Joanne Tod

Principal & Director - RAD RTS - AISTD - FIDTA

Director RAD RTS AISTD FIDTA CFT STOTT PILATES

Joanne started dancing when she was three years old and went on to sit exams in Ballet, Modern, Disco and Tap with the ISTD and BATD.

At the age of 17, Joanne attended Edinburgh’s Theatre School of Dance and Drama, now known as Dance for All in Stockbridge. Here she completed the 3-year professional dancing course gaining her vocational exams in the core subjects, Ballet, Modern and Tap, whilst studying contemporary, drama and jazz. Examination success was seen in further studies in child psychology, anatomy, dance history and music. Leaving college Joanne held her teaching qualifications with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD).

In 1999 Joanne began her career as a professional dancer for Carnival Cruise Lines. Throughout her contracts, she performed in Las Vegas style cabaret and magic shows whilst traveling the Caribbean and the USA.

Joanne’s love of Dance and Fitness lead her onto qualify as a Certified Fitness Instructor with the International Sports Sciences Association and further study into the STOTT method of Pilates.

On returning to Scotland in 2003 Joanne continued training and completed her exercise to music and became a BTS fitness instructor. This same year Joanne opened the doors to JHM Dance Academy and worked to grow the school in various locations in central Scotland whilst combining her love of dance, teaching, and fitness.

In recent years Joanne joined the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) and started delivering the graded syllabus throughout the school, she has been an active member of the IDTA Scottish Regional Committee since its commencement in 2014. Completion of the iD-Dance contemporary course in 2017 has lead Joanne to introduce this to JHM in the schools existing contemporary classes.

JHM opened its first studio in 2009 and 4 years later was providing classes in dance and cheer from 2 purpose built studio locations in Broxburn. In 2016 JHM and The Dance Room moved into what is now West Lothian’s largest purpose built dance studios boasting 3 studios where JHM pupils continue to grow and learn.

In 2019 Joanne continued her studies gaining Fellowship status with the IDTA.

Joanne Hamilton Martin (JHM) is driven to offer the highest standard of dance training for young dancers and trainee teachers allowing pupils within the school to experience a huge variety of style that dance has to offer in the best facilities accessible to all.