2024 Faculty

Tom Shilcock

Commercial

Tom trained professionally at Laine Theatre Arts. Since graduating, he has danced for several international artists including Jason Derulo, Rita Ora, Meghan Trainor, Take That, Cheryl Cole, Tulisa Constostavlos, Rihanna, Elton John, Gary Barlow, MeatLoaf, John Barrowman, Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox, Jessie J, Ant & Dec, Jamelia and many more.
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He has appeared on TV shows including The X Factor, Stars In Their Eyes (resident dancer), So You Think You Can Dance UK (top 5), Britain’s Got Talent, The Royal Variety Show, The Brit Awards, ITV Text Santa, Dancing On Ice and was part of the London 2012 Olympics. Tom has also performed in theatres, arenas and stadiums including the London Palladium, Wembley stadium and London’s iconic 02 arena. Music Festivals include Capital Summertime Ball, Capital Jingle Bell ball, Radio 1’s Big weekend, Wireless & V festival. His other work includes high profile fashion shows, product launches, corporate events and hair shows both as a dancer and choreographer.

Tom is the Co-Founder of Can You Dance? The UK’s Biggest Touring Dance Convention, alongside his close friend Matt Flint. Tom is proud to have created so many opportunities for young dancers through Can You Dance? including scholarships, artist & ambassador awards and the CYD? Dance Star Company. Tom now focuses his energy on Can You Dance? alongside his teaching and choreography work. Tom’s passion for teaching has allowed him to travel and teach at hundreds of dance schools and some of the leading performing arts colleges throughout the UK, helping guide the next generation of dancers.

Dominic Antonucci

Ballet

This is some text inside of a div Born in Athens, Ohio, and brought up in Akron, Dominic Antonucci, Assistant Director, attended the Nan Klinger School of Dance and the School of American Ballet.

He performed with American Ballet Theatre from 1991 to 1994, joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1994 as a Soloist and was promoted to Principal in 2003. He was appointed to Ballet Master in 2009.

Dominic danced all of the leading male repertoire and was particularly prominent in the ballets of Sir Peter Wright and Sir David Bintley. He has staged Sir David Bintley’s Take 5 on the National Ballet of Japan as well as teaching and rehearsing that company in Ashton’s Cinderella.

Layla Harrison

Ballet

Layla graduated from The Royal Ballet Lower and Upper Schools, and later returned to qualify as a Royal Ballet School Vocational teacher. Layla also gained a BA Hons degree and Dip HE at London Studio Centre.
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During her Ballet career, Layla performed with The Royal Ballet, Kirov Ballet, English National Ballet and Scottish Ballet in works such as Alice!, Cinderella, Nutcracker, Cheating Lying Stealing, Sleeping Beauty, Rubies, Carmen, Swan Lake, Giselle, Nutcracker, Jeux, and Romeo & Juliet. Layla created the role of ‘The Bird’ in Hart’s Peter and the Wolf and danced ‘Liberty Bell’ in Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes European debut. Further credits in Theatre, TV, Film & Commercial work include ON THE TOWN (Japan); Meg in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (West End); NUTCRACKER & THE FOUR REALMS (Disney); MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN; ERTU CULTURE ident; STREETDANCE; POTO 25TH (Cinema/DVD); MARGOT (BBC); MARRIOTT HOTEL campaign; FILTH & WISDOM (Madonna); BALLET RUSSES; PETER AND THE WOLF (B.B.C.); POIROT - ‘THE DUMB WITNESS’ (I.T.V.); RAGGED CHILD (UK/USA/Canada); OLIVER! (Edinburgh Festival); SOUTH BANK SHOW (I.T.V.); OLIVIER AWARDS (ROH); VAN CLEEF & ARPELS/ROH (Buckingham Palace); CONDE NAST AWARDS.

Layla has been teaching for 24 years at establishments including The Royal Ballet School; Central School of Ballet; Urdang; Hammond; Danceworks; Pineapple; W.A.C. Layla teaches open classes for professional dancers and has taught company classes for An American In Paris and On the Town. Layla has taught/adjudicated in Australia, Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Africa and is a regular judge for The Dance World Cup. She choreographs for dance schools and coaches pre-vocational students privately, with many going into professional training/work.
Layla founded Dunsford Performing Arts in 1999, directing annual courses and workshops, employing industry experts. She currently runs her own classes and teaches all year groups weekly at Central School of Ballet.

Kate Stanforth

PBT

Kate Stanforth is a dancer and creator who runs an award-winning inclusive dance academy. She is a Level 3 PBT instructor and a UK ambassador. Kate specialises teaching PBT to those with limited movement and hyper mobility.
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Kate was training to be a professional dancer before she became unwell and since becoming a wheelchair user has adapted her dancing to fit her condition and mobility aids. One of her conditions is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic condition with extreme hyper mobility, so she’s adapted many of the exercises to suit people with similar conditions.

Kate is keen to get the message that ‘everybody should get the chance to dance’ and has worked with many high profile brands, including IDS, Capezio, Disney and prime TV shows, to show disabled dancers can dance. Kate works tirelessly across the media, dance boards and companies to try make sure that the future of dance is accessible.

Phillip Joel

Jazz

Philip is The Actors Fund Encore Award Winner & Whatsonstage Angel Winner

During the pandemic Philip created comedy viral videos which have been viewed millions of times around the world & still growing, he is also creator of the comedy pilot “THE FOSSE FOREST BALLET”

Choreography credits:
‘Jon & Lucy's Party Of The Year’ Christmas Special, Channel 4. ‘The One Show’ BBC, ‘Children In Need’ BBC, ‘Bette Midler & Me’ Eagle Theatre, London ‘Chess The Musical’ The Electric Theatre ‘Wizard Of Oz’ Peterborough New Theatre, ‘HAIRSPRAY’ The Gaiety Theatre, Portsmouth ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ Cultural Hall Theatre, Bahrain ‘The Last Leg’ Channel 4, ‘HARRY HILL’S ALIEN FUN CAPSULE’ ITV ‘Henrietta’ Kate Golledge, NYMT ‘NATASIA DEMETRIOU AND ELLIE WHITE ARE GETTIN’ BIG’ Soho Theatre, ‘Sketch You Up!’ London, ‘Harrods 10th anniversary magazine editorial. ‘NET A PORTER internet campaign. ‘Ferris & Milnes A Christmas Cracker’ Ambassador Theatre, London. ‘CLOSER TO HEAVEN’ The Pet Shop Boys musical Union Theatre, London. ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ UK Tour & Madinat, Dubai. ‘ROCK CITY’ for Celebrity Cruises. ‘One Man Two Guvnors’ Theatre Royal Windsor.

Anna Morgan

Ballet

Anna trained at the Deborah Capon College, and is currently studying for her MA at Rambert School.  She was also heavily influenced by her time training and working in America where she was represented by Terpsichore Entertainment in New York and worked within theatre and television.
Anna went on to train as a teacher, gaining her qualifications up to Fellowship status with the ISTD.  Anna is currently the Director of Anna Morgan Dance, which delivers teacher training courses and qualifications.  In addition she has taught at prestigious schools such as the Royal Ballet School and Performers College, and has been on the Ballet faculty at Bird College since 2016.  Anna is an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals and All England Dance, is on the Advisory Board for the TIRED Movement (Trying to Improve Racial Equality in Dance) and has adjudicated and lectured throughout the UK and internationally.

Anna’s choreography has been seen all over the world, including creating original work for Bailar Al Sol in the US and enjoying choreographic residencies at Moulin Belle in France and Andanza Puerto Rico.  Most recently she has  co-choreographed the critically acclaimed 'Black Beauty' for United We Dance International at Sadler's Wells.

Anna remains deeply committed to elevating the culture of Dance, both in educational settings and the professional industry. Her vision encompasses dancers attaining standards of excellence within a more compassionate, inclusive, and progressive dance community.

Sarah Gittins

1 hour to map out 1 year of social media content

Sarah Gittins is an award-winning business mentor, coach and author. She launched The Dance Den to help other performance arts businesses find balance whilst growing a successful school. Since 1999, she ran her 330+, multi venue school, successfully selling it in 2023. Once stressed and struggling to cope, she knew there had to be a better way and transformed how she ran her school. A straight-talking mentor, someone who really has the t-shirt in many colours and years of experience. Creator of the start, scale, steer studio system she now helps hundreds of studio owners across the world grow their business on their terms so they can get more profit, time and balance in their life.

Mikael Pettersson

Accompanying

Mikael Petersson is the Head of Accompanying and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Pianist Placement Scheme Coordinator at Elmhurst Ballet School. He obtained a B Mus (Hons) degree at Birmingham Conservatoire in the year 2000 and has also attended  Masterclasses with Prof. Hans Leygraf and has studied with Prof. Peter Feuchtwanger.

Piano recitals have taken place in Sweden, Germany, France, Austria and the UK and  has appeared on radio and television.  He has also produced a CD with music by Chopin, Mozart and the Swedish composer Stenhammar.  As an accompanist Mikael Pettersson has worked with Canoldir Male Voice Choir and German singer Eva Meier as well as cellist Richard Jenkinson from the CBSO.  In 2000 he was a finalist in the Birmingham Accompanist of the Year Competition.

Mikael Petersson has taught piano for several years and regularly organises Masterclasses and concerts for pianists and has recently released his second CD featuring Mendelssohn’s Lieder ohne Worte.

In 2012 Mikael Petersson was a semi-finalist in the International Adilia Alieva Piano Competition which took place near Geneva.

Nick Allen

Injuries

Nick Allen is the Clinical Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet Company’s Jerwood Centre. He has a post graduate degree in Sports Medicine and completed his epidemiological based Doctoral dissertation in 2011. His research interests lie in optimising performance through screening, the relationship of vitamin D to injuries and performance, cardiac risk in dancers, and the management of tendinopathies. He has been invited to present at a number of conferences by various organisations, including the British Association of Sports Medicine, the Royal Society of Medicine, British Rheumatology Society, UK Sport, England Rugby, UK Strength and Conditioning Association and the English Institute of Sport.He is guest lecturer for the M.Sc. in Sports Medicine at Nottingham University and Queen Mary’s University London. He is BRB’s representative on the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science’s Steering Committee. Through the Jerwood Centre he has been asked to provide opinions on complex cases for other dancers as well as professional and Olympic athletes. Alongside this he has worked as an external Consultant to Great Britain Gymnastics, England and Great Britain Hockey, and the Lawn Tennis Association’s High Performance Centre. Prior to moving to Birmingham Royal Ballet he was Head of Medical Services for a top Premiership Rugby Club.

Michela Meazza

New Adventures “Edward Scissorhands” Workshop

Michela trained at the London Studio Centre and Aterballetto (Italy). She was the recipient of the Outstanding Female Modern Performance Award as Miss Roach in The Midnight Bell at the 2021 National Dance Awards. She was also nominated for Best Contemporary Dancer at the Critics’ Circle Award 2012. Michela is currently an Associate Dance Practitioner with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures.

She has also taken part in several research and development workshops for the National Theatre and has choreographed for music videos and short films by emerging artists as well as regularly teaching dance classes and workshops.

Nahum McLean

Ballet & African Diaspora

Nahum McLean, based in London, is a choreographer, and dancer, with a career expanding across dance, theatre, and film. After training at The Hammond School, he advanced his skills in Havana with Ballet Laura Alonso and in New York at The Ailey School, receiving The Alvin Ailey Scholarship Award. McLean's significant achievements include performances with, Ailey, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, working under Dr. George Faison, and participating in the International Company of West Side Story. His acclaim grew with his contributions to the West End in "Inala - A Zulu Ballet" and other international stages, notably as a member of the Richard Alston Dance Company., McLean founded the African Diaspora Dance Association (ADDA), dedicated to enriching dance education in the UK with the rich narratives and perspectives of the African Diaspora.

Dr Nathan James PhD MA (Dist.)

Tap

Nathan trained in the Midlands in all musical theatre and dance disciplines along with his initial teaching qualifications.  As a performer he appeared in several pantomimes at the Birmingham Hippodrome alongside several contracts for Celebrity and Princess Cruise Lines.  Upon returning to England and settling in London, Nathan has performed in a range of regional productions including ‘Copacabana’ and ‘Hello Dolly’ and various trade shows and TV commercials.  He has toured the UK in the national tour of ‘Copacabana’ and Europe in the Irish dance show ‘Spirit of the Dance’.  He also completed a season at the renowned Chichester Festival Theatre.  Nathan last appeared in the revival of the Broadway Musical ‘42nd Street’, albeit in German, in the city of Stuttgart.

Following his first passion, teaching, Nathan established himself as a successful jazz and tap tutor and choreographer working a several vocational schools including Arts Ed, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Bodywork Dance Studios and Sylvia Young Theatre School.  In 2008 Nathan joined the faculty of Urdang Academy, ultimately taking over the running of the degree programmes as Director of HE Programmes.  Nathan has also taught at many private dance schools and taught workshops across the country.  He has also delivered the ISTD teaching qualifications at various centres.

An experienced adjudicator, Nathan represents the British Federation of Festivals and is a trustee and Artistic Director for All England Dance where he chairs the Artistic Committee.  He currently teaches tap at Performers College in Birmingham and is the Managing Director for The Dang overseeing the strategic running of the academy and the artistic development of The Dang Theatre and Dance Syllabus.

More information can be found at www.nathanjamesdance.com.

Peter Crome

Pilates

Peter trained at the Australian Ballet School and London Studio Centre. He danced with companies including The Australian Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Queensland Ballet, K-Ballet, Opera North, Ballet Ireland, Royal Danish Opera, and Opera Queensland. He performed in productions such as Swan Lake, Coppélia, Don Quixote, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Madame Butterfly, The Little Mermaid, Petrushka (lead role), Rejsen til Reims, Turandot, and danced in the motion picture ‘The Phantom of the Opera’.

Peter studied Pilates with Andrew Baxter in Melbourne and Conchita del Campo in London, developing knowledge he relied upon for rehabilitation and injury prevention throughout his training and dance career. He has been practicing Pilates for 25 years and teaching almost as long. Peter is a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor and has taught in gyms and hotels around London, performing arts courses, ballet retreats, and teaches private lessons primarily for dancers.

Joseph Prouse

Musical Theatre

Joseph was born in Devon and trained at Performers College and has performed extensively in the West End and other theatres including for the National: Hex, Hadestown, The Suicide. In London's West End: Forbidden Broadway, I Can't Sing!, The X Factor Musical, Oliver!, Singin' in the Rain, Beautiful The Carol King Musical, Jersey Boys, Footloose, Shrek the Musical, Evita, Mamma Mia! Other theatre includes: The View Upstairs, Jesus Christ Superstar, Mack and Mabel, Babes in Arms, Sweeney Todd, She Loves Me, My Family, Thoroughly Modern Millie

He has also appeared on television and film including Death On The Nile (20th Century Fox) Grinch Who Stole Christmas (NBC), James Corden’s Crosswalk The Musical (CBS), The Olivier Awards 2017 (ITV), Children In Need, Alan Titchmarsh Show.

George Hill

Ballet

Training at the Royal Ballet School London, George danced with the Royal Ballet and toured with the Birmingham Royal Ballet.  He was awarded the Lynn Seymour Award for expressive dance, and in 2003 was a young British dancer of the year finalist. In 2004, he was a Royal Academy of Dance Adeline Genee finalist at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Greece.  Upon graduation, he went on to join the Semperoper Ballet in Germany and the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam touring internationally throughout Europe, Asia, and America.  His repertoire includes dancing soloist and principal roles in classics such as; The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Giselle, and Sleeping Beauty as well as working with modern choreographers such as Forsythe, Kylian, and Mats Ek.

Wishing to explore the world outside of the Opera House, George went on to perform in the German premiere of Tabaluga the Musical and returned to London’s Westend to create and star in McQueen The Play at the Haymarket Theatre, Piccadilly and had a regular slot at The London Cabaret Club.  George has danced in music videos for bands such as The 1975 and Sticky Fingers as well as acting in dramas for television and film.  George has also modelled internationally for fashion houses including Prada, Jil Sander, and Moschino.

Now dedicating his time to the studio George is the artistic director of BDC Bath Dance College in the UK, a foundation course that prepares students for the professional industry with famous alumni including Maisie Williams.  Outside of his own studio, George is regularly invited as a guest teacher and has lectured for the International Dance Teachers Association,  Dance Teacher Web in Las Vegas, and Move It, London, to name a few.

Yolanda Offodile

Tired Movement

Yolanda is a professional vocalist, dancer, choreographer, actress and multi-skill performer who has experience performing in the UK and Overseas.

Performances include:
• Production shows
• Small scale theatre tour/tribute
• Weddings
• Stilt walking and fire
• Various corporate and commercial events (including arena show, boxing, adverts and Christmas lights)
• Working for companies such as House of Bonita Entertainment, Valcato, AREA51 and more.

Whilst her love and passion lies on the stage, she is also a fully qualified Level 3 Personal Trainer and greatly devoted performing arts teacher graduating with a BA Hons in Performing Arts (2:1) and a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Dane Bates

Contemporary

Dane trained in London and is currently teaching
at academies and colleges all over the UK.
Credits include “The Illusionists”-Hammersmith
Apollo London, UK Tour, European arena tour and
Beirut; understudy Beast in Beauty and the Beast
Theatre Royal Windsor; Best of The Musicals-
European Tour.

Choreography includes Britain’s Got Talent
2016 (Jack Higgins), Aladdin Imagine Theatre,
Liverpool Unites 2015 winner. Most recently he
worked with Dane Bates Collective: a young
contemporary dance group who made the
semi-final of BBC The Greatest Dancer. Dane’s
Masterclasses started as he wanted to bring
professional training back to North Wales.

Cris Penfold

Tap

Training: London Studio Centre

As well as appearing in many Musical Theatre Shows, Cris has been responsible for choreographing many others. He has appeared in many films and television productions and runs Workshops around the country. Cris has choreographed various shows for Elmhurst Ballet School, London Studio Centre, the Urdang Academy and the MTA shows.

Cris also runs the professional Saturday Programmes at London Studio Centre with LSC Associates and LSC International Outreach; both of which train talented and gifted young performers.

As well as performing, Cris also currently teaches jazz and tap classes for London Studio Centre, Elmhurst Ballet School, Mountview, Central School of Speech & Drama, BBO Dance and he guest teaches at various other venues nationally and internationally. Cris is also an adjudicator and masterclass teacher for the Dance World Cup.

Gavin Eden

Lyrical

Gavin trained at London Studio Centre, touring the UK with the Jazz Dance Company in his final year.

Theatre Credits include Cats, Asia tour as Skimbleshanks, Addams Family The Musical (UK Tour and London Palladium) as Dance Captain and Onstage Swing, 42nd Street - Paris, Pet Shop Boys “Inner Sanctum” at the Royal Opera House, Pablo Bronstein: Historical Dances in an Antique Setting at The Tate Britain, Hairspray as Dance Captain and Swing, We Will Rock You, Cats, European tour as Mungojerrie, ‘One Man’s Dream II’ - TokyoDisneyland, ‘Nixon in China’, ‘The Mikado’ and Carmen for English National Opera. Theatre Rites’ ‘Mischief’, and Shall We Dance at Sadler’s Wells.

As part of Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures roles include the original cast of Edward Scissorhands - World Tour as Kevin Boggs and Gerald Monroe. Gobstopper, Cupid and cover Fritz in Nutcracker - UK Tour, and Cygnet in Swan Lake - World Tour.

Gavin can be seen in the films ‘Beyond the Sea’ and ‘Swan Lake’(2012). He has also appeared on “The Paul O Grady Show’ and ‘So Graham Norton’ for Channel 4 and ‘The Naked Commercial’ for Sanex.

He has also worked as an Assistant to the director, staging “Cats” for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Gavin teaches for numerous arts institutions and delivers a range of educational workshops on behalf of Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures

2024 FACULTY