Meet our new danceSing leaders!

This year we are excited to be opening brand new classes across Scotland. We have expanded to Edinburgh, Inverclyde, East Kilbride and Hamilton, bringing fun, fitness and friendship to more people than ever! We are delighted to be growing the danceSing team and have brought on board some new faces to help you enjoy your classes as much as possible.

Let us introduce to you our new danceSing leaders…

Name: Alan Penman

Role with danceSing: Music Leader at Greenock

Tell us a bit about your musical background: I trained at RSAMD ( now Conservatoire) and have been a composer/ musical director in theatres all over Scotland and beyond. I’ve written music for TV, played in a 10 piece soul band, presented a children’s TV/ theatre show, during which I dressed up as Bruce the Kung Fu Kangaroo!

What attracted you to danceSing? Natalie Garry! Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious. And it looks like amazing fun.

What are you most looking forward to whilst working with danceSing? Spreading that enthusiasm and energy too, helping people feel better about themselves. And having a laugh along the way!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Listening to all sorts of music, from pop, soul, rock, musicals and punk. Also going to movies, walking the dog and cooking and eating food!

Name: Alan Beck

Role with danceSing: Singing Teacher and Vocal Coach

Tell us a bit about your musical background: I have been a professional singer and educator for 30 years having performed all over the world in opera and concerts and I am currently the vocal coach for the Scottish chamber orchestra chorus.

What attracted you to danceSing? I love the ethos of combining music (and especially singing) with keeping fit.

What are you most looking forward to whilst working with danceSing? The chance to work with local people and see their joy when they sing in harmony.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I am a huge fan of Robert Burns and enjoy poetry, films and listening to music.

Name: Mairi Warren

Role with danceSing: Music Leader

Mairi trained as a music teacher, and since graduating in 1994, her career has included work as a teacher, musical director, arranger, accompanist and composer. She currently teaches part-time in a Secondary school, alongside other freelance commitments.

Credits as a Musical Director range from ‘Sweeney Todd’ to ‘Summer Holiday’, working with both adult and youth theatre companies. Mairi also composed the music for the plays ‘Mother of all the Peoples’ and ‘Five Pound and Twa Bairns’ which were performed in Aberdeen, Dundee Rep, the Byre and the Mitchell Theatre with Hame Productions.

‘I love the philosophy behind danceSing and am looking forward to meeting everyone!’

Name: Polly Beck

Role with danceSing: Singing Teacher & Vocal Coach

Tell us a bit about your musical background: I have been performing as a freelance singer and teaching singing and performance skills for the past 30 years with different organisations: performing with Scottish Opera, Lyric Opera Ireland, plus with various orchestras up and down the country. Teaching at RNCM Junior School, singing and teaching for Scottish Opera Education Dept, RCS Junior Conservatoire, National Youth Choir of Scotland, Glasgow University, Inverclyde Music Services and am the vocal coach for the RSNO Chorus.

What attracted you to danceSing? I love the holistic combination of singing and movement to express and communicate – it makes you feel good 😃💃🏻.

What are you most looking forward to whilst working with danceSing? Working with the other instructors in the danceSing team, meeting new people and sharing in their journey helping them to explore, enjoy and grow in confidence through singing and dancing.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Spending time with family and friends, walking, reading, going to the cinema, listening to music and singing 😃.

All of our new leaders are thrilled to be joining us at a very exciting time for danceSing.