I established my professional career as a dancer/singer in several UK pantomimes, national tours of musicals and contracts on Celebrity and Princess Cruise Lines. My last professional engagement was in the Broadway revival production of '42nd Street' in Stuttgart, Germany. Having taught on a guest basis for several years, I established my teaching career in 2003 when I was appointed the ISTD Co-ordinator for Arts Educational Schools in London. This led to several roles in leading vocational colleges including Mountview and Bodywork Company Dance Studios. In 2007 I was employed as a tap tutor at the Urdang Academy and became more involved in teaching on their new degree programme. By 2008 I was appointed a full-time member of staff overseeing the development and delivery of the contextual units for the Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance or Musical Theatre and as a lecturer on the BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. As my roles and responsibilities grew I was then appointed Director of HE programmes overseeing the degree programmes and validation events for new programmes. In addition to my full-time teaching roles, I have been a Dance Adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals since 2007 and was Vice-Chair of the Adjudicators Council. I also serve on the adjudicator's panel for All England Dance and was recently appointed as a Trustee on the Board and as the Chair of the Artistic Committee. I was appointed an ISTD Modern Theatre and Tap Examiner in 2016 and currently sit on the Tap Faculty Committee and Lecturing team. Having opted out of Higher education upon completion of A-Levels to begin a professional career, I am a firm believer in continual professional development. I was awarded the DTLLS qualification in 2007 and gained Qualified Teacher status (QTLS), I then studied at Middlesex University and was awarded an MA in Professional Practice (Dance Education) in 2011 with Distinction. Not one to shy away from further study, I embarked on a PhD in Dance at the University of Roehampton in 2012 was awarded my Doctorate in June 2018. In 2018 I decided to relocate to Birmingham and develop my freelance portfolio both as an educator, and as a creative. I founded Nathan James Dance which found an increased audience during the global pandemic offering teacher training online. I am passionate about the arts, particularly focusing on education and artistic development, and feel very strongly about being a voice in its future development.