Miss Dawn Dawson AISTD dip / AIDTA, Principal / Artistic Director

After training full time at the Marianne Jepson College of Dance and Drama, Miss Dawson danced professionally for a number of years before realising her passion for teaching.  It was then in 1987 that ‘Miss Dawn Dawson’s Bolton Academy of Dance and Stage’ was born.  And to this day it has continued to go from strength to strength!

In addition to running her academy and teaching, Miss Dawn is also the Chair of the ‘Bolton Dance Forum’ (BDF) driving the strategy for developing dance in bolton, with organisations such as schools and colleges, pioneering an approach now supported by local and national government which recognises the benefit of the performing arts in a child's development.

Qualifications

• Fully Registered member of the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing)
• Associate ISTD Diploma Modern
• Associate ISTD Diploma Tap Parts 1 & 2
• Freelance choreographer for Schools and in Dance Education.
• Associate ISTD National and Folk Dance Faculty
• Registered member of the CDET (Council for Dance Education and Training)
• Chair of the ‘Bolton Dance Forum’ (BDF)
• Member of the Amateur Community Theatre group (ACT)
• Assessor for the Bronze & Silver Arts Award

Miss Victoria Bruce

Miss Vicky (as known by students) started off as a pupil at the Academy, and has therefore been with Dawn since it all began. She made the cross over from student to teacher in 1996 and has since then played a big part in helping to take the Academy to the next level in dance training.

Miss Vicky teaches Modern, Tap, Jazz and Ballet across all levels, and takes pupils from Beginner to Student level, as well as Adult Classes; doing exam classes in all subjects.

She also takes limbering classes, and as she is a fully qualified aerobic and fitness instructor, knows exactly how to work the pupils to their full ability and get the best out of them in this important part of their training.

As well as teaching Vicky also plays a big part in choreographing for the annual show that takes place at The Albert Hall in Bolton, and for ‘The Hits’ shows at Blackpool Opera House. Her choreography can be seen in a wide variety of numbers ranging from Disney’s ‘Peter Pan’ and ‘Aladdin’ to Broadway Hits ‘Chicago’ and ‘Sweet Charity,’ and even the likes of 'Matrix Re-Loaded', 'Step up 2 the dance off' and 'Moulin Rouge!'  Not only has this, Miss Vicky also choreographed for the student cabaret group who perform all over the North West of England at various high profile events!

Qualifications

• Associate ISTD Diploma: Modern and Tap Theatre Faculty
• Fully registered teacher of the RAD
• History of Dance Part 1
• RSA Exercise to music

Miss Sarah-Jayne Palmer LRAD/AISTD, Head of Ballet

Miss Sarah began her training under Sarah Durrant (Examiner and now head of Hammond School in Chester).

She then went on to The Hammond School for 4 years where she was trained by various ex Royal Ballet dancers and Examiners. From there Miss Sarah completed a 3 year teacher training course and was awarded Licentiate at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance. After graduating she moved to Canada where she worked at many different dance schools getting a wealth of experience and eventually working her way up to Head of Department.

She Choreographed over 50 pieces a year for competitions and recitals and many of her students won scholarships for New York studios and conventions, and she also had 5 accepted into the National Ballet of Canada.

Over the years Miss Sarah has worked at numerous summer schools and conventions and has done lots of coaching for RAD majors. She now continues to teach, and has taught at the Academy for over 8 years teaching Ballet classes from Primary to Advanced level.

In more recent years Miss Sarah has now also diversified into Pilates and other areas of Health and Fitness, including teaching Body Pump, Stretch and Tone, Stability Ball, Aqua Aerobics and Salsa Dance!

Qualifications

• Fully registered member of the RAD as teacher and mentor
• ISTD Modern and Ballet
• Affiliated member of the IDTA
• OCR level 2 Certificate in Teaching and Exercise for Fitness for Pilates
• Certificate of achievement for Pregnancy & Pilates
• Bodyworks Pilates Intermediate Level & small equipment
• Kathryn Cullen Stability Ball course Level 1 and 2
• BTS Body Pump
• 'Future Fit Training' Advanced Level Pilates (Currently working on Level 3 Pilates with 'Future Fit Training')
• Qualified First Aider

Mrs Susan Wright

A former head of drama at a Bolton Secondary school, Miss Susan has 30 years experience teaching drama and the performing arts.(B.Ed) As well as taking lead roles and directing several school productions.

Her GCSE students regularly performed at local primary schools.

She now teaches freelance at local stage and theatre schools and as her own adult theatre Company!

Mr Daniel Brady

Daniel Brady is a leading musical director and vocal coach from the North West of England. He has worked with many well known performers in TV and theatre in the capacity of musical director, both in the profession and in youth theatre.

He began his career as a musical director for theatre in Manchester, having completed studies at the Junior School and the RNCM and then the University of Manchester and continues to work with singers, actors and dancers towards auditions and performances involving singing. He is also a moderator for several popular music and performing arts courses at a national level, following several roles as Head of Music and Performing Arts in colleges.

Most recently Daniel has worked on the BBC's Waterloo Road as Musical Director and is currently working in London on a production of Beauty and the Beast, alongside several songwriting and arranging projects.

Daniel is one of the visiting vocal coaches at the academy and is also available for private lessons.

Miss Joanne Swaby

Miss Jo trained at SLP College. Since graduating Miss Jo has gone onto work in all aspects of the industry as a dancer, singer, actor and choreographer. Her dancing credits include: 'Aladdin' at The Kings Theatre in Southsea (Assistant choreographer/Understudy So-Shi/Dancer), 'Use Somebody' music video for band Ultrabeat, Eisteddfodd music festival for BBC Wales (backing dancer), 'Cinderella' at The King's Theatre in Southsea (Assistant Choreographer and Dancer), 'Aquaphobia' UK Tour with Circus Hilarious, 'The Show Must Go On… Musical's and More' starring Zoe Tyler (Dance Captain and Assistant choreographer), 'And All That Jazz' at The Liverpool Empire, 'The Tom O'Connor Variety Show,' Pre-match Entertainment for Sky Television, Various high profile corporate events for Ellite Performers, Manchester Pride Festival (choreographed backing dancers) and the E4 series of 'Nearly Famous.'

Miss Jo currently teaches beginners boys jazz, beginners jazz technique and Cabaret/Theatre Jazz classes at The Academy.

Qualifications

• National Diploma in Musical Theatre
• ALCM in Performance (Associate of the London College of Music)
• FDI Health and Safety

Miss Catherine Prince

Miss Catherine is the Academy's gymnastics coach teaching children from a young age. She started her career in gymnastics as part of the North West squad competing in sports acrobatics. After this she completed her degree in Leisure Management and went on to become on an assistant manager of a leisure club; a year later becoming a freelance instructor teaching aerobics, aqua, circuit and stretch classes.

Miss Catherine has over 10 years experience of coaching gymnastics and during the years has taught at a variety of different leisure centres within the Bolton area, and has also run after school clubs and taught gymnastics within schools.

She is now a Sports programme Officer at Bolton Arena and for the past two years has become the Head Coach at Bolton Arena in charge of all the gymnastics classes. The classes she is involved in include Pre-school to advanced gymnastics, along with rhythmic gymnastics and working with disabilities groups.

Miss Catherine regularly organises and is involved in gymnastics competitions, displays and taking part in gymnaestrada!

Qualifications

• Gymnastic Coach: Level 2
• Degree in Leisure Management
• Club Coach: General Gymnastics

Miss Alexandra Ormerod

Miss Alex started dancing at Dawn Dawson's Academy 15 years ago when she was six years old.

Almost 5 years ago she became a student teacher helping out the other teachers with their different classes, then after about a year began taking her own classes.

Miss Alex trained at Dolphin Dance Studios College for a year where she gained valuable dance training experience, then moved on to North Liverpool Dance Academy where she began training with one of the ISTD examiners Cathy Conroy-Jones to get her ISTD dance teacher qualifications.

She is now in her final year there and since starting has taken her FDI Tap, FDI Modern and FDI Health and Safety and Lifespan, and hopes to take the next level of exams, (I.e. CDE Tap and Modern) before she finishes in the summer 2009.

Qualifications

• FDI ISTD Teacher
• Student teacher of the RAD

Sheila hails from Manchester and has been described as one of the UK's top session singers and vocal coaches. She has coached a host of top name celebrities including Take That, Robbie Williams and McFly frontman Danny Jones, and is currently working with leading talent scout Will Robinson of 'WR TALENT.'

Although she has spent many years coaching, Sheila is no stranger to the microphone herself, having appeared with The Three Degrees, Van Morrison and Hot Gossip - and continues to tour in her own right wowing audiences around the country!

The Stage newspaper writes "It was a delight to listen to the delicately cultivated voice of singer Sheila Gott. The stagecraft was from the old school and if the younger female singers in the audience weren’t being all that attentive while Gott was on stage, they really should have been. Anyone new to the business may have learned something about how to sing and present themselves properly to an audience by watching Sheila Gott in action."

Sheila runs private lessons at the academy and covers a wide range of styles and techniques, including: Rock, Pop, Soul, Blues, Stage & Studio Craft/Singing and Microphone Technique!

Miss Samantha Killick

'Miss Sam' trained at Preston Dance College.

Here she gained all her teaching qualifications in Modern, Tap and Ballet.

She has now been teaching at the academy for over four years and takes classes in all three subjects, as well as limbering, teaching students of age 14 years and above.

Qualifications

• Associate ISTD Modern
• Associate ISTD Ballet
• Associate ISTD Tap

Mrs Kath Higson

'Miss Kaff' is currently Deputy Head teacher at Ribble Drive Community primary School in Whitefield and teaches music, drama and performing arts across the age range 3-19 and in all key stages.

She is committed to Youth Drama and for many years was part of the very successful production team at the Deane School and ran a Dance and Drama group at Astley Bridge Theatre Church for 10 years.

Miss Kath is also currently a member of the Parents Support Group at Bolton Music Service and Youth Co-ordinator at Blackrod Cricket Club. It is therefore clear to see that her role within the Academy is of course music and drama related.

Kath is in charge of the Junior choir as putting on various plays with the students. Her last success being a musical version of the Willy Russell play 'Our Day Out' which was thoroughly enjoyed by cast and audience alike!

Qualifications

• B.Ed (Hons)
• M.Ed NPQH
• Fully qualified Drama and Music Teacher

Miss Amy Dodd

Miss Amy began dancing at age 5 at a local dance school in Standish where she undertook her RAD ballet exams. It was from that school that she was inspired to become a dance teacher. Miss Amy therefore went on to train at Preston College in the Dance Faculty, where she gained her Diploma in Advanced Teaching and Performance of Dance. After completing her three year course she was able to teach Ballet, Tap and Modern.

It was almost immediately after graduating from college that Miss Amy began to teach at the Academy, where she has been teaching ever since. She currently teaches on a Saturday and a Thursday evening teaching both girls and boys of ages ranging from 4 to 12 in Ballet, Tap, Modern and Show Work.

Miss Amy has high expectations of all the pupils she teaches and has so far not been disappointed by their achievements in exams and live performances!

Qualifications

• ISTD Registered
• FDI (Foundation in Dance Instruction) Modern, Tap and Ballet
• CDE (Certificate of Dance Education) Lifespan Development, Health and Safety, Teaching Practice and Dance History
• RAD Trained
• Diploma in Advanced Teaching and Performance of Dance

Miss Liana Rainford

Miss Liana trained at Phil Winstons Theatre Works in Blackpool and is now a freelance Street/Commercial Dance Teacher as well as being a professional dancer herself.

Miss Liana's classes are full of energy and are mainly commercial based, however she incorporates all styles of dance into her routines! Her choreography is original and exciting to watch, and her classes are proving to be a popular choice at the Academy!

Miss Kimberley Reddy

After beginning her training at Dawn Dawson's Academy, Miss Kim went on to do a Foundation Course at Performers College and then onto the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts.

Miss Kim now works as a professional singer and is currently signed to a record company and working closely with top producers in the music industry.

She is a vocal coach at the Academy and covers a wide variety of songs and styles, in her one to one sessions.

Miss Rachel Lee

Miss Rachel Lee began her training at Dawn Dawson's Academy before progressing to Assistant Vocal Coach.  She is currently at University studying for a degree in Musical Theatre Performing Arts.

Miss Manisha Solanki

Miss Manisha has been leading Indian and Bollywood dance workshops for local events and schools in the North West for 8 years.

She has been a student of the Classical Indian dance form with Northwest Asian Arts for 9 years and has trained in Jazz, Tap, Modern & Ballet as well as received over 5 years vocal coaching.

In addition to teaching at the Academy she is a performer at community events in Bolton and Manchester representing Northwest Asian Arts.

Her dance credits include: Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs at Bolton Albert Halls; Production Singer/Dancer at Waterside Holiday Park, Dawlish Sands Holiday Park, Broadland Sands Holiday Park and Production Singer/Dancer/Choeographer at Naze Marine Holiday Park.

She has also performed as 'Queen' in 'Jack & the Beanstalk' for Fame Factory Productions; at 'Sunday Night Live!' at Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket, London; in 'Dance Works' at the Lowry, Salford Quays, Manchester and in 'One night on Broadway!' at The Globe in Blackpool.

Miss Kathy Brooke

Miss Kathy has worked alongside Mr Daniel since her move to Manchester nearly 2 years ago, to pursue her career in Musical Theatre.

In her local town Miss Kathy taught a group of 11-16 year olds, originally named ‘Musicals’ where the students learnt the vocal parts and harmonies, alongside original choreography to their favourite Musical Theatre Songs. With Grade 8 distinction in both Royal Associated Board Classical and Pop Music Vocals, Miss Kathy with be assisting with Mr Daniel's teaching from a technical angle as well as taking private singing lessons for students looking for a career in performance.

Miss Ellie Tyler

Miss Ellie began her dance training at the age of 3 in Leeds. She then moved on to the Bush Davies School in London at age 11 and completed her training at the Doreen Bird College. Whilst studying in the ISTD, RAD and IDTA syllabuses to an advanced level, Ellie attained her professional teaching qualifications.

Miss Ellie then focused on her performing career in West End musicals and television. She has worked on hit shows including 'Grease', 'Fame', 'Cats'( The White Cat) and 'Chicago', and has made numerous televisions appearances, such as 'The Big Breakfast' (Channel 4), 'Pebble Mill' (ITV), 'Motor Mouth' (ITV), and Monty Python's 'The Meaning of Life'. Throughout her performing career Ellie has also worked for several major cruise companies including 'Princess', 'Crystal' and 'Majesty'.

Miss Ellie continues her successful career as a much-sought after freelance jazz and ballet teacher and choreographer, teaching musical theatre, jazz and ballet at many colleges and dance schools. She is also the founder of one of the UK’s leading performing arts and dance companies, ElliTe Performers - which she continues to manage and direct with great skill and artistry.

Miss Dani Winters

Miss Dani specialises in Hip Hop, Street Dance and Stage choreography.

Her workshops have included Aleshia Dixon Street Dance Stars, Filmed for BBC; 3rd year workshops at the Northern Ballet School, Manchester; U Dance at The Lowry, Manchester; Breaking Convention in Blackpool and Manchester; Cody's Workshops in Liverpool and Strike Dance in Liverpool.