The Studio

Studio GU3 is a community hub that provides affordable performing arts education for children and adults. Situated close to Worsley Mesnes, with public transport links to Hawkley, Winstanley, Pemberton, Orrell, Ashton and surrounding areas. We pride ourselves in welcoming students from all walks of life.
We have one dance studio, with state-of-the-art lighting and designed to fit perfectly on a show reel or your social media. Our studio has ballet barres which are used during our technique sections of classes and a 10ft Acro-Pad, alongside several crash mats. In addition, we have a vocal studio that is fully equipped with studio recording equipment.

Classes

Studio GU3 offer a range of classes for children, young people and adults. Our classes are provided by education specialists, performing arts graduates and young people from the local community. Each class focuses on learning; whether that be a new skill, a new move or your own personal development.
We specialize in Commercial and Musical Theatre styles.
We have 5 different ages groups:

Commercial

Commercial is a dance style that can be summed up as choreography for music videos, concerts, television shows and adverts. Imagine Little Mix’s, Stormzy’s or Dua Lipa’s backing dancers- That is Commercial Dance. Often, this comprises elements of Street Dance, Jazz and Hip-Hop. Therefore, training in this dance style can create versatile and powerful performers.

Acrobatics

Acrobatics is a form of gymnastics that focuses on flexibility, balance and strength- to perform tricks. These tricks can be anything from a forward roll all the way to handsprings and somersaults.
This is taught by Melissa who is fully certified Level 1 and Level 2 AcroTrix Instructor.

Heels

Heels is a form of Commercial Dance however the difference is that heels are worn. This dancing is choreography that you would typically see within Music Videos and Concerts. Imagine Beyonce and Rihanna! This dance style is recommended for those 13+.

Musical Theatre

From Six, to The Lion King to Chicago- in this class we work on songs from Musical Theatre. Despite the focus being on acting through dance, we often work on songs to create full performances. This class enhances student’s knowledge of all aspects of performance and is great for those looking to grow in confidence.

Contemporary

Unlike Ballet, Contemporary focuses on the dancer feeling the dance in their own unique way. Yet, still uses balance, release, contraction and alignment. This class is perfect for those looking to explore themselves through music and movement. Self-expression, storytelling and freedom epitomizes contemporary. This class will increase your ability to improvise, strength and flexibility.

Tap

Tap Dance dominated film during the 1940’s and for decades onwards, this form of dance was used by icons such as Gene Kelly, Ginger Roger and Fred Astaire. Within Tap class, you make sounds with your feet to enhance the music. This class will enhance your rhythm and musicality.

Ballet

Graceful, elegant and precise- Ballet is a style of dancing that focuses on using precise patterns and steps to create stories to music. Ballet is seen to be the mother of all dance styles, as more modern styles of dance can often be traced back to steps and patterns within Ballet. This class will enhance tour flexibility, kicks, leaps, turns and lines.

Our Classes

MONDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

The Team

Melissa Guthrie

Owner
Commercial, Heels and Acrobatics

Studio GU3 was created for the community. After dancing for years within the city centre of Liverpool and Manchester, I witnessed the disparities in training, in comparison to Wigan. The city centre studios were sleek, sophisticated and video-ready. No dance school in Wigan looked like they did and I began to question why. When I started to intensify my training, I realized: My home-town Wigan was years behind in their delivery of dance. And I knew, I had to change that.
Growing up, I remember dance schools within my home-town where exam focused institutions were Ballet, Modern and Tap were an expectation, rather than a choice. In most schools, the students had been there since they were 2 and completing their next grade was the ultimate goal. But this baffled me. Did I HAVE to complete exams to become a better dancer? Did I HAVE to have a grade 6 or above in Ballet, to ‘make it’? Did I HAVE to have piece of paper to define me as a dancer?
Ten years on, I can see the benefits of schools like these- but that just isn’t me. And never, has been. It was when I started to train in the cities during university, my eyes began to open as to how I wish I had been trained in my younger years…
Walking into a dance studio in a city, you can feel the energy and buzz in the room. Everyone is excited to work. A huge mix of people, simply there to dance. Not because they have been forced to, but because they want to be better, do better and learn more. The studios are sleek, chic and cool. And the support you receive from people you have never met is unbelievable: everyone cheering on the side, videoing one another and hyping each other up. Where was this when I was younger?Several months later, I embarked on my career as a secondary school teacher. After years of supply teaching, I felt it was necessary to train properly and embark on my destiny. Teaching was my destiny. Soon I was a Maths teacher by day and then dance teacher by the weekend.
During the first month of my teacher training degree, the opportunity to open a dance studio was put forward to me. Looking back, it seems like everything I had done was leading up to this moment. Fate, maybe. I knew that by training to be a secondary teacher alongside all of the performing training I had would bring the best out in my future dance students. And essentially, a combination that would create success for all.
Three months later, I opened STUDIO GU3- designing it’s interior and curriculum on everything I had learnt within the cities and my teacher training. Since opening in January 2022, the school has grown to have over sixty students, three members of teaching staff and a multitude of guest teachers.
My vision for the dance studio was to create industry standard training, that you receive within the cities. To bring to Wigan’s doorstep those that have trained and performed across the UK, in the best performing arts schools, on world stages and all educated to university.
Studio GU3 will continue to move with the industry. We will continue to educate, inspire and transform the lives of all our students.Train, Believe, Succeed.

RACHAEL JONES

Musical Theatre, Vocal Coach and Tap

Hi, I’m Rachael I’m 22 years old and I am the Musical Theatre and Singing teacher at Studio GU3.Growing up I trained intensively at Performers and MDDC . Since age four, I have trained in all styles and soon by age five I began to receive my first professional roles in Oliver, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Joseph. I spent most of my life as a child on stage, being around some of of Britain’s greatest performers.Performing at The Liverpool Empire as a child will always be a highlight. I appeared in a number of shows however Evita was a personal favourite. Yet, I couldn’t seem to stop appearing in Joseph throughout my childhood where I appeared in the chorus of children over five times! Experiences like this paved my way into the performance industry.As someone that has a passion for singing, dancing and acting, I would audition for any opportunity that came my way. This attitude led me into becoming a member of The Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir. I think this is what led me to know that singing was special to me.I can remember the day I found out that I was going to sing at the 2012 London Olympics. My parents were even more shocked than I was. I had been on stages before, but I had never been on a world stage. And it’s moments like this that you will never forget.These moments I want to provide to young people from Wigan, the town I have lived in all my life. I want them to feel and experience everything I had when I was their age. This is why I became a teacher at Studio GU3. I know I can help youngsters achieve their dreams.

SHEA ELLEN ROBERTS

Jazz, Technique, Contemporary and Tap

Hi, I’m Shea Ellen Roberts. I graduated from The Urdang Academy in Central London in August 2021 and gained a full Diploma in Professional Dance & Musical Theatre. Prior to my move to the capital, I actually went to University and started a BA Hons in Contemporary Dance at Salford University. I had always wanted to do musical theatre but had told myself I “wasn’t good enough” and so I chose a different path. In my second year at Salford I had a health scare and quickly realised life is too short to live with regrets. So, I had a total change of heart and mind set and with that I dropped out of university and auditioned for schools in London. This resulted in me gaining a scholarship at The Urdang.In my second year of training at The Urdang I began my first professional job at The Royal Spa Centre in Snow White playing the roles of Dwarf Puppeteer, Understudy Snow White and Understudy Spirit of the Mirror. In my third year musical I played ensemble in Drowsy Chaperone. Since graduating in August 2021 I have been freelance teaching and recently was booked on a small scale North & Midlands tour playing the role of Holly in The Best Of Christmas.I absolutely adore the thrill of performing and am currently represented by APM Associates for current professional Theatre & TV work. Through my love of theatre and dance I kind of fell into teaching, it’s something I never thought I’d do alongside performing but I can’t believe the sheer joy it gives me watching my students grow and achieve. I believe I have a lot of knowledge and passion for our industry that I really want to pass on to younger generations and inspire them to choose the same path I did. I’m very grateful for the opportunities Urdang have given me and thankful that my family supported me in my decision to drop out of University as I know choosing to be an “actress” or a “dancer” can still hold a rubbish stigma.My Great Grandad used to live by an amazing quote that has got me through some of the toughest times, auditions and decisions. “I can, I will, I did”. We can seriously achieve anything just with a change of mind set.Anyone that chooses to take my class has already got past the first hurdle of and I appreciate anyone choosing to train with me. A guarantee in my classes will always be, individual push and feedback, weekly improvements, At least 1 Disney song and an “I CAN“ attitude. Trust and enjoy the process and fly high!

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Privacy policy

The privacy policy describes what personal data we collect and what we do with that personal data. Personal data is information that can be used to identify you or your child or tell someone something about you or your child. The information which we collect may include your/ your child’s name, contact details (and date of birth). We are also required to collect and process information relating to any medical conditions which your child has for health and safety reasons.

What personal data do we collect?

The Dance Studio collects details from the parent/carer regarding the student at time of registration including:
• Child’s name, date of birth, home address, academic school and previous dance training
• Name, home/email address and contact number of parent/carer
• Any relevant medical conditions of child (ie. asthma, allergies, etc)

Why do we collect this information and how is it used?

• Child’s name, date of birth and dance training information – we collect this information to identify the correct class for the student and eligibility for being entered for exams
• Home address, email address and phone number(s) of Child/Parent/Carer – we collect this information to distribute any necessary correspondence, invoices and other communications relating to The Dance Studio and your child, or to contact you in the case of emergency.
• Details of medical conditions – we collect this information to ensure that we are aware of anything that might put your child at risk and the attention that may be required.

Which third parties do we share this information with?

• If your child is participating in a Dance Studio performance, competition or examination, the above information will be sent to the relevant Local Authorities/Festival Organisers. This is a requirement of the relevant Local Authorities/Competition organisers/ Examination board, so that they can confirm we are following the correct procedures regarding the Children’s performance activities and, where necessary, to issue the necessary licences.

Who can access this Data?

• The data we collect is stored securely at Studio GU3 office and is accessible only by the School Principal.
• Telephone numbers and email addresses of students/parents/guardians are also kept by the School Principal and on duty Teacher (if principal is not present) in case of emergency

If my child leaves the school what happens to my / my child’s personal data?

• When a student leaves Studio GU3, personal data relating to that pupil will be deleted from the database
• If you require your or your child’s information to be erased from the relevant examination boards and/or Council’s files, please inform Studio GU3 in writing and the studio will ensure that your request is processed in line with the applicable data protection legislation.