Karen was born in Gorleston, Gt Yarmouth, but in 2005 moved from Norfolk to be with her husband Gary in his hometown, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, where she now lives. Karen trained in Ballet, Tap and Modern throughout her childhood, and also trained as a baton twirling coach going on to run her own baton twirling troupe for 18 years.
In 1996 Karen attended her first class in line, run by her previous dance teacher’s daughter, initially as an excuse to just meet up again, but ended up getting hooked. Because of her previous dance experience and knowledge of teaching through baton twirling, she was persuaded to have a go at teaching herself, and started her first class in Norwich, which was a huge success and led to other class opportunities, and being invited to teach at a new dance venue opening up in the city centre. She qualified as an instructor in 1998 with the BWDA. At the height of her teaching career Karen had over 200 people attending her classes throughout the week.?
In 2000 Karen had a go at choreography and her first big hit came with Evergreen which was written to the Will Young version of the song of the same name, not only making it to No.1 in the Top 20 Charts and nominated for the CBA awards, but the highlight came when it won Australia’s International Dance Of The Year. Karen then went on to have another hit with Badda Boom! Badda Bang! which became an official competition dance, a great honour. Karen has had a few successful dances since then, most recent being Father & Daughter. Karen has taught at many workshops, weekend events, and charity events, across the UK including the CBA, and even met her husband whilst teaching on a dance holiday in Madeira.
Since moving to Shropshire, after a short break, Karen is now concentrating on building up classes in her new area, there are so many benefits to learning Nuline, the social aspect, helping to get fit, getting to learn to dance so many different dance styles and using so many different music genres, means you'll never get bored. This is why Karen is so excited about joining Nuline, and bring such a great dance form to the people in her area.
Karen Hadley has choreographed 77 dances, of which 6 have been co-choreographed. Their first published stepsheet on CopperKnob is Learning As You Go from October 2007, with their most recent stepsheet of A Little Rain Check in October 2024.
32 Count 4 Wand High Beginner Musik: Fuego en el Fuego - Eros Ramazzotti
64 Count 2 Wand Intermediate Musik: On a Night Like This - Kylie Minogue
32 Count 4 Wand Improver Musik: Sing Me Back Home - Billy Ray Cyrus
40 Count 2 Wand Intermediate NC Musik: Evergreen - Will Young
32 Count 4 Wand Intermediate Musik: Paid My Dues - Anastacia
62 Count 4 Wand Intermediate Musik: Se Me Sube (Merengue Version) - Manny Manuel
64 Count 4 Wand Intermediate Musik: You Don't Have To Go - The Derailers
32 Count 4 Wand Beginner Musik: Runaround Sue - The Overtones
40 Count 4 Wand Improver Musik: Going Away - Billy 'Bubba' King
32 Count 4 Wand Intermediate Musik: The Tin Man - Kenny Chesney
32 Count 4 Wand Improver Musik: That Love - Shaggy
48 Count 4 Wand Improver Musik: After Hours at McGann's - Gaelic Storm
64 Count 4 Wand Intermediate Musik: Indigo Moon - Heather Myles
64 Count 4 Wand Intermediate Musik: Don't Look Back - Fine Young Cannibals
48 Count 4 Wand Intermediate Musik: Being Nobody - Richard X & Liberty X
64 Count 4 Wand Intermediate two step Musik: Dreaming With My Eyes Open - Clay Walker
32 Count 4 Wand Improver Musik: That's the Way - Jo Dee Messina
32 Count 4 Wand Intermediate Musik: Only a Woman - Enrique Iglesias : (Album: Sex & Love)
48 Count 2 Wand Intermediate Musik: I Just Want Love - Mindy McCready
32 Count 4 Wand Improver Musik: Mambo (Radio Edit) - Helena Paparizou