Deborah Gregory-Hoskins
Founder and principal
Deborah's passion for dance began at the age of five, training at the Willow Tree Centre of Dance and Performing Arts in Devon. Her talent and dedication were recognised early when, at just 14 years old, she was awarded a full-time vocational scholarship to study at the prestigious Urdang Academy in London.
Continuing her training through both the Lower and Upper School, Deborah received exceptional professional education in the heart of Covent Garden. She trained extensively in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Tap, Modern Theatre, Jazz, Street Jazz, and Musical Theatre, learning from some of the industry's most respected choreographers, teachers and directors.
Following her professional training, Deborah performed and taught throughout London before relocating to West Yorkshire in 2015. She now teaches across Leeds as a freelance dance educator and is proud to be an Associate Artist with the Royal Ballet & Opera, delivering the Bradford Chance to Dance programme. Alongside this, Deborah is an ISTD Approved Tutor, mentoring and training aspiring dance teachers towards their Diploma in Dance Education qualification.
A highly qualified and experienced educator, Deborah holds Licentiate status with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) in Imperial Classical Ballet and is a Registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She has successfully completed ISTD examinations to Advanced 2 in Imperial Classical Ballet, Advanced 1 in Modern Theatre, and Intermediate in Tap, as well as holding a Level 3 Certificate in Mat Pilates.
In 2016, Deborah founded DHD with a clear vision: to create a welcoming, inclusive dance community where every individual can thrive. Driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of dance, she is committed to inspiring confidence, nurturing creativity, developing technical excellence, and fostering a lifelong love of movement. At DHD, students of all ages are encouraged to grow not only as dancers but also as confident, resilient individuals while building lasting friendships in a supportive and encouraging environment.
