Dance Performance & Teaching graduate Julia Reeves tells us about her international career
BA (Hons) Dance Performance and Teaching, 2012
UCLan Dance Performance and Teaching graduate, Julia Reeves, has landed a prime teaching role at an international mission school in Mexico.
Dance has been Julia’s passion from an early age, but it was during her time at high school when she realised she wanted to pursue it as a career.
Julia found it easy to choose her course of study, wanting to stay close to home whilst teaching at a local dance school. After experiencing a taster day at UCLan, Julia knew the University of Central Lancashire was for her.
"My degree gave me so many opportunities to develop as a dance artist, teacher, practitioner, choreographer, and so much more. My three years at UCLan were without a doubt some of the best years of my life."
— Julia Reeves, Dance Performance & Teaching, BA (Hons)
Following graduation from her Dance Performance and Teaching degree in 2012, Julia followed the path of teaching. She completed her teacher training at Runshaw Adult College, specialising in Further Education, before becoming a Dance Lecturer at Runshaw College Sixth Form Centre. For two years, Julia taught A Level Dance and BTEC Professional Performance Programme whilst also teaching at her local dance school.
However, Julia missed performing on stage and decided to take up the opportunity of working as a Professional Dance Entertainer in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. During her seven months abroad, Julia fulfilled lead roles in musicals such as Grease, Hairspray and We Will Rock You. Speaking about this time in her life, Julia described it as “a dream come true”.
Despite having her dream job, Julia was offered an incredible opportunity to teach at an international mission school in Mexico by her church through an organisation called New Tribes Mission. Julia currently works as Director of Music and Drama at Colegio Binimea School in Chihuahua, Mexico, where her main role involves teaching 14-18 year olds singing, dance and drama. Another part of her role is running the after school dance programme for all ages as well as directing the school productions. Julia is enjoying teaching in Mexico, but plans to return to performing in Fuerteventura in the near future.
When asked what advice she would give to graduates wanting to follow a similar degree path, Julia advised: “The amount of professional development I made over the three years was amazing and the contacts you make with professional dance companies are invaluable. If your passion is to teach dance or work within the community, then I highly recommend this course.”