Livingston Classes in Tap, Freestyle Disco and Highland Dance | West Lothian Dance School | Dance School East Calder

About Fiona

Meet Fiona

Find out about our founder. We feel it is important to get to know your teachers.

Fiona started dancing at the very young age of 2, learning taphighland and disco dancing. Fiona loved performing and competing. 

At the age of 18 she started teaching tap and disco to a small class, so the hard work started to get her teaching qualifications to open the ‘Fiona Thomson School of Dance’. Highland classes were started in her mums living roomAlongside her teaching qualification Fiona passed her HNC in childcare and education. 

Fiona successfully auditioned for ‘the Bohemians’ a musical theatre company. performing in the kings theatre in Edinburgh in ‘My fair Lady’ this resulted in her being asked to join ‘Tempo musical productions’ which is a semi professional operatic company where she danced with them for many years. One of the musicals Fiona was in required her to perform ballet which she had never done before so she joined the Mannor School of Ballet. This was meant to be a quick crash course but Fiona enjoyed it so much she stayed and worked her way up to the elementary class and earned her point shoes, this was quite an achievement in such a short period of time!   

Fiona was offered the job of choreographer for the Bathgate operatic society where she choreographed ‘Oklahoma’. Fiona thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Especially teaching tap to the actor, playing the principal role of "Curly McLain" for his solo performance. He had never danced tap before!

Fiona danced at Edinburgh castle for the annual Beating the Retreat highland dancing on the esplanade. Fiona also danced for an agency, she performed highland and national dances at functions for overseas visitors. 

Fiona has attended Move It’ in London a few times with some of her senior dancers, they took workshops with top choreographers, dancers and members of dance colleges from across the country. They watched performances, rubbed shoulders and danced with some famous performers including Kimberly Wyatt, Flawless, Ashley Banjo and Jo Scanlan (world record holder, founder of Tap Attack, mother to Kai world champion) 

More recently Fiona took part in a tap dancing workshop with Adam Garcia, this gave her lots of ideas to take back to classes. 

As well as teaching Fiona is married to a very patient husband who has been roped into helping on show day and the technical side of running the school. Fiona and Stephen have 3 amazing children!  

Fiona worked as a nursery officer for 11 years supporting families in Edinburgh and Livingston with the different challenges of becoming a parentworking with children with additional support needs and those in the care system. Fiona loved her job but wanted to spend more time with her own children. 

In 2017 Fiona stepped back from principle teacher and gave this roll to Alison to allow her to put her knowledge and experience into the dance school. Fiona continues to teach and support pupils as well as work with Alison to run the school, organise performances, exams and taking part in events.