Emma Rickis

(Emma Rickis who graduated Danceworld in 2014.)

West Lothian Danceworld holds a very special place in my heart. I owe a lot of my cherished childhood memories to my time at Danceworld. Little Emma started dancing here at the age of 3 in Armadale community center, with Miss Smith doing ballet jazz and tap! I still have my tiny pink ballet shoes and white tap shoes.

I remember vividly my first dance show experience; I was the leader of the line to go on stage for ‘Copycat crows’. The teacher told us to go and I skipped on as fast as I could.. then tripped up and landed flat on my face! I got up, danced a few shuffles and then broke down crying and walked off stage for a reassuring hug. I also remember doing big chest pops in a pink sparkly dress to Donna Summer’s ‘Hot Stuff.’ All of this is on video tape, the iconic green and white box from Limelight Productions.

During my time at Danceworld I made many precious friendships and was encouraged and supported by so many wonderful teachers; Miss Smith, Miss Diet and Miss McKinley and of course Miss Saunders.

In high school when I was pondering what to do after 6th year Miss Saunders told me about Dance for All college in Edinburgh, a musical theatre dance college for professional dance training. Quite a few Danceworld girls had trained there like Lauren (who was pretty much my DW idol) Lesley and Sinead. After visiting their open day I was pretty set in my mind that I wanted to pursue dancing as a career; and so began my 3 year full time training!

Professional dance college was pretty tough and full of challenges, a lot of blood sweat and tears! But it was also some of the best years where I grew as a dancer and was lucky enough to do my passion everyday. I achieved ISTD Advance 2 level Modern Theatre, RAD Advanced 1 Ballet and Tap and trained in Spanish dance, Musical Theatre, Contemporary and Commercial. I graduated with a HND in Professional Stage Dance, with awards for Most Progressed and Modern Theatre.

After graduating in 2017, I took a leap and accepted a teaching job at an arts school across the world in Chengdu, China. An amazing experience that pushed me as a professional and as a person- it definitely toughened me up!

After Chengdu, I moved again and accepted another teaching job in Hong Kong; a city I’ve called home for almost 7 years now. In Hong Kong I’m currently a senior teacher at a leading dance school where I teach kids Ballet, Jazz and Kpop and adult Ballet.

I feel very lucky to be able to have my passion as my full-time career and to be travelling across the world doing what I love. Dancing started for me with Danceworld and I’m so grateful to them for inspiring my love for all things dancing and performing!