Vanessa trained at the Royal Ballet School and danced as a Principal with the Royal Ballet and Northern Ballet Companies and was a dancer, singer and actress in several musicals in London whilst teaching at Pineapple Dance Centre. She has choreographed and directed for the stage and television in London and Europe including Starlight Express with Arlene Phillips. After completing her IDTA Fellowship examinations she returned to teaching alongside her mother Vera Skelton and became an examiner for the IDTA. She has been on the Ballet Faculty for over twenty years and is currently chairman.
Through passion and knowledge Vanessa has trained dancers in the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, The Mariinsky Ballet & Matthew Bourne’s Company. Her pupils are performing in West End and touring musical productions and cruise ships and companies around the world. She has coached dancers for the Prix de Lausanne and has had winners at Adeline Genée, Molly Lake and Young Dancer of the Year. In 2016 Vanessa was awarded the Carl Alan Teachers’ Award.
“Dancing teaches special skills, makes extraordinary people and enhances life. It is my ambition to promote this and the reason I am standing for the IDTA Board of Directors.”