About Us
Where we are
We offer classes in Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City and Welwyn with a variety of disciplines, days and times to suit busy family schedules.
With classes from age 2.5 through to adults, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a fun weekly class or a path to performing and exams.
Core Values
We’re more than just a place to learn steps, we’re a community. A space where your child can gain confidence, build friendships, develop discipline, and most importantly, have fun. There are weekly adult classes on our timetable too; everyone can be involved!
Our qualified, caring teachers know how to bring out the best in every student, whether they're shy beginners or passionate performers. Plus, our performances and exams give students clear goals to work towards, while creating magical memories that families cherish for years.
Our History
With roots stretching back to the 1970s, North Central Herts School of Dance has a rich, inspiring, and much-loved history within the community.
The school began life as the Georgina Cole School of Dancing, which we believe dates back to the late 1970s. From those early days, it quickly became a valued part of the local community, nurturing generations of young dancers and proudly seeing them perform on the stage at the Gordon Craig Theatre. The foundations of performance, confidence, and community spirit laid then continue to shape who we are today.
In 1990, the school entered an exciting new chapter under the direction of Debra Knights, becoming Debra Knights’ School of Dancing. For over a decade (1990–2002), the school flourished, building on its strong reputation for quality dance training while remaining a supportive and inspiring environment where students could grow in skill, confidence, and self-belief.
The next stage of the journey began in 2002 when Joann Latus took over and rebranded the school as North Central Herts School of Dance. During this era, Gemma Self (Miss Gemma) stepped into the role of owner and Principal, further strengthening the school’s commitment to excellence, creativity, and community spirit. Under her leadership, students enjoyed even more performance opportunities, creating treasured memories that would last a lifetime.
Miss Steph’s Journey
In 2020, the school proudly entered its current chapter under the leadership of Miss Steph, a true full-circle story.
Miss Steph attended the school herself from 1991 to 2004, returning as a teacher in 2015. During this time, she started her own school Step by Steph, here she developed her leadership skills and began to define the core values she wanted for her school and students, values shaped by her journey as a dancer, teacher, and leader, alongside the heritage and influences of NCH. Today, both schools are united under the North Central Herts branding, which is where our much-loved little pink dancer logo was born.
After many years of dedication, Miss Steph took on the role of owner and Principal, bringing with her not only experience and vision but a deep understanding of the school’s history, values, and heart.
Today, North Central Herts School of Dance continues to thrive, honouring its proud heritage while inspiring the next generation of dancers to perform with confidence, support one another with respect, embrace every opportunity, and create memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Pride
Encourage
Respect
Flourish
Opportunity
Relationships
Memories
Pride Encourage Respect Flourish Opportunity Relationships Memories
Why Parents Choose Us
Families across Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City and Welwyn love our school because we offer more than just classes – we offer a community built on strong and meaningful values.
We are proud to teach with our core values at the heart of our classes, values which shape not only how we teach, but how we treat every student and family who walks through our doors.
We also provide:
ISTD syllabus exams for students who want structured progression
Exciting performance opportunities, including Disneyland Paris, London theatres, and our biannual show at the Gordon Craig Theatre
Regular fun events, community days, and ways for families to get involved
A supportive, inclusive environment where every child is seen and celebrated