About Us
Led by youthful passion, powered by experience.
Where creativity meets passion
At Transitions Dance Academy, we welcome students of all levels, from those dancing for recreation to those aiming for a career in dance. Many stay with us from their early years until they head off to universities because they feel at home in our supportive, disciplined, and fun environment. Our academy is registered under the Ministry of Culture, and all teachers undergo vetting, safeguarding training, and first aid certification to ensure the highest standards of safety and care. As a semi-competitive school, we offer optional auditions for our Competition Team, which has earned top awards internationally and represented Gibraltar at IDO events with the Gibraltar National Dance Organisation (GNDO).
Our Story
At Transitions Dance Academy, our mission is to create an inspiring, supportive environment where every dancer feels at home. We believe that a positive atmosphere is key to personal and artistic growth, and this is reflected in the way we teach, support, and celebrate each member of our community. Every dancer and every teacher is valued for their individual contributions, and we take pride in recognising their hard work, progress, and creativity.
One of the cornerstones of our ethos is nurturing individuality. While we provide structured, high-quality dance training, we also encourage our dancers to explore their own creative voices. Those who wish to go further have the opportunity to showcase their personal work through our Self-Choreography sections in our End of Term shows, allowing them to grow not just as dancers, but as artists.
The name Transitions Dance Academy came about during a significant moment of change for us—a shift in management and branding. It symbolises a fresh start, reflecting our commitment to evolving, improving, and offering the very best experience for our dancers. This transformation gave us a renewed identity, one that embraces both tradition and forward-thinking.
But we are more than just a dance academy. Alongside technique and performance skills, we are passionate about instilling lifelong values—commitment, dedication, attention to detail, integrity, honesty, and teamwork. These are qualities that serve our students both inside and outside the studio.
We are equally committed to maintaining open, honest communication with both our dancers and their families. We believe that success is a shared journey, and we value the strong relationships we build with our community. At Transitions Dance Academy, we don’t just teach dance—we help shape confident, respectful, and expressive individuals ready to take on whatever comes next.
Meet The Team
Gillaine Alman ISTD Licentiate
Director/Instructor
Gillaine Alman is the Director of Transitions Dance Academy and holds Licentiate status with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). Her lifelong passion for dance began at the age of seven when she joined the Aquarius dance club, training under Horace Bonfante and the late Alfred Ramirez. Determined and dedicated, she paid for her own lessons with her pocket money, attending classes in the Adventure Playground, which once stood where Notre Dame School is today. In her early years, she was not only a devoted dancer but also an accomplished gymnast and athlete, always part of her middle school’s gymnastics team.
Gillaine later refined her dance technique at Tarik Modern Theatre Dance Academy under the esteemed Mrs. Margaret Wilkins, an ISTD examiner. Driven by her ambition, she funded three years of tuition and earned her Associate, Associate Diploma, and Licentiate qualifications, all with Distinctions. These achievements solidified her expertise in syllabus knowledge and teaching methodologies, allowing her to train dancers at a professional level.
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With over 30 years of experience working with children, Gillaine’s background extends beyond dance. She studied Child Development and Dance at Westside Comprehensive School and pursued further training in Early Years Education. Passionate about fostering creativity in young minds, she ran her own nursery school for three years, integrating dance, painting, and role-playing into early learning. She also worked as a Teacher’s Aid, assisting children with learning and behavioural difficulties, all while continuing to teach, choreograph, and co-produce dance productions.
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In 2009, Gillaine took the helm of her current dance school, rebranding it as Transitions Dance Academy. Over the years, she has successfully trained hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to pursue professional dance careers or applied their training in other fields. Always striving to evolve, she is a Module One Certified Acrobatic Arts teacher and has introduced Acrobatic Arts and Aerial Hoops to Transitions, with the latter now taught by her daughter and fellow instructor, Siandayle.
A lifelong learner and innovator, Gillaine continues to explore new methods to help her students grow, ensuring that Transitions Dance Academy remains a hub of excellence and creativity in the world of dance
Siandayle Alman
Instructor
Siandayle Alman has been an integral part of Transitions Dance Academy since she first stepped into the studio at just 2½ years old. A dedicated and accomplished dancer, she has completed all ISTD grades with Distinction and is now passing on her knowledge by teaching the syllabus while gaining experience towards her ISTD Teaching Certification.
Practically growing up in the dance studio, Siandayle has developed a deep understanding of technique, choreography, musicality, and rhythm, making her a versatile and inspiring instructor for both children and teenagers. She has competed and performed in numerous local and international competitions, earning top awards for her solos, duets, and group performances. Her talent was evident from an early age—at just four years old, she won 1st Place in the Mini Solo category at her very first competition.
Beyond her extensive dance training, Siandayle is a Certified Instructor in Acrobatic Arts (Module One) and holds certifications in Aerial Hoops, Contortion, and Flexibility and Aerial Progressions. She is committed to ongoing professional development, continuously expanding her knowledge to provide students with safe, progressive, and high-quality training.
With her wealth of experience and passion for teaching, Siandayle is dedicated to helping students reach their full potential while fostering a love for dance in a supportive and dynamic environment
Jara Lopez Lopez
Ballet Instructor
Jara is a dance professional with extensive experience in teaching ballet and Spanish dance, specializing in choreographing for performances, festivals, and competitions. She trained at the Muñoz Molleda Conservatory of Music from the age of 10 before continuing her studies at Academia de Danza Susana, where she completed the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) examinations, achieving Distinction at the Intermediate level.
She began teaching at Transitions Dance Academy in Gibraltar from 2009 to 2011 and returned in 2018, where she continues to work today. Over the years with Transitions, she has choreographed for productions such as Thumbelina and Aladdin, as well as end-of-year performances. Since 2013, she has also been a classical dance teacher at Academia de Danza Susana in Spain, preparing choreographies for school festivals and competitions such as Vive tu sueño (Marbella), Concurso Ciudad de La Línea, and Hispalis (Seville).
Jara has a wonderful rapport with her students and is especially skilled at working with younger children. Her patience and mild-mannered approach to teaching make her an excellent Early Years Ballet teacher, creating a nurturing and encouraging environment for her students. With a strong foundation in ballet and Spanish dance, she is dedicated to training students, preparing them for both ISTD and RAD Ballet examinations, and creating inspiring choreographies. Her passion for dance education and commitment to artistic excellence help her students develop both their technique and confidence on stage
Rebecca Smith
Instructor
Rebecca’s dance journey began at the age of four, starting with recreational classes before moving into the competitive dance world by the age of eight. Over the next decade, she trained extensively in Toronto across a variety of styles, including jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, tap, and hip hop. While jazz has always been her greatest love, Rebecca embraces the challenge and creativity that each style brings to a dancer’s development.
In addition to her training, Rebecca has competed in numerous dance competitions across Canada, gaining valuable performance experience and a deep understanding of the discipline and dedication required in the competitive dance world. She also spent several years teaching and assisting at her home studio, where she supported younger dancers in developing both their technical ability and self-confidence.
Rebecca later pursued her passion further by studying dance at Toronto Metropolitan University, exploring the art form on both a physical and academic level. Although her professional path eventually led her elsewhere, dance has remained an essential part of her life, a constant source of expression, connection, and joy.
With her wealth of experience, friendly manner, and natural teaching ability, Rebecca is a fantastic addition to our team. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of dancers and is excited to share her love of dance here in Gibraltar.