Teacher Info Miss Vanessa - Principal Vanessa started dancing at 4 years old,1977. She is a one-school woman, having remained with the same school for the whole of her dancing career. She was a successful dancer herself winning many trophies and appearing in countless shows. She took all her dancing exams with Miss Davies, and then studied for and took her teaching exams with the school. Finally she achieved her life-long ambition when she became principal of the school in August 2003. Vanessa loves teaching and does not mind spending time on a dance because the end result is so rewarding - 'you cannot get a good cake without a good mixture'. She is justifiably proud of the school and it's students, and is very grateful to Miss Davies for giving her these skills, which she is now passing on to the students of today. Miss Tesh - Senior Teacher Miss Tesh is another who started dancing before being old enough to go to school. She was also trained by Miss Davies, and again studied and took her teaching exams while a member of the school. Like Miss Vanessa the school is in her blood, she also chose to stay at the school and train to become a teacher. Steve Pritchett - Singing and Musical Theatre Steve studied at University College Bretton Hall and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Contemporary Music from the University of Leeds. He has worked extensively as a musical thatre repertoire coach, vocal coach, musical director, vocal arranger, and musical theatre historian at many of the UK's finest theatrical institutions. These include: Arts Ed, the Bird College, the Birmingham Theatre School, the Central School of Speech and Drama, the Conservatoire for Acting and Musical Theatre (incorporating the Guilford school of Acting), Italia Conti and many more. Orchestral credits: many workshops with many practitioners, including: Helen Hobson (Heathcliffe), Harriet Thorpe (Absolutely Fabulous) Sherrie Hewson (Coronation Street) and Glyn Kerslake (Phantom). Various orchestral projects have included: Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the Dominion, Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, student preparation for a master class with Ruthie Henshall as part of the Master-Class season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and many more. Drama school productions have included Annie Get Your Gun, A Chorus Line, Chicago, Cabaret and Oh! What a Lovely War. Julia Gaunt - Patron Julia's web site Joolsmusicbiz.com Julia is a soloist, choral member, musical director, conductor, co-producer, vocal coach and accompanist. She has performed at the Albert Hall, Llangollen International Eisteddfod and the Teeside International Music Festival plus many others. She has worked with youth theatre groups on many productions and as a musical direcotr has been involved in numerous shows including the favourites - Pliver, Annie, Blitz and many, many more including some serious opera and comic opera. She is Joint Head of Music at a Performing Arts College where she teaches on both the musical theatre and pop course. She also guest teaches at a number of schools and colleges around the UK and has recently taught Musical Theatre on a Lifelong Learning Porgramme at Leicester University. In 2004 she worked on a very sccessful showcase, shich was performed at the Criterion Theatre in London. Julia also acts as a consultant to schools and colleges.   Derek Hartley - Tap Dance and Musical Theatre Derek's web site Stepsandnotes Over many years hast taught at just about all of the major colleges and has built a repertoire of material with a large range in Musical Theatre and Dance. Choreographed for Colleges: Chicago, A Chorus Line, scenes from The Lion King, Joseph, Ragtime, Little Shop, Oklahoma and Chitty. A very fast musical and movement arranger, his staging is effective and clear, and with his own unique way. Countless other numbers for College shows here, in Europe and in the USA and has numerous tv commercials, feature films, festivals, cabaret and even opera for Opera North, a Kurt Weill production of Love Life. West End choreographer The Entertainer and at the London Palladium for concert production of My One and Only. Also the UKs best known freelance tap choreographer and innovator. Has had FOUR tap dance companies and with performances on television and radio. Tap dubbing for the major feature film A Chorus Line and for David Bowie in Absolute Beginners Prolific stylist from Rhythm Tap to Jazz to Show and the Pineapple Dance Centres original success story, teaching his own style tap dance for 25 years.   Kirsty Magill - Pilates Teacher Kirsty has worked in the fitness industry for over 13 years, and has taught Group exercise for 11 years. She has trained in both Fitness and Statt Pilates and tries to make the classes enjoyable, fun and challenging. The aim of the class is to identify basic postural imbalances, and the Pilates based exercises will increase muscular balance and strength, improve posture and help us to function occupationally and recreationally.