Katy Harris (nee Barrow)

Founder & Principal of SOSA Dance

Founder & Principal of Seated SOSA Dance

Director of Dance SOSA Community Interest Company

I have been so fortunate as a dancer since the age of 6 years old, to have trained with the BEST OF THE BEST, professional dancers and teachers who were at the top of their game, throughout my dance teacher training career. I’ve learnt from amazing and inspirational National & World Champions, in Ballroom, Latin, Salsa and so many other international dance styles, including Flamenco, Argentine Tango, Bachata, Kizomba, Soca/Calypso, Rock’n’Roll, Street Dance and Commercial…the list goes on and on.

Click here to read much more about my personal story and dance background.

SOSA is not simply a business for me. DANCE IS MY WHOLE LIFE, MY PASSION AND MY DESTINY…I was BORN to do this.

#LivingtheDream

When I taught my very first SOSA class in my local village hall back in November 2012, I could never have envisaged, or imagined, that SOSA would take me on the incredible journey it has to date.

We officially endorsed and launched our Instructor Training programme in Feb 2015, at Move It Dance London at Kensington Olympia…the biggest dance event in the country! It was EPIC…

Back then, I was the ONLY SOSA instructor. Just one woman with a DREAM!

Now, in July 2022…I have personally trained almost 700 dance teachers and fitness instructors to deliver SOSA, and Seated SOSA classes.

I am so proud to say, that SOSA has presence in no less than 15 countries…including the UK, Ireland, Jersey, Malta, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Cyprus, Canada, Brazil, several states in the USA, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Seychelles!

I can honestly say, that without each and every one of our incredible Pro Team, who are so committed, dedicated, supportive and passionate about SOSA, it would not be the company it is today.

I could talk about each of them, singing their praises, for hours on end.

They truly live and breathe SOSA’s ethos every day of INCLUSIVE dance for ALL. Every member of this team, brings a very special gift, element and strength to SOSA.

WE ARE FAMILY. And this is what makes SOSA SO MAGICAL!

I feel so honoured to have each and every one of them by my side. I honestly cannot express in words, how blessed I feel to work alongside these beautiful and talented people… who give their heart and soul to SOSA, just because they WANT TO!

So, without further ado…

I PROUDLY INTRODUCE YOU to our fabulous, amazing, talented and inspirational Pro Team!

Debbie Gold

Personal Assistant/Office Manager for SOSA Dance Ltd

Co-Director of Dance SOSA CIC

Devoted Mother to Katy

Superstar!

Melanie Wittmaack

Co-Director of Dance SOSA Community Interest Company

SOSA, Seated SOSA & Simply SOSA Regional Pro Trainer & Ambassador, South West England

Hi, I’m Mel and I began my group exercise and fitness journey back in 1996 teaching aerobics, body conditioning, and step classes. Many years later, due to a back injury, I had to take a long break.

In 2016, having found fabulous corrective treatment, I began my new journey back into the dance fitness industry and fell in love with SOSA Dance. At the age of 46, I finally felt I was where I wanted to be for so long and it was all thanks to Katy. My inspiration and my saving grace!

I remember our conversation like it was yesterday. I was so nervous after such a long break from teaching, the fitness industry had moved on and I was that much older! I had recently developed permanent tinnitus and had lost a lot of confidence. I didn’t have a single ounce of dance experience but had retrained in Level 2 ETM and with a bucket load of enthusiasm I was eager to learn to dance. It became my sole focus which helped so much with the tinnitus and the habituation.

And I haven’t looked back since! I absolutely love teaching and sharing my love of SOSA within my community. Doing what you love develops a passion that makes it easier to keep committed to achieving your dreams and goals. Katy Harris & SOSA Dance gave me the inspiration and motivation to become the person that I am today. I’ve had to learn to dance, and in the process, I have learned so much about myself. Thank you for believing in me Katy. I am very proud to be part of the SOSA Pro Team and a Co-Director of our CIC…dreams can come true at any age!

​​And this is where SOSA Dance classes can help you achieve your dreams and goals too. As instructors, we realise that starting a new class is usually the hardest part for many people. We know it can make you feel nervous at the thought of just walking through the door for the first time and then not knowing what to expect during the class. We know there will be many questions running through your head…Will I be the only beginner? Will I be able to keep up? What if I can’t perform a dance step? What if I feel silly?

This is all perfectly normal, and as instructors, we have been there too, so we know exactly how you will be feeling. I’d say that many of us will have questions running through our heads before we come along to class to teach you too … Will I remember the routine? Have I downloaded my music correctly? Does my bum look big in these leggings! Trust me!

Our classes offer you an extremely warm welcome, not only from our family of SOSA instructors but also from our fabulous like-minded class participants so that you immediately feel at ease. We are a friendly bunch! We are all different ages, shapes, abilities, and experiences and we have loads of fun!

And please don’t worry about being the beginner. We have all been beginners at something, at some point in our life, and that’s not a bad thing! This is one of my favourite quotes:

“You can learn new things at any time in your life if you are willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you.” -Barbara Sher

​Our classes will help you grow in your own time and at your own pace so that you are not left struggling at the back. We are there with you every step of the way from walk-throughs and explanations dance steps; verbal and visual cueing; modifications and adaptations; reassurance and motivation, even ice pops on a hot day!

We are all here for fun and enjoyment; to help you learn new skills; and to build your belief and confidence in your own ability, without fear of being judged, so that you can feel comfortable arriving to our classes with two left feet or lack of coordination.

Welcome to our SOSA Dance website. Enjoy looking around!

Sue Wilson

SOSA Regional Pro Trainer & Ambassador, Essex & Greater London

I have been sharing my love of dance through teaching in my community for more than 20 years!

Why do I dance? Because it makes me happy!

Why do I teach dance? Because I love showing people how dancing can make them happy too!

Where did I find my dance passion?

My dance journey began at the age of 11 with a family holiday to Butlins in Bognor Regis, when the World Amateur Latin American & Ballroom Championships were taking place. I ditched my family and spent the entire time watching the competitors practise in the ballroom by day; and then compete in the evenings… my dance passion was born!

The rest of the story…Phase 1

I was teaching dance by the time I was 14 and had my first professional teaching qualification by the time I was 17. I had my own dance school, Danceaway, by the time I was 19. Danceaway’s ethos, has always been about inclusivity and accessibility…enabling every child to dance and experience a love of dance, creating their own personal dance journey with encouragement and never with judgement or pressure.  In dance exams and shows, every child in our dance school, achieved and shone their own light, their way!

My best ever memories, are dancing a Waltz with my (then) 9 year old son to “Could I Have This Dance For The Rest Of My Life?” (yes please!) for his IDTA exam, and dancing a Jive to “Rubber Ball” with my (then) 15 year old daughter for her IDTA exam…its a standing family joke that the only toys she ever needed as a young child was bouncy rubber balls…she had a basket full of them!

Danceaway, is now Latin American & Ballroom classes for adults and Wedding Dance Services, bringing the dance happy to the whole wedding party and guests!

The rest of the story…Phase 2!

Starlets Dance, Music & Singing Group was founded when I couldn’t find a toddler class for my son that enabled us both to have fun together and made us both happy. 20+ years later, it still brings me my dance happy and spreads the dance happy to all our participants.  Starlets is now thought of as a rite of passage for our local community toddlers, and it won’t be long before my original toddlers are bringing their own toddlers to Starlets lol.

The rest of the story…Phase 3!

Fast forward a few decades(!) and I’m on a salsa dance-floor when I bump into Katy Harris, a pupil from the first dance school I ever taught in, who  remembers dancing her first Cha-Cha-Cha with me at the age of 6!

It turns out that SOSA is just the adult version of Starlets! So, with a shared ethos and alignment in our programmes – to bring happiness to everyone who dances with us, and make dance accessible for all – there was no way I wasn’t going to embrace SOSA!

So now here I am.  An ambassador and Regional Pro-Team Trainer for SOSA & Seated SOSA – preaching the SOSA love wherever I go!

Knowing that dance can bring happiness to others and spreading my love of dance is what I was born to do.  Teaching dance puts you in the centre of your community and there is no other place I want to be…

It’s the best job in the world!

Steffie Croxson 

SOSA & Seated SOSA Regional Pro Trainer & Ambassador, Central London & South East England

As a child, my favourite pop group was Steps so I pretty much taught myself to dance doing ‘5,6.7,8’ in my bedroom!!

I did a few freestyle classes in my late teens, but it wasn’t until I turned 16, that I knew dance would be my future.

At the age of 16, I attended Stockton Riverside College to study Performing Arts for 4 years. After graduating with a HND in Musical Theatre, I was awarded a full scholarship to study dance at Reynolds Group in Bexley, where I decided to qualify as a fitness instructor too.

Since leaving stage school, I have danced on numerous TV shows including , BBC’s Strictly Dance Fever (where I came 3rd), BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, 75th D-Day Celebrations, and performed on stage with Ray Quinn and Shane Hampshire with Cuban Groove, and the vocalist Lauren rose.

I now combine dance with fitness, working as an exercise referral specialist, personal trainer and group exercise instructor for MyTime Active.

Teaching SOSA, and Seated SOSA, to my participants in the leisure centre and local community brings me so much joy… pure and simple.

I continue to train in ballroom and Latin at JJ Dance Studios every week, and I love how I combine my passion with my career.

I am honoured to be a part of the Pro Team for SOSA, I find it surreal when I see you all dancing my choreography in your classes!!

Thank you for all the support with ‘Presenter of the Year 2021’ nomination at this years Community Fitness Awards, I hope I can bring it home for SOSA

Mary Keating

SOSA & Seated SOSA Regional Pro Team Choreographer & Ambassador – Argyll & Bute, Scotland

I am from the Island of Bute in Scotland, where I attended all classes available in dance and musical theatre from pre-school age. I was privileged to be taught Highland and National Dance at the Ann McIlroy School of Dance, she was world champion for 7 consecutive years.

After that, I became a member of the Ella Wilson Gang Show, where I learnt to play the accordian and guitar, and learnt jazz and commercial dance. This is also where I learnt all of my dance teaching skills, which I’ve used ever since.

Fast forward several decades, I have been a volunteer with Age UK for many years now, teaching classes in dance, seated exercise and Tai Chi. When I retired, I also volunteered with Rothwell Arts Theatre School, who helped and inspired me to continue dancing while I was recovering from surgery. I also taught aerobics and LBT classes at my local council leisure centres in Blackburn, Lancashire.

Back in March 2016, I was given tickets to attend the International Fitness Showcase (IFS) at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, which is where I first saw Katy showcasing SOSA, and I knew immediately that was exactly what I needed to offer people in my local community.

So, I signed up to be a SOSA instructor and attended a live training course with Katy in June 2016. The rest is history…  I haven’t stopped dancing and sharing the love of SOSA ever since!!

Joanne Hickling 

SOSA Regional Pro Team Choreographer & Ambassador, Central & North West England

I am thrilled to have discovered SOSA Dance and I am extremely proud to represent the brand and share the SOSA love wherever I go!

I am predominantly from a gymnastics and musical background, both of which gave me a solid foundation when starting my Ballroom and Latin dance career later on in life.

Starting gymnastics at the age of 2, I trained and successfully competed throughout all my childhood, teens and early twenties and was crowned regional Vault champion in 2001, before going on to train and qualify as a British Gymnastics Coach and BG Men’s Artistic Judge, teaching a variety of ages and abilities within Leeds City Gymnastics clubs for a number of years.

As a gymnast and coach, I choreographed many a floor (and beam) routine for myself and participants, which would incorporate dance elements, musical interpretation and beautiful styling, all of which helped shape my dance technique and experience.

Alongside gymnastics, at a young age, I learnt tap and ballet, and also found my love for music, as my Mum is a music teacher. Learning the clarinet, piano and flute, being able to read, and more importantly, “feel” music, really helps when dancing in order to know how to hold a beat! I find my musicality lies deep within me…listening and moving to music invokes feelings I never experience elsewhere, which is why dance fills me with so much passion.

Going back to my youth, my twin sister, cousin and I would often choreograph our own little dance routines and “perform” them to our family on special occasions! My early teens were spent dancing in my bedroom to every ‘Steps’ track under the sun…I think I can still remember every dance, and am always first on the dancefloor at functions, leading the crowd!

I have always loved the performing arts, and took part in several musical productions at high school and sixth form including ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ (as a Munchkin!), ‘Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’

Having retired as a gymnast, my passion for dance really came to fruition and I joined Ballroom and Latin classes at the North Leeds Dance Academy and tap classes with the Sara Horner School of Dance, attending both for a number of years, before meeting my now fiancé, and moving from Leeds to Huddersfield in 2018.

The following year, I discovered SOSA Dance and was instantly hooked! Just one of the million reasons I love SOSA is that I am able to experience the beauty of Ballroom and Latin routines without needing to drag along my non-dancer/less-than-willing fiance! I do live in hope that he will at least allow me to choreograph our first dance at our wedding…!

After only a couple of SOSA classes, I immediately trained to become an Instructor, as the philosophy, joy and inclusivity of the SOSA programme just resonated so closely with me.

After qualifying, I launched my own SOSA Dance classes in Huddersfield in March 2020, where I continue to share my passion for SOSA with my group of hugely supportive participants, who I absolutely love to teach. To me, SOSA isn’t an income, it’s an opportunity for me to share something magical, and a lifeline for providing positive physical and mental wellbeing.

In my ‘day’ job, I work full time within Internal Communications at a well known Insurance company, alongside teaching my SOSA classes and running my own Executive PA business.

As well as being an Instructor, participant and Regional Pro Team Ambassador for all things SOSA, I am a true advocate for health, fitness, wellbeing and positivity – everything that SOSA Dance brings!

Kathryn Tappenden

SOSA Regional Pro Team Choreographer & Ambassador, Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire

I LOVE to dance! I have danced on and off since I was 5 mainly Disco, Ballet, Commercial and Tap!  Every day was a dancing day!  My family constantly having to watch ‘another’ dance performance in our living room!  I appeared in our local theatre in various costumes, performances and dance competitions around the country. A couple of my fellow dancers actually take part in my classes now!

After a career behind a desk for 20 years, I took the plunge and trained to be a Fitness Instructor with DANCE in mind! I was immediately drawn to SOSA Dance – I loved the ethos and knew that SOSA was perfect for what I wanted to bring to my area!  So I signed up for my ETM course and then in October 2016, I was lucky enough to take part in a live Instructor training with Katy!

I have been instructing SOSA Dance classes in my area since January 2017 and I LOVE every single class – my participants love the great mix of routines, dance styles and music genres which keep our sessions fun and full of life!

My favourite dances styles are Disco, Salsa and Charleston – for me they are so much fun, which is why I love dancing!  But Kizomba and Bachata come very close too!!

To be part of the Pro Team for SOSA Dance is actually AMAZING – I am so honoured, grateful and I can’t thank Katy enough!

Emma Thwaite

SOSA Rising Star, Pro Team Choreographer & Ambassador, Essex

My passion for dancing started when I was just 3 years old. My Mum taught ballet when she was in her 20’s, so when I was born, she really encouraged me to pursue dance, especially ballet, and luckily enough, I absolutely loved it!

I studied ballet until I was 17 years old and progressed to Intermediate standard in Amateur exams. My other dance experience includes Ballroom and Latin, which I studied for around 5 years, along with Tap Dance, and Jazz.

Thanks to SOSA, I have added so many more dance styles to my repertoire, and hopefully in the future I can add even more!

I also love musical theatre and have performed in many local plays/shows in the past, which brings together my love of dancing, acting and singing too!

I met Katy in 2019, and was immediately introduced to SOSA. Ever since then, I have been involved in lots of different aspects of the company; from choreographing routines, to editing the website. I have learnt lots of valuable skills that will help me in the future.

The first dance I choreographed for the SOSA Instructor Academy was a ballet routine; adding ballet into the 37 international dance styles we cover!

I am very excited for the future, and hope that I will be able to get involved in even more aspects of the business, and be able to perform at dance events too!

I have attended many SOSA classes with Katy, and had the opportunity to teach routines to her participants. My confidence has definitely grown a lot since being involved with SOSA, and hopefully in the next few years I will open my own SOSA classes and share my love of dance to everyone around me!

I am only 20 years old, and being the youngest SOSA Dance instructor has its challenges. But everyone has been so welcoming and friendly, so I really can’t wait for what the future holds!!