Naomi Cox

Hi everyone, welcome!

I am Naomi Cox, founder of CDA. I am 32 years old and I have been dancing since I was 3 under the watchful eye of my incredible mum and teacher Karen Cox. Aged 18 I gained a full scholarship to Performers College where I studied Dance and Musical Theatre. After graduating I danced professionally throughout Europe and landed my dream job as a Showgirl at the Lido de Paris in 2019.

I have always had a deep unwavering enthusiasm for teaching and gained my first IDTA qualifications aged 16. I continued to work towards teaching qualifications alongside performing. I am currently an IDTA Fellow in Contemporary Modern Jazz and Theatre Craft. I won the prestigious John Knight’s Teacher Award in 2022 for the highest exam result in the UK for my Fellowship Theatre Craft and I was runner up in 2023 for my Fellowship Contemporary Modern Jazz. I also hold a Diploma for Tap and I am a registered Silver Swans ambassador for the RAD. Recognising that to achieve today’s high standards in dance flexibility and strength are vital I recently have had the absolute pleasure of training with Canadian Acrobatics Arts programme. I feel this extra addition to the academy will greatly improve all our students, you can see the results already!

My love of dance has given me opportunities to choreograph performances and music videos, give lectures in dance (including at the IDTA annual congress) judge dance competitions and direct large-scale dance school productions. I also had the honour of being cover teacher at Phil Winston’s Theatre works in Blackpool.

I am extremely passionate about all pupils and I believe that children perform and deliver their best when they are encouraged, nurtured and having fun. Dancing is a gift and it’s our job to unlock that gift and make it a magical experience. For children wishing to pursue a more formal education in dance I have experience in entering hundreds of students for dance exams. I have trained students for a profession in dance and have many contacts worldwide in the industry and students who have won UK titles and become Miss Dance Finalists.

CDA is a place where everyone is seen, everyone can dance, everyone is free to express themselves and they are encouraged in a safe and healthy environment. Dance provides you with lifelong skills: - It teaches the benefit of hard work, practice and management of disappointments and successes.

At CDA I’m extremely protective of our family unit and bond - we love, care for and support one another.

Come and experience the magic!

Miss Naomi

Founder and Lead Teacher

Lizzie Cookson

Hello, I’m Lizzie Cookson, I am a senior teacher at CDA. I have 25 years teaching experience, specialising in Ballet, Tap, Contemporary Modern Jazz and Theatre Craft.

My passion is to create a nurturing, fun, and inclusive environment where students of all ages and abilities can learn, grow, and thrive.

I hold a Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies from the RAD and am a Fellow in Theatre Craft, Modern Jazz and Tap with the IDTA. Additionally, I have a Licentiate qualification in Ballet. I was honoured to receive the prestigious John Knight Award in Modern Jazz in 2021 for the highest mark in the UK that year. I also have a BA (Hons) in Sociology from the University of Birmingham and a certificate in Dance School Safeguarding Services.

My extensive teaching experience spans dance schools, toddler dance and pre-school classes. I have taught dance in primary and secondary schools, including various Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) schools. I have experience teaching adult dance and fitness classes. I have choreographed for numerous dance shows, school productions, and charity events. I continue to pursue professional development most recently obtaining a Level 1 Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) Certificate.

I love to share my knowledge when training and supporting young people to prepare for their own teaching qualifications.

Dance is my passion, and I strive for excellence in every class I teach. Watching students learn a step for the first time, prepare for an exam or shine on stage is a joy and privilege!

I am delighted to be part of the CDA team as it starts an exciting new adventure.

Miss Lizzie

Senior Teacher

karen Cox

Hi

I’m Karen Cox, teacher at the Cox Dance Academy. I have been teaching dance in Sheffield for over 50 years and my passion, energy and dedication has never wavered.

I took my first IDTA Associate exam at the age of 16 and alongside my dancing career I also qualified as a NNEB Nursery Nurse later working locally integrating children with physical disabilities into mainstream schools.

At the age of 19 I became a professional dancer and enjoyed 3 wonderful years in Jersey progressing to dance captain and then to co producer/director.

I currently hold an IDTA Fellowship in CMJ, Licentiate in TC, Associate in Tap and IDTA Ballet all with Distinctions, RAD Teacher’s Certificate (Hons) and I am also an RAD qualified ambassador for Silver Swans and the Safe Guarding lead for CDA.

I have encouraged and nurtured thousands of pupils over the years. I have enjoyed being part of their success when past pupils have joined ballet companies, gained West End contracts and have performed all over the world. It has been a true privilege to have been able to attend events such as the IDTA Theatre Awards (at which I have seen over 100 pupils perform!) to share in their successes and to visit pupils worldwide to witness former students living their dream of being professional dancers.

I cannot wait to share more in this exciting new chapter of my life!

Mrs Cox

Teacher

Cara george

Hi my name is Cara and I’m absolutely delighted to join the fabulous teaching faculty at CDA! I’ve had a passion and obsession for dance from a very young age and started my training with Mrs Cox nearly 40 years ago, which has resulted in a wonderfully close family friendship spanning 5 decades.

I am RAD and IDTA trained, spent 5 years as a Yorkshire Ballet Scholar and had several IDTA Dance Theatre Awards recommendations as a young teenager, as well as being a student dance teacher. At 16 years old I left for London to study classical ballet, contemporary and jazz at the prestigious Central School of Ballet.

At 18 years old I moved to Paris to commence my very first job as a glamourous Bluebelle dancer at the awesome Lido de Paris on the Champs Elysee! From there I moved to the incredibly famous Moulin Rouge where I danced the very same show that is still performed there now, 2 shows a night, 7 nights a week, for 3 years. With a desire to travel I then danced contracts in Monte Carlo, Italy, Spain and Norway.

I adore working with children and young people and currently teach at a local primary school specialising in P.E I am also a very proud Mummy of 4 beautiful children.

I am so very excited to be back teaching dance again and look forward to using my expertise and experience in the dancing profession to pass onto the children and students at CDA.

Miss Cara

Teacher

Bo Bayne

Hi, I’m Bo Bayne, I’m 19 years old and currently studying dance at Addict Dance Academy in Leicester. My love for dance was born at the age of 4 and being a close family friend of Naomi Cox I delighted in performing in shows and perfecting my technique to progress through grades and professional exams both with the IDTA and RAD. The fabulous foundations I had have really helped me get the most out of my classes at Addict. Within my training I get to explore many different styles from many wonderful choreographers, teachers and performers who also share their experiences in the industry. Over the years I have had lots of chances to perform in the Lyceum Pantomime in 2019, at Musical Con 2 years in a row with CAPA College (the second time I was lucky enough to share the stage with Layton Williams) and I’ve also performed at big dance conventions such as Can You Dance? and Move It.

I’m always excited to return to Sheffield and Cox Dance Academy every weekend to teach as well as continuing with my teacher training. I have already received a distinction for the IDTA Level 3 Diploma for dance teaching assistants and now I'm working towards my Level 4. My home is CDA where I teach the Intermediate Commercial class and I'm on standby for any other cover during the day. I love to share my knowledge and create choreography that helps my class grow and gives them a taste of  the different choreo that they haven't been exposed to. Teaching is my passion and I feel so proud when I see how much my class is progressing, be it practising routines or just arriving for lessons every week with a little more confidence and eagerness to learn. My best friends are friends I’ve danced with over the years and to see my own class forming their own groups and friendships is just the best!

Miss Bo

Teacher