Like many little girls, Karen started dancing at 4 years old, taking ballet classes with Jennifer Hall at her school in Lisburn, which later became the Island Ballet School. Quite a few years later she decided to branch out a little, and discovered Amber’s school, taking modern and tap. With Amber’s support and encouragement Karen took the ISTD Intermediate Modern Exam. After completing A-levels, she trained for a year at the College of Dance in Dublin, studying ballet, contemporary, jazz and tap, before heading to England to study for a degree in Musical Theatre. After graduation, (and a short stint at Disney) Karen qualified as a matwork Pilates teacher, and spent the next few years working at a pilates studio, as well as teaching dance at several branches of Stagecoach in the north of England. In 2015, Karen returned to France where she stayed for 6 years as a parade performer, playing many of the classic Disney characters and performing in shows and parades. After moving back last year Karen was welcomed back to the Amber Gordon School of Dance, and she is very much looking forward to being more involved this year. Karen has also completed her Pilates training and is a qualified Mat and Reformer Pilates instructor.