OUR FACULTY
EMMA TATE
Emma has been teaching dance in Education for 18 years and in 2013 joined GEMS Wellington Academy and is currently the WSO Outreach & Events Performing Arts Programme Manager, Founder of WSO Adrenaline and #BOYZCANDANCE Youth Dance Companies, and the newly formed Community Super Crew "DXB".
Teaching and developing Dance pathways is Emma's passion, constantly striving to engage and inspire children of all ages and abilities, encouraging them to explore their personalities through movement, enabling them to be creative and imaginative.
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Emma is the driving force behind UDO Academy Dubai’s flagship school, creating the "Centre of Excellence in Performance & Theatre Tec." at WSO, to inspire and nurture students in a fun and friendly environment where everybody is welcome.
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UDO Syllabus (Grades 4-6), Trainee Instructors Academy, UDO Street Dance Styles
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GEMMA HODDY
UDO Syllabus (Pre Primary – Grade 3) , UDO Street Tots, UDO Street Dance Styles
Gemma is a renowned artist from London UK specializing in hip hop theatre, street dance styles & choreography.
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Her performing credits include the original cast of Boy Blue Entertainment’s hip hop theatre triple bill BLAK WHYTE GRAY (world tour), RHIANNA & Drake debut performance of ‘WORK’ (Brit Awards London), Global Village pro cast (Dubai), RED show (Ferrari World (Abu Dhabi), Pro cast/ dance captain Olympics Opening ceremony (London 2012), EXPO 2020 (Dubai) and an original cast member of Levi Roots’ brand new Musical production ‘SOUND CLASH: Death in the arena’ which completed its debut run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer.
She has also performed with likes of Rita Ora, Lemar, Big Shaq, Dizzee Rascal, Emile Sandé, Maya Diab, RED ONE & Dj Kaboo whom she has also choreographed music videos & live tours for.
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Gemma is a head judge & street dance syllabus examiner for UNITED DANCE ORGANISATION and she has travelled the world delivering workshops ensuring the quality of training in these styles is upheld for the following generations.
Gemma is delighted to be collaborating once again with UDO Academy Dubai in this role of Adrenaline Youth dance company artistic director to oversee the dancers’ growth and progression in the next stage of their training.
MARVIN LOPEZ
Marvin Lopez, also known as Marvin Shockwave, a highly experienced and accomplished professional dancer and freestyler with an impressive career spanning over 12 years. Originally hailing from the Philippines, Marvin now resides in the UAE, having previously taught in Thailand. His dance repertoire is diverse and includes styles such as Locking, Krumping, Hip Hop, Choreography, and Freestyle.
Throughout his journey, Marvin has not only been an influential teacher, inspiring countless students in the Philippines and Thailand, but he has also proven his skills as a competitor, winning numerous awards in local and international dance battles. Notably, he has been a key member of two successful Filipino dance crews, including “Hybrids of Freedom” and “I got colours” and most recently, the “Desert Ninja's” based in the UAE.
ELLAINE JARDELOZA
Meet Ellaine Jardeloza, a dance enthusiast with an incredible 26-year journey! Starting with hip-hop, she's explored various styles, but it was in 2016 that she fell in love heels for Waacking.
Since then, Ellaine has been teaching this mesmerizing style and co-founded Blend Waackers, along with founding GB Waackers in the Philippines. While Waacking is her main focus, she also leads open style dance classes.
Ellaine's not just about teaching - she's a fierce competitor, battling both locally and nationally in Waacking and Open Style events. Dancing and teaching are her true passions, and she can't wait to share her knowledge with all of you! #DancePassion #WaackingWonder
CATHERINE KAYE
Meet Catherine : a versatile dance artist and choreographer with a dynamic background. Hailing from the Philippines, Catherine boasts an impressive journey, from being a former member of The Philippine Allstars, World hip-hop champions, to her role as a dance artist and choreographer here in Dubai.
Her skills span a range of styles, including Hiphop, Waacking, and Heels Dance Choreographies. With an extensive training history that includes working with international dance icons, Catherine brings a unique blend of creativity and expertise to her craft.
Her performances have graced stages globally, from front-acting for renowned artists like J.Lo, Chris Brown, and The Jackson 5, to featuring in a Disney Bollywood movie. Notable achievements include winning the Zurfai FEMME Championship and being a UNIQLO TVC endorser.
Beyond the stage, Catherine is a costume and fashion stylist, merchandise handler, and makeup enthusiast. Her influence extends to being an endorser for PANZER GLASS and VIVO V21. With a passion that radiates in every move, Catherine continues to inspire and electrify audiences worldwide.
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LETICIA SIMPSON
Letitia is a highly experienced professional dancer with a remarkable career spanning over 25 years. Originally from the UK, She has graced the stage alongside renowned artists like Kelly Rowland, Alicia Keys, John Newman, and the Miami Band.
Letitia's exceptional talent also earned her the esteemed title of a Nike Freestyler, representing and empowering women in dance. Alongside her captivating performances, she shares her wealth of knowledge as a dedicated dance teacher and mentor, inspiring the next generation of dancers. Letitia journey continues to be a beacon of inspiration in the world of dance.
SATYA DARBAR
Satya is originally from the UK and completed her dance training at the prestigious Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, earning her Bachelor of Performing Arts (HONS) Dance degree. Satya’s freelance career spanned over 15 years, including work with various artists and projects across the UK and Europe, including the 2012 London Olympics.
Throughout her performance career, Satya always had a passion for dance in education and it was this that led her to establish her company Dance Factory North East LTD, which rapidly became a leading dance provider in schools and the provision of community dance classes. The company liaised with primary schools to offer CPD training to support dance in the curriculum for primary teachers and frequently collaborated with local councils to secure funding for dance projects and events, promoting youth engagement and performance opportunities. The company also worked with Dance City, the national dance agency for the North East and their Centre for Advanced programme. This programme was part of a national network of 11 organisations delivering a breadth of dance education across the UK.
In 2012 Satya earned a POST 16 certificate in education specialising in dance, which opened up further teaching opportunities with GCSE and BTEC dance students as well as expanding her programme of community classes at her dance school to provide adult fitness classes through dance.
Satya is currently WSO Primary Performing Arts Teacher and is incredibly proud to be a part of the UDO Academy Dubai Community Classes. “Working creatively to ignite passion and inspire our young dancers, is my ultimate calling—it is what I was born to do."
UDO Syllabus (Pre Primary – Grade 3) , UDO Street Tots, UDO Street Dance Styles