Principal – JoAnn Latus
Jo trained at the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet school as a youngster. She moved onto the Royal Academy of Dance to receive her teacher training, graduating in 1987 with a diploma and as a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance. She also holds the ISTD Certificate in Dance for both Modern Theatre and Tap dance. Teaching now for in excess of 30 years, successfully entering pupils in all dance genres that are taught at the school and staging dance productions on a large scale every three years. Jo teaches ballet, tap and modern as well as our adult ballet class.
Teacher – Laura McPartlan
Laura has been connected with the school from a very young age and it is with great pleasure that I now find her working as a member of the teaching staff. Laura has successfully passed her ISTD FDI teaching qualifications and is working extensively for the school. Laura teaches our ballet, tap, modern and contemporary classes. Laura runs our successful Performance Extension Programme and runs the classes on Friday at Aston Clinton.
Teacher – Ciara Hodgkiss
Ciara joins me Eaton Bray on Tuesday. Ciara has trained under Miss Penny Meekings (an ISTD examiner) having gained her DDE ISTD teaching qualifications in Modern and Tap dance. Ciara teaches our modern, tap and street classes and our after school club at Eaton Bray Academy.
Teacher – Caroline Burke
Caroline trained in a small Hertfordshire school growing up and then with Anna Morgan for her DDEs in Imperial Classical Ballet, Tap and Modern Theatre. She also holds an English Literature/Film Degree from The University of Kent. Caroline teaches in our Weston Turville classes with Laura.
Teacher – Emma Craddock
Emma began her training at 3 years old, as a student of the shcool under the teaching of Jo and Laura until she was 18. Emma trained professionally at Creative Academy where she gained a BA(Hons) in Dance. Since then she has gained her DDE teaching qualification and has been enjoying teaching many genres including Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Commercial, Musical Theatre and Acro. She has enjoyed performing at many venues around the UK, including The Royal Albert Hall and Trafalgar Square. She is thrilled to now be teaching at the school.
Teacher – Keira Grimsdale
Keira started dancing from the age of 2 and attender her local dance academy until she was 18. Alongside this Keira also attended City of Oxford College where she completed a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dance. Keira then graduated from MPAA where she trained in Musical Theatre Performance and dance teacher training where she obtained her DDE in ISTD tap and modern. Since graduating Keira has also obtained her Acrotrix Level 1 qualification.
Here are a few familiar faces you might recognise . . .
Cydnie Allen
Dancing since a young age Cydnie was an associate of the Royal Ballet school in Leeds. She holds a degree in Performing Arts and has taken many RAD training courses. Cydnie will be working with Jo on a Saturday morning at Stoke Mandeville.
Clovissa (Clo) Moodey
Clo danced extensively as a child and young adult and has been involved with the school for nearly 30 years. Many of our fabulous costumes were made by her and she has helped teach in Eaton Bray when sickness struck the teachers. This term she will be working alongside Jo on a Friday evening at Eaton Bray.
Laura McLeod
Having been involved with the school since a young child Laura has carried on supporting the school. She is our technical administrator and she manages our website, social media, graphical design, our newsletter and when it is show time you will find her backstage as our stage manager.