Erna started ballet classes at age three, entering for her Royal Academy of Dance exams in her hometown of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. After gaining her High School Diploma, she came to London and was accepted onto the Teachers Training Course of the Royal Academy of Dance.

After graduation she returned to the Netherlands to teach, however, soon she returned to London to gain further teaching qualifications at Stella Mann College.
She then successfully auditioned and her first professional contract was with Atmozphier Dance based in Birmingham, after this she became Dance captain with the Judy Delme Dancers performing on TV shows and on cruise ships around the world.

After performing Erna decided to concentrate on teaching and started work at the Stella Mann College, West Street School and Royal Academy of Dance
In 1989 she was invited to become an Examiner for the RAD and in 1996 she started a Dance Degree at Durham University. In 2005 she graduated with a PGCE in Dance at the Institute of Education and started the Jumpup dance school in Hampstead.

In 2016 she collaborated with Lynsey Bradshaw and they bought Spotlight School of Dance followed by the Jan Cox School of dance in 2019. In 2022 Ellie took over as Co- Principal.

At the present time Erna is still examining for the RAD and teaching at Stella Mann College as well as running three dance schools: Jumpup in London and Spotlight & JC School of Dance.

Erna Kuenen – Principal
PGCE BPhil (Hons) LRAD ARAD AISTD LISTD RADRTS
And examiner for the Royal Academy of dance