TDC Awards Night 2025
- info8850977
- Oct 16
- 14 min read

Our Awards Night 2025 was a night to remember, from winners to saxophone players, dancers to the dance floor, we had the best time ever. Wow, the energy in the room was outstanding, our award winners humble and grateful and all our dancers and supporters cheering and celebrating each other. Our little ones showing us the best moves with our sax player keeping the dance floor busy, and our Inters and Seniors blowing us away with their surprise performance ‘boom, boom, pow’. Another massive congratulations again to our big winners of the night, here they are our TDC Award Winners 2025…
TDC Most Improved Newcomer – Lucy Kovacs
‘This award goes to a beautiful dancer who has truly stood out this year. While she’s always had incredible talent, she started out with a bit of self-doubt. Week by week, she pushed herself, grew in confidence, and continued to improve. This girl has only started dancing with us at TDC last year and the improvements are incredible. We hope that she never loses her spark and continues to be amazing. We’re so proud of her progress and all that she’s achieved.’ - Gemma

TDC’s Most Improved Newcomer goes to Lucy Kovacs
TDC Personality of the Year – Blakely Ferguson
‘This award goes to a dancer who may be small but has a huge personality! He lights up every room he walks into whether he’s dancing, joking, or giving a cheeky little grin. This dancer brings fun, energy, and loads of character to every class. He’s always bursting into class with a story to tell or a new toy to show off and that’s exactly what makes him so special. We are so proud of how much he’s grown in his dancing and can’t wait to see him shine as part of the TDC crew!’ - Gemma

TDC’s Personality Award goes to Blakely Ferguson
TDC Achievement Award- Ruby Eliott
‘This award goes to a little girl who joined her class a whole year early. We feel as teaching staff that this little superstar deserves recognition for her hard work. This girl didn’t just dance in one or two numbers; she performed in as many dances as some of our senior girls. That’s right — 10 dances at just 4 years old!
She twirled, leaped, and sang her heart out. Even when things got a little tricky, she just kept on dancing with that big heart and even bigger personality. So, for her unstoppable energy, amazing attitude, and being an absolute princess on stage.’ - Gemma

TDC’s Achievement Award goes to Ruby Elliot
TDC Most Determined Individual – Emma Scott
This dancer can be very shy and always puts others first, whether being helpful in class or letting others have the spotlight before herself. We have watched her grow her talent quietly in the background from struggling as a new inter last year to now loving every minute of class.
This girl is a joy to watch and is bursting with potential. When the music is on she lets loose and we begin to see her personality shine through. We have seen huge improvements in her technique across all classes, especially her lines with those beautiful long legs, which I know she has worked so hard to achieve.
Though confidence is not her forte, she has become determined never to give up and her dancing shows it. She is one of our hardest workers and should be so proud of her personal growth and progress over the last year.’ - Jordyn

Our most determined individual is Emma Scott.
TDC Spotlight Award – Aspen Glen
‘This little pocket rocket was my superstar, sidekick and lyrical protege last year. She has this unbelievable gift for dance, with stunning lines and technique already, she soaks up every word said in class, and is so excited every time she gets to dance or show off her skills.
Last year we only had the pleasure of teaching her in one class, where she was the featured dancer sharing a solo part on stage with our senior girls and keeping up. We had to remind her of her talent on show day as the nerves hit, but watching her on stage, and the stunning action shots now the featured image on our website you would have never known, as her love of dance was so bright on stage.
At such a young age there is so much more talent to come from this stunning dancer, we can't wait to see her shine in more classes this term and I hope this award helps to continue to boost her confidence.’ - Jordyn

Our Spotlight award winner is Aspen Glen.
TDC Commitment Award – Mila Shephard
‘Our winner has been in my classes since I can remember, she is polite, never complains and always tries her best. We have watched her grow with us, trying to find her style and her confidence.
This past year is where she has really begun to shine, though it has always been a pleasure to have in class with her kind and sharing personality, she is always showing us pictures on her phone and telling us what happened through the week at school. We have seen a massive improvement in her from new skills to her ability to pick up choreography with lovely technique. From show prep till now she has become more present in class, no longer hiding in the back, building new friendships, getting involved with group discussions.
Her dedication and love for dance has never been brighter and I am honored to shine the light on her with this award.’ - Jordyn

Our TDC commitment award goes to Mila Shepard.
TDC Tenacity Award – Esther Hyslop
‘This award is presented to someone we felt embodied our show theme last year Tenacity, not only did they push through the nerves and give us their best on show day. They continue to show up, work hard and challenge themselves years into their dance journey with us, by still trying new styles and classes outside their comfort zone. I love watching her in class, especially when we are doing technique and corner work, she always has a different partner every week, so that no one is left out and the steps are almost always nailed first time, if only she kept her head up and was more confident in herself.
This dancer shares all our TDC values, is a joy to have in class and is nothing but deserving to receive this award, she is kind, helpful, hardworking, sometimes shy but never loses heart. I hope this award shows her how good she is and helps her continue to perform, grow and inspire.’ - Jordyn

Our Tenacity award goes to Esther Hyslop.
TDC Broadway Superstar – Millie Halliday
‘This award is going to a girl who over the last year within musical theatre and many of her other classes has showed commitment and an ever growing confidence. Although quiet, when given the opportunity she lets her confidence and talent shine through. She was a stand out in auditions last year and was given a solo in her inter dance, although slightly hesitant she never once gave in to her reluctancy and continued to build on her confidence week after week. We can’t wait to see how she flourishes in senior classes…’ - Jamie

the TDC broadway superstar is Millie Halliday
TDC Recognition Award- Sophia Gallagher
‘This award is going a senior who has devoted so much of her time to volunteering for TDC and showing her commitment to improving her skills and technique week after week. Never afraid to ask a question or for more support to her further herself, taking onboard teachers comments and working hard to show great improvement. She always meets you with a wide smile and shows encouragement for all her class mates. She sets a shining example for the younger school, especially within the baby and preschool classes who all adore her gentle nature and kind heart.’ - Jamie

The TDC recognition award goes to… Sophia Gallagher
Little Miss TDC 2025 – Skye McMahon
‘Little miss TDC is going to a girl who exemplifies everything we represent at TDC. Confidence, kindness, encouragement and being able to be yourself. This little girl is never without a smile on her face, dressed head to toe in TDC merch or holding hands and hugging her classmates. She not only is a pleasure to teach but will be the first to comfort her friends and make sure they’re having the most fun.’ - Jamie

Little miss TDC goes to…. Skye McMahon
Miss TDC 2025 – Lauren McKim
‘The award recognises a student who exemplifies our values at TDC. Someone who inspires not only her teachers but everyone around her, and whose passion for dance shines through in every class.
From the moment this girl walked through the door, she has been bursting with sass, confidence, and personality. Over the last couple of years, she has added on multiple classes to her dance schedule, and it really shows with the improvements she has made with her knowledge and technique in class. She’s always looking out for others, offering help in class, and celebrating her peers’ achievements with kindness. She has the biggest heart and never leaves a class without saying thank you and giving the biggest hugs.
We are so proud of how far she’s come; it has been a pleasure watching her love for dance grow each week. We are delighted to present her with this award tonight.’ - Ellie

Miss TDC 2025 is… Lauren McKim
TDC Stretch and Skills Standout – Mia McCaig
‘When this girl first joined TDC, she was shy and had very little experience in gymnastics. It took some time for her to come out of her shell, but the confident, enthusiastic, and vibrant girl we see today is completely unrecognisable! She has progressed quickly and is now thriving in Level 3, mastering skills she thought she could never do. Her smile on stage during the show said it all, and we’re so thrilled it inspired her to explore more styles. Now attending four classes a week, she is fully embracing her potential, and it has been amazing to see improvements each week.
The most special part of her journey has been watching her confidence blossom and the beautiful friendships she’s made along the way. Seeing her grow has been an absolute joy, and we couldn’t be prouder of everything she has achieved.’ - Ellie

This year’s stretch and skills standout out is… Mia McCaig
TDC Crew Superstar – Connor Moore
‘This boy has been with us for around 3 years now, and what an amazing journey it’s been! He’s one of the kindest, funniest, and most loving boys you could ever meet.
He has a way of brightening every room he walks into and never fails to put a smile on my face. He is so determined and eager to try new things — and he’s the first to cheer on and support his friends when they need it. His energy and creativity are infinite and you’re always guaranteed a great performance when he’s around as his freestyle skills are unmatched - he’s got a new move to show us every week.
He has become a role model to the younger boys in the class and his positivity and confidence shine through, inspiring everyone around him. I honestly couldn’t imagine the boys’ class without him. He’s such a special part of our TDC family, and we all hope he sticks around with us for many more years (even if wrestling is all he talks about).’ - Ellie

The TDC Crew Superstar for 2025 is… Connor Moore
TDC Values Award – Kirstin Donelly
‘I don’t think it’ll come as a surprise to anyone in the senior class that this girl is receiving an award tonight. She lights up every room she walks into with her infectious smile and positive energy, making everyone around her feel seen, valued, and supported. It’s hard to believe that the confident young woman that we see today was once the shy girl who first walked through our doors.
Her transformation has been nothing short of amazing. She is a beautiful dancer who now truly recognises her own potential, continuing to grow stronger and more assured with every class she attends. We can’t wait to see where her dance journey takes her next.
What makes this girl truly special, is the warmth, kindness, and love she shares with her classmates and teachers. She lifts people up simply by being herself. This award couldn't be more perfect for her, and we feel so lucky to have someone as special as her in our TDC family.’ - Ellie

Our TDC Values Award goes to… Kirsten Donnelly
TDC Teachers Choice Award – Hope Brown
‘This girl has been part of our TDC family for 7 years, yet I can still remember her first day like it was yesterday. From the moment she stepped through the door, she radiated sass and confidence, and it’s been incredible to watch her grow into the beautiful dancer she is today. Her technique is flawless in every class, and she’s just as beautiful on the inside — always kind, caring, and putting others before herself.
Words can’t describe how proud we are of the amazing person she’s become, and we can’t wait to see what the next 7 years of her dance journey will bring. We hope this award reminds her just how special she is to us — and helps her rediscover that sparkle and confidence that first shone so brightly all those years ago.’ - Ellie

Our Teachers Choice Award goes to… Hope Brown
TDC Preschool of year – Kendra Jennings
‘This award goes to a little dancer who has twirled, skipped, and hopped her way right into all our hearts! It’s hard to believe that the quiet, shy girl who first joined us has grown into such a confident dancer. She’s truly blossomed and is always ready to show off her moves with sass and a whole lot of confidence. She brings so much joy to every class and is always dancing with a big smile. We just know she’s going to shine even brighter as she twirls into the Junior class next year!’ - Gemma

TDC Preschool of year goes to Kendra Jennings
TDC Junior of the Year
Our Junior of the year, unfortunately couldn’t be here tonight, we had hoped to give her this award in class before tonight, but we haven't had the chance, so we are going to keep this one a secret until we can share this with her and her family.
TDC Intermediate of the Year – Jorgie Friels
‘If you watched this years show you know this award is a hard one, our inters have the biggest classes and were absolutely bursting with talent, performing on stage.
This dancer performs on and off stage, she is dedicated, beyond hard working and has a natural talent for dance. Though their confidence can dip from time to time, she never gives up, always asking questions in class on how to better herself and help others. We are constantly watching her doing routines and trying new moves when there's nothing happening in class, she gives us a run for our money, often teaching others the exercise and remembering choreography I forgot.
She is full of personality in class, telling us stories, and arguing who's the best or the sassiest with her sister, (reminds me of me and Ellie). This girl is a force to be reckoned with, a complete all rounder - thriving in all styles from stunning triple turns to achieving skills beyond her peers.
I know her work ethic and talent helps motivates others in class, which makes her the perfect role model for being our intermediate of the year.’ - Jordyn

Our Award Winner is Jorgie Friels
TDC Senior of the Year – Olivia McIntyre
‘This award goes to a girl I’ve known since she was just a tot! Watching her grow and progress through dance has been such a privilege. Over the last year, she’s truly stepped up. Her commitment has deepened, and her focus on performance was clearly evident in our most recent show.
At times, she can be overlooked because of her close relationships with staff members but that doesn’t take away from how incredibly hard she works. She simply gets on with things, always giving her best.
She’s always willing to go the extra mile, helps with our younger classes, and is absolutely adored by the little ones. Every staff member has noticed a huge difference in her this year, and we all agree she deserves to be celebrated.’ - Emma

The 2025 TDC Senior of the Year is Olivia McIntyre.
TDC Rising Star Award – Hannah Lawson
‘This award is for one of our youngest pupils – a bright and beautiful little girl who started with us in preschool and is now thriving in our junior classes.
She was shy and quiet when she first joined, and it took time to bring her out of her shell. But now? She’s like a whole new person – confident, hardworking, and always smiling.
She lights up every room she walks into and brings so much energy to our classes. I’ve had the joy of watching her grow over the years, and I’m so proud of how far she’s come.’ - Emma

Our 2025 Rising Star is Hannah Lawson.
TDC Pupils Choice Award (Emma)
‘We introduced this award a few years back and decided it was time to reintroduce it. With so many amazing pupils, it’s never easy to narrow down awards – so we thought, why not let the students themselves decide?
We asked our inter and senior dancers to nominate someone they admire, along with a reason why.
This year, it was a very close call, with 4 or 5 names in strong contention. But one name stood out and secured the top spot. And after reading the comments from her fellow dancers, we couldn’t agree more.
Here are just a couple of the reasons her peers gave:
“she’s a great dancer and she is very kind”
“she always knows what she is doing and has great technique”
“she is a good dancer and she dances fast if it is a fast dance”
It’s clear she’s made a huge impact on the people around her, and we’re so proud to honour her tonight.’ - Emma

The 2025 Pupils’ Choice Award goes to Myla Fulton
TDC Scholarship – Baileigh Blackwood
‘Our scholarship offers 6 months of free classes – that’s over £700 in value – and a chance to train across more than 12 weekly classes in a wide range of styles. It’s always tough to choose just one winner, as so many of our students are deserving.
This year, the decision was unanimous.
This dancer recently has had to adjust with her sister moving into the senior level, and although the transition has been challenging, she’s embraced this new journey with determination and a positive attitude. She works extremely hard and strives for perfection – sometimes to a fault, as she’s often too hard on herself. Our show this year in a featured part she was persistent with questions on how to make the dance look better right up till the last moment (at the side of the stage), when in fact she was perfect every time.
Starting with us a few years back we were blown away with her confidence, and energy. Her growth with us since then has been exponential, she went from a sassy hiphoper, to a dancer who excels in all styles, with the most gorgeous feet and perfect walkovers.
She helps with our younger classes, has built strong relationships with other pupils, and always gives 100%. We hope this scholarship gives her the little boost she needs to keep growing and believing in herself..’ - Emma

The 2025 Scholarship Award goes to Baileigh Blackwood.
TDC Rainbow Award – Jaime Leckie
‘When choosing our Rainbow Award winner, we look for someone who consistently goes above and beyond. Someone who works hard both in and out of class, someone who shows real commitment and determination.
This year’s winner is a girl who has been part of our school for many years. I’ve known her for a long time, and our relationship has grown not only through dance, but with her family as well.
Again, like our TDC Senior of the year winner, she can sometimes be overlooked due to her close ties with a teacher, but this year her attitude towards dance—especially her technique and performance—has completely transformed. Her hard work and determination have genuinely inspired me.
Personally, I adore this girl as one of my own. She’s constantly by my side, helping with my little Madison during her dance journey so I can focus on my role as within the school. She supports me with many tasks and is a true role model for our younger students.
She deserves this award and this moment of recognition more than ever.’ - Emma

Our Rainbow Award winner is presented by last years winner Skye Knowles.

Congratulations to our 2025 Rainbow award winner Jaime Leckie.

Congratulations to our award winners 2025!
Professional Photos
Allan Maxwell Media has done it again, thank you Allan for capturing our special moments as always. Please go support our amazing photographer on socials. If you are looking for professional print outs of any snaps from the night please get in touch with Allan via the link below.
Check out our amazing snaps from the night.
Thank yous…
Thank you all for making the night so special, we danced the night away and celebrated together. Thank you to all our amazing vendors, our saxophone player, bar team and food in the hood. Special thanks especially to our amazingly talented dance parents, Dance Dad Darren - Big D Entertainments for our set up and being our entertainment and DJ for the night, and Dance Mum Lisa at LJ’s Craft and Creations, for the best decorations we’ve ever had, Lisa really went above and beyond with her efforts and creative designs. Please go show them some support on socials!
Thank you all again for coming to our event, and making it so special. We are so grateful for the amazing dance family we have created.














































































































































































































