ABOUT US

The Funky Feet School of dance and performing arts offers the best training for all ages and abilities whether you are looking just to have fun or to be a professional performer.

Vicky Codling took over the school in 2009 from Joan Gisborne when she emigrated to Australia to be with her family.

The school has gone from strength to strength, we now offer classes in a wide range of subjects for children from the age of 2.5 right up to adults.

Our recent addition of drama to complete our full range of performing arts, recognising the importance of having a wide range of performing arts skills to succeed in the professional business.

The children have opportunities to take exams in the ISTD syllabus and the school also puts on shows that the whole school can take part in.

We run a competition team, which the children are selected to be involved in. All the children are given lots of opportunities to perform at various events through the year including the local pantomime.

School Staff

Director

Vicky Codling

Vicky fell in love with dance and theatre at a very young age. Her first performance was at the age of 5, when she performed with her class in the dancing school show.

Vicky’s first professional engagement was at the age of 7, when she performed at Norwich Theatre Royal with Wayne Sleep in the Pantomime Aladdin.

Vicky continued her training at the Central School of Dance and Performing Arts, which opened many performance opportunities and she was lucky enough to work with some of the best in the profession as she was growing up.

At the age of 16 Vicky started her work as a professional dancer, most of which was based out of Norfolk.

When she was 18, Vicky left Norfolk to perform around England, working for British Holidays. She worked her way up, finishing her last two seasons as Entertainment Manager at the parks where she worked.

In 2005 Vicky came back to Norfolk to complete her teacher training. She then took on the Joan Gisborne School of Dance and Performing Arts. In 2010 the School was renamed “Funky Feet School of Dance and Performing Arts”. It has gone from strength to strength, incorporating several new subjects, and has gained a fabulous reputation in the local and surrounding community. The school now has its own competition team that compete around Norfolk and Suffolk. It is well rewarded for its charity work in the local community.

Vicky has a young family herself, and her two girls are following in mummies footsteps, both dancing and performing at the same school where Vicky began her training.

In 2019 Vicky realised a life ambition and staged ‘Annie’ the musical, taking on the role of choreographer whilst co-directing and producing.

2020 sees the start of Vicky’s latest venture, a new company that will run alongside the dancing school. This company will put on performances to raise money to fund arts projects in the local community. Vicky is hoping to open the doors of the dancing school during the day, to house performing arts days for local schools, mostly funded by the new company. She is also hoping to put performances on within schools, tackling tricky subjects like bullying and mental health. All of this is very much in the making, but she is very excited about the planning and launching of her new company to keep the arts alive.

Introducing… The Funky Theatre Company - “Where Dreams are Followed, and Stars are Born”.

Ballet / Contemporary Teacher

Emi Suzuki

Miss Emi started dancing in Japan and went to train at the Rambert school in London. She then moved on as professional in Germany. After 7 years Miss Emi returned to the UK and started teaching at dance colleges. She is a Qualified ISTD imperial ballet teacher.

Acro Teacher

Holly Tuxford

I began dancing at the age of 3 at June Glennie school of dance. During my time at June Glennie I competed in many festivals and ISTD Ballet awards placing in various grades. I also represented England in the Dance world cup in Paris 2012 placing 3rd in the world. At 15 I joined the Royal Ballet School senior associate programme. At 16 I then gained a place at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance School in London, studying full time on the 3 year BA Hons course. I performed with Rambert company in my 3rd year after being selected by the company to perform at Sadlers Wells.

After graduating in 2016 with BA Hons first degree I went on to join my first professional company Danish Dance Theatre based in Copenhagen. Over 2 years I performed many works from a range of different prestigious choreographers around the world. I began teaching in vocational schools over in Denmark while with touring with the company. I have recently moved back to England and began to delve into my passion of teaching more, Focusing on the importance of ballet technique as a foundation for a dancer. My passion is to inspire students to never give up and always strive for the best in them.

School Photographer

Carl Davison

Carl joined the school as photographer in 2018, he has photographed many shows, productions and events in the area and is also the Official Photographer for Loddon Hockey Club and Loddon United Football Club.

Former Students - Click for Bio

Singing Coach

Laura Calver

Since learning to play the piano at the age of 11, Laura has had a passion for music, singing and teaching. With a focus on music education through GCSE and A levels, Laura graduated University with a BA Honours 1st in Music performance specialising as a vocalist. She has since performed in many venues across Norfolk and Suffolk as a Jazz vocalist, in London and also Europe, having toured with Soul singer Martha High, amongst other artists as a backing singer. Laura has recorded as a session singer for various recording artists for their albums and album launches.

Laura is currently gigging as part of a female vocal trio, The Voxettes, who sing a range of styles but mainly from the 1940’s and 50’s. They have featured on radio a few times over the years and on albums as backing singers. Laura is a solo Jazz performer with returning slots at Sheringham and Upwell Jazz Club among many private bookings for weddings and events.

Laura is a singing and piano teacher who works in schools and privately, enjoying the wide age range she gets to work with and the different styles she is able to teach. Currently most of her work is focused on children at high school and Funky Feet. Also, she teaches adults at Funky Feet Musical Theatre group and a World music group in Bungay.

PA to Miss Vicky

Jo Bell

Jo is PA to Miss Vicky, actively organising all aspects of ‘Funky Feet School of Dance and Performing Arts’, and ‘The Funky Theatre Company’.

Being local to the area, Jo attended the dance school from a young age, when it was under the ownership of Joan Gisborne, hence she appreciates the importance of the school to the local community.

Jo is married and has two daughters, who currently attend the dance school, and have done since pre-school. They take an active role in the school, travelling to Festivals and Fetes to perform with the competition team.

As a result of this, Jo became a licenced Chaperone for the dance school. She travels with the team to a variety of performance venues, ensuring the safety of individuals, whilst maintaining a happy atmosphere.

Jo is a reliable, conscientious and confidential member of the team, and is always happy to help. She enjoys being part of the Funky family, and loves seeing the enjoyment the performances bring to both audience and performers.

Maria Moore

Stanley Doughty

About Us