Mary’s own ballet training began with Rita Emmerson, who had been a favoured pupil of the famous Italian dancer, ballet master to the Imperial Russian Ballet and highly regarded teacher, Enrico Cecchetti.  Winning the Cyril Beaumont Award took Mary to the Royal Ballet Upper School and from there to dance with the Royal Ballet Companies at home and on tours to over 40 countries. She worked with a multitude of famous dancers, choreographers and directors in the UK and around the world.

 

After injury she retrained as a teacher, at the suggestion of Sir Peter Wright, the Director of Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet. A Winston Churchill Fellowship and a Nabisco Award enabled her to study teaching methods at the Vaganova Academy in St Petersburg.  Winning the Stephen Arlen Arts Award enabled further study of teaching at the Paris Opera Ballet School, School of American Ballet, Joffrey, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet and the National Ballet School of Canada. She taught at a number of vocational ballet schools including RBS (Associates, White Lodge and Upper School), ENBS (Upper School), NBS, West Street School and National Ballet School in Canada.

 

She has been headhunted for senior management roles in Ivy League vocational schools including Ballet Principal Royal Ballet School – White Lodge, Artistic Director of Elmhurst in Association with BRB and Head of Teacher Training and the Junior Division National Ballet School of Canada, Ballet Principal Northern Ballet School and Director of Legat at St Bede’s School, Sussex. Head of Dance at Ibstock Place School. Mary has been The Administrator of the London Studio Centre and was Director of Education for the British Ballet Organisation. Mary has written Government reports on dance and articles for the ‘Dancing Times’ and also documentation for many accreditations for Trinity College London, Council for Dance Education and Training, Universities and several Dance Awarding Bodies for regulatory Ofqual requirements.  

 

Mary is the Director of London Junior and Senior Ballet, that she founded in 1988. She is also the Director of “Dance Gems” in Wimbledon and Islington, and is a freelance teacher of keen students and professionals. Mary examines, adjudicates, lectures and guest teaches. Each Saturday afternoon Mary runs the Dance Theatre Programme for invited youngsters which enables them to have masterclasses with eminent professionals and teachers which leads to performance work for the students.

Rachael has had a successful and varied career. She recently filmed at Warner Bros studios for a new film directed by Steve McQueen and prior to that an advert for “ World Asthma Day”.  Her most recent stage appearance was in On the Town choreographed by Ashley page which took her to Japan and she was dance captain for Kiss Me Kate at the London Coliseum. Rachael was involved in the soundtrack recording of the new Mamma Mia film “Here We Go Again,” this was directly after a run at the London Palladium with Dick Whittington.

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Other credits include : Strauss (UK tour), Kiss Me Kate (WNO), Cats – Tantomile, Jemima, Victoria, Demeter (RUG Australia), West Side Story – Graziella, Phantom of the Opera (25th Anniversary tour), Peter Pan the Musical (u/s Wendy), We Will Rock You (Dominion & Antwerp), Fame (u/s Iris), original London cast of Movin’ Out (west end), The Snowman (Ice Princess), Love Shack (uk tour) , Grease (dance captain west end and tour), Cats (Jemima, Demeter, Rumpleteser), Phantom of the Opera ( Meg Giry).

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Rachael has also appeared in two major feature films namely Finding Neverland and Phantom of the Opera. She filmed Victoria for ITV, Devils in Disguise for the Discovery Channel and for BBC radio 5 the radio play Smith of Wooton Major. 

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In 2014 Rachael completed the RAD professional dancers’ teaching diploma graduating with Distinction and has taught at Vocational Colleges across London. She is a judge for the Dance World Cup and has taught the scholarship classes as well as judging Miss Dance and Dance Master Uk for the IDTA.  Rachael is currently on the ballet faculty at Performers College, a CPD tutor for the RAD and teaches on both the London Junior and Senior Ballet Associate programme. 

Jann manages to combine her love of teaching ballet and passing on her extensive expertise with her career as a highly regarded professional dancer.

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Originating from South Africa where she trained, she Soon became a favourite of many talented choreographers Having solo works created on her.

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Supported by ‘ Studio Wayne McGregor’ as part of The Free Space programme, Jann’s latest work has Recently been premiered featuring a former soloists from the English National Ballet at the Lift Off Festival.

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She has danced  with South African ballet Theatre, Cape Town City ballet and Joburg Ballet to name just a few.

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Jann’s own choreographic work has been equally successful and was commissioned by the National Arts Festival, the South African International Ballet Competition, and many others. This work led to her interest in coaching and this is where we are so lucky to have teamed up with Jann.

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She has coached dancers for over a decade and now working  in London we are very fortunate to have her influence in our school Our children took to her instantly and we Look forward to benefiting from her skills In our forthcoming ballet production.

Laura joined the Royal Ballet School as a Junior Associate and was chosen to perform with

Birmingham Royal Ballet in a number of productions, in Birmingham and on national

and international tours.

 

Laura gained a scholarship to attend Elmhurst School for Dance where she trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Flamenco and Irish dance styles. Aged 13, Laura received the school award for ‘Most Promising Dancer’. Whilst at Elmhurst, Laura continued to take part in professional productions with both English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet. On completion of her vocational training, she joined Dortmund Ballet in Germany and subsequently Vanemuine Ballet in Estonia, where she was promoted to Soloist. Repertoire with Vanemuine Ballet included Romeo and Juliet (Petr Zuska) Don Juan (Giorgio Madia)

The Firebird and Scheherazade (Ricardo Amarante) The Sleeping Beauty (Par Isberg) and Giselle (Stanislav Feco/Jean Coralli/Jules Perrot) among many others. Laura created the role of the Spanish Princess for the world premiere of Petr Zuska’s Swan Lake and later danced the title role of the White/Black Swan. Alongside her classical ballet career, Laura was also involved in musical theatre productions such as Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins and Evita.

 

Whilst pursuing her professional career, Laura continued her academic studies and gained

First Class Honours in her BA in Dance. She was also awarded Distinction in her

Professional Dancer's Teaching Diploma with the Royal Academy of Dance.

Laura is an experienced teacher having worked in a number of U.K. dance schools,

providing both free and syllabus based training. She was also invited to Portugal to teach

repertoire alongside other distinguished teachers.

Paul started his career as a professional dancer working in TV, films, concerts and tours. He travelled extensively and worked with top artists and choreographers ( Arlene Philips, Bruno, Kylie Minogue, Michael Jackson, Bob Hope and loads more!) As a teenager he was a disco champion and danced on ‘Come dancing’ winning the final with the Midlands and West team.

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He now works as a Pilates teacher, instructing classes and individuals at the Grange health Centre in London, The Hurlingham Club and Fitness First.