Testimonials for Dianne Ross Dance Academy

We were so excited about our wedding, and then the reality of the first dance hit: what to do when you don’t know how to dance and you are blessed with two left feet? (Or four left feet when you count both of us!)

Luckily a friend recommended Dianne. She choreographed a fabulous fox trot routine to our Frank Sinatra first dance track. (It was only after we had started to learn the dance that everyone told us how difficult a fox trot was: good job we didn't know that before hand or we might have really panicked!)

After two wonderful lessons and a lot of rehearsing in our kitchen we felt so much more confident about our first dance, and it went down without a hitch. Many of our guests were astonished that we had only had two lessons.

Thanks so much Dianne and Ian for your patient tuition and kindness.

For anyone needing assistance with their first dance we highly recommend you contact Dianne.

Beth & Olley


My husband and I took up dancing lessons in February 2017, the end goal being to dance at my 50th birthday party in November 2017. I can report that we brought the house down demonstrating what we have learnt with two other couples who are dear friends. Whilst none of us can claim to be Dianne's most gifted or talented dancers we made a very good effort to execute 3 dances to popular tunes. We had a great sense of achievement and it was amazing fun. I cannot thank Dianne enough for patiently guiding us and coaching us in the run up to my big party. She teaches us with great skill and a sense of humour which makes the lessons so enjoyable. She always repeats something familiar in class and challenges us with something new. We have had a fantastic year learning a new skill, meeting new people and keeping our brains alive as all cares have to be forgotten to concentrate on the footwork. We will certainly be keeping up the lessons and intend to embrace regular practice at Dianne's social dances. I would highly recommend the classes to anyone wanting to learn a new skill, meet people and have fun. Thelma, November 2017


Thank you very much for all your effort, time and patience in choreographing our first dance (to the music we desired) and teaching it to us - two beginners with no dancing experience at all. Our first dance was a resounding success and many of our guests were impressed. You are a brilliant teacher and I would recommend you highly to anyone seeking dance lessons whether for recreation or for an event, with any level of prior dancing experience! Markus and Yun, September 2017


Dear Dianne,
Thank you so much for teaching our pupils this morning. They thoroughly enjoyed it and really felt they had achieved something which was the aim of the session. The teachers who accompanied the pupils also enjoyed the session thoroughly.
Senior Housemistress at Durham School following Ballroom & Latin dance lesson
June 2017


My girls have danced with Dianne & Emma for years and love it. The standard is fantastic. They love to go every Saturday morning. The girls are so proud of their dance achievements especially their trophies !! Joanne July 2017


"Dianne has visited Beamish WI twice now, to teach us "Latin in line". Last night we learnt the Paso Doble! Great teacher, easy to follow, and both evenings have been excellent fun with ladies of all ages and abilities taking part. Looking forward to next year's dance evening already!" Alison, Beamish WI June 2017


"Thank you very much for teaching Azariyah for the past 4 years. She speaks very highly of you. Your ability to teach is clearly visible in the progression that she has made and in the behaviour of the children in her classes. It takes a remarkable lady to be able to teach children to dance in synchronicity so young. I would recommend your classes to everyone with young children". Take care, Fiona (on emigrating - Dec 2012)


"Thank you so much for your help with our First Dance. It went wonderfully! So many people commented on how lovely we looked". Lindsay and Ross


"Just to say a big Thank You for all our dancing lessons. You have turned two non-dancers (including one "can't dance, won't dance" man) into a couple who can go out and enjoy a night out dancing. Many, many thanks. Roz and Geoff


"Thank you so much for the two excellent spots provided by your dancers for our Magic of Variety Show at The Gala Theatre last Saturday.  Everyone was very impressed and i've had lots of complimentary comments.  Your dancers provided a wonderful start to each half of our show." - Honourary Secretary, Northern Magic Circle


"The young ladies of the Dianne Ross School of Dance provided some brilliant moves that slotted seamlessly into the action".
- Review of Calamity Jane in operatic magazine.


"Dianne Ross provided choreography that fit in very well with the rest of the production" - Review of Mother Goose in operatic magazine.


"Dear Dianne ... Just a quick note on behalf of the staff and pupils at Browney Primary School to thank you for your dance sessions last Monday.  The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and your contribution was much appreciated" - Deputy Head Teacher, Browney Primary School.


Andy and i would like to say that we loved your classes for so many reasons; you taught everything from the beginning and made us feel like we could already dance. We were really nervous about our first class and as you promised we came out waltzing and then waltzed around our living room a bit more when we got home. You were patient and never ruffled at having to go through the steps AGAIN. You were clear and friendly and encouraging. We felt like we had enough one to one attention and enough time to just get on and try it ourselves. The perfect first dance teacher. Thank you. -Amilee.


Both yourself and dancers have given our audiences much pleasure for which we are very grateful and would hope that you will be willing to work with us in the future - Vice President, Spennymoor Amateur Operatic Society


"Many thanks for all your hard work giving us lessons for our wedding first dance.  It went down really well and we really enjoyed learning to dance" Becky and Steve"


"Our wedding first dance was great.  Everyone was very impressed. Thank you so much. " Stephanie and Stuart


The Rumble in the Browney

If you're passing Browney School on Wednesday night at half past eight;

You may think you've found "Come Dancing" for the music sounds so great;

But soon you'll hear a voice cry out: "Slow, slow, step, cross, quick, quick, slow",

And trembling, you realise, it's Dianne Ross in full flow.

The Academy of Excellence in Dancing draws you in;

Even though your brain's not working and your feet refuse to spin;

But Dianne knows what you're doing even though she's down the hall;

She can see you've missed your chasse on the wrong diagonal.

Whatever dancing style you want, Dianne's the one to see;

From Rock & Roll to Cha Cha Cha and Rumba Rosalee

Her Sequence is amazing, but now I realise

That to get us all so perfect she has us hypnotised.

We raise a glass to you, Dianne, professional 'par excellence';

For all you've achieved in your career and for teaching us to dance.

The future may have challenges as yet still unforseen

But the greatest one of all may be is to teach your husband, Ian.

Our thanks go out to you, Dianne, for all you do for us;

For making dancing so much fun with a minimum of fuss.

But as we've got to know you, more importantly we found

That you're a lovely person we enjoy to be around"

Poem by adult class member, Brian on the occasion of Dianne Ross Dance Academy 25th Anniversary March 2009