pastoral care. As a mother, former vocational dancer, teacher and someone with broad life experience, she understands children deeply - how they learn, what they need, and how to support each one holistically. Being neurodiverse herself, Sophie recognises that every dancer is unique and thrives when teaching is tailored to the individual.
SGDA is proudly non-competitive, with a strong community spirit where families and teachers work together. The school has long been recognised as a feeder for The Hammond, with many students progressing to associate and full-time programmes. In 2024, this relationship developed into a formal partnership, giving SGDA dancers access to state-of-the-art studios within one of the UK’s leading performing arts schools.
Under Sophie’s leadership, SGDA has grown to over 170 dancers and a faculty of five specialist teachers. Many students have gone on to vocational training and professional opportunities, while all carry with them the confidence, discipline and creativity nurtured at SGDA.
Miss (Lucy) Warburton
Lucy’s journey with SGDA began as one of our very first students. She later trained full-time at The Hammond and returned to SGDA as a teacher - giving her a unique, first-hand understanding of the school’s ethos, expectations and nurturing environment.
With over a decade of teaching experience, Lucy holds RAD teaching qualifications and leads the Academy’s RAD Ballet programme. She has successfully prepared and entered many students for exams, supporting them with a blend of technical precision, calm guidance and genuine encouragement. Lucy also teaches other genres across the timetable, and is known for her supportive but detail-focused approach.
In addition to her dance teaching, Lucy is a qualified Pilates instructor and is currently completing her Reformer Pilates training. She works across both Chester and Manchester, teaching in multiple Pilates studios, and brings this specialist knowledge into her work with dancers - helping them build strength, alignment, mobility and body awareness to progress safely and confidently.
Lucy’s own journey from SGDA student to SGDA faculty means she truly embodies the Academy’s values, nurturing dancers with the same care, high standards and individualised support that shaped her own training.
Miss (Niamh) Eccleston-Tuohy
Niamh began dancing at the age of two, following in her mother’s footsteps - her mum taught Sophie, Candice, Lucy and Rebekah, making dance part of Niamh’s life from the very beginning. After years of dedicated ISTD training, she gained a scholarship place on The Hammond School’s Dance Diploma programme, where she achieved her Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance alongside Advanced 2 ISTD Modern and Tap.
Her professional career took her around the world. Niamh first performed as a production dancer and magician’s assistant on Costa Atlantica, before joining Carnival Cruise Lines, where she spent five years as a Dancer, Singer and Aerialist. She was later hand-selected as Dance Captain and became an inaugural cast member for Carnival’s three newest Excel-class ships, working with VMA award-winning choreographers and directors whose credits include Harry Styles, Madonna, JLo and the Spice Girls.
In 2024, Niamh was promoted to Dance Supervisor, based in Miami, where she trained production casts for Carnival’s newest ships. Throughout her time working internationally, she maintained close ties with SGDA - supporting choreography for productions and assisting students with audition preparation.
Now back in the UK and expanding her teaching hours at SGDA from January, Niamh specialises in Commercial and Lyrical dance, bringing her extensive professional experience, creativity and performance knowledge into the studio. She is also leading the launch of SGDA’s brand-new Adult Programme for 2026. Niamh is passionate about inspiring confidence in young dancers, helping them develop strong technique, artistry and self-belief both on and off the stage.
Miss (Rebekah) Mather
Rebekah brings over a decade of teaching experience across Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Lyrical and Acrobatic Arts. A former Royal Ballet School Associate, she trained at The Hammond School before completing her professional training at Performers College, gaining ISTD teaching qualifications and Acrobatic Arts certification.
Rebekah has taught at leading dance schools across the UK, where she has held Vice Principal roles, coached successful competition teams and choreographed award-winning routines - including qualifiers for the Dance World Cup. Her ISTD students have consistently achieved a 100% exam pass rate, and she was recognised as Best Dance Teacher in Surrey at the Supreme Dance Competition.
Alongside her teaching career, Rebekah has performed at major live and televised events, from Wembley Arena’s We Day with Rita Ora and Fleur East to the FA Cup Final. She has also appeared in film and television productions including Cuban Fury, Hollyoaks and In The Dark.
Rebekah is passionate about inspiring young dancers, blending technical precision with creativity, and is excited to bring her experience, energy and high expectations to the dancers at SGDA.
Miss (Candice) Greatbanks
Candice’s training began as a Royal Ballet School Junior Associate before she continued vocationally at The Hammond School from the age of 11, completing eight years of intensive training in Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Musical Theatre, and achieving Solo Seal Ballet level.
She went on to build a diverse international career as a performer, choreographer and production manager. Her credits span cruise lines, casinos, arena tours, West End-linked productions and television. Highlights include contracts with Costa Cruises, the Sands Casino in Macau and Viva Productions; choreography for UK tours of Sister Act and Rent; and performances on the Clubland UK Arena Tour, ITV’s Dirty Dancing: Time of Your Life, and live events alongside Kylie Minogue.
With over two decades of professional experience both on stage and behind the scenes, Candice brings exceptional industry knowledge into the studio. At SGDA she teaches multiple genres, inspiring students through her performance expertise while maintaining the Academy’s nurturing, holistic approach to training. She is passionate about preparing young dancers not just technically, but artistically and personally - equipping them with the confidence, discipline and self-belief to thrive in any setting.