South London Dance School Teachers

Miss Zoe began teaching at her local dance school aged 15 and trained as a dancer / dance teacher in ISTD, RAD and IDTA. She later trained as an actress at LAMDA.

Her first performing job was in the Royal National Theatre’s production of ‘Oklahoma!’ with Hugh Jackman and Maureen Lipman, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Susan Stroman. The show was a great success going into the West End and being made into a film.  Her next job was ‘Of Thee I Sing’ at the Bridewell Theatre, choreographed by Stephen Mear.  She then went on to perform in other London based and touring musicals as well as working as an actress in TV and film.

In 2002 Miss Zoe decided she wanted to teach dance again and founded Grafton Dance Academy in Dulwich with the aim of creating a dance school that catered for all abilities; ensuring that those children talented enough to consider a career as a dancer would have an excellent technical and artistic foundation training and those students attending classes purely as a hobby could achieve their personal best in a supportive and fun environment. This ethos has been successful and the school – becoming South London Dance School and securing its own premises in 2009 – now has over 750 happy and successful students.

Avalon was born in South Devon, England where she trained at her mothers dancing school. At the age of 18 she was awarded a 3 year full-time Scholarship to train at the renowned dance college Bird College, London. At the end of her 3rd year Avalon was invited to complete an internship with the American Tap Dance Foundation, NYC. From there she was accepted into Grant Swifts Tap company TeAyPe, Melbourne, Australia.

Since arriving back in London in 2010 Avalon has taken the tap scene by force, teaching, performing and mentoring many students and performers throughout the UK. Avalon has been part of The Pulse Collective, Managed by Kimberly Wyatt’s Beautiful Movements, Grounded, Mellifluous_Feat, Juggling on tap and Michele Drees: Jazz Tap Project.

Her most gratifying moment was performing in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 OLYMPICS as a tap dancing dementor!

Avalon was part of the faculty at Stockholm Tap Festival in easter 2013 and 2014, faculty for the Prague City Tap Festival, creating an Intermediate/Advanced level repertoire piece and also faculty for The Australian Tap Dance Festival, creating an Intermediate residency and performing a solo at the Gala in the summer of 2013, she was also the joint winner of  Stockholm Tap Festival ‘The Cutting Contest 2013’. Avalon performed with Ryan Campbell-Birch for the 1st Chinese-British International Film awards, Great Hall, Westminster, London.

Since the Beginning of 2014 Avalon has taken on two separate Research and Development Dance projects with Grounded and Kitch&Sync, taught and performed at Move-It.

Avalon was invited to accept one of the 25 places reserved for outstanding dancers in the 2014 Tap programme at the school at Jacob’s Pillow in Massachusetts.

Avalon was asked to join Tapestry Dance Company. North America’s only full time and paid Tap dance company In summer 2014. Avalon Recently created her own company Old Kent Road, which will premiere their new work ‘Fall out’ at Resolution! in 2015.

After Graduating from Andre Hardies School in 1980 Donald was offered a contract with the City Contemporary Dance in Company in Hong Kong, performing the Classics, and while still performing with the company, Donald taught ballet class to students dancers at the City Contemporary Studios.

Returning to London, Donald was asked to join Dublin City Ballet in their performances of Nutcracker, Coppelia, and various Modern works. During this time he taught the Company class and students of the Irish National College of Dance and also open Ballet Jazz classes to the general public.

Donald founded the Chambers Jazz Dance Company which he choreographed and performed throughout Ireland including various appearances on R.T.E. television.

Donald embarked on the RAD teaching course at the RAD College and after completing his training, he went on to study the ISTD Syllabus and become an examiner.  Donald has taught at Italia Conti, Performer’s College, D&B Theatre School, Central School of Dance Brentwood.

 Miss Taylor has just arrived from Australia where she has been training as a dancer and teaching dance to children.  She is currently working towards her ballet teaching qualification and will be joining our Saturday teaching team as a teacher and assistant

Miss Kirsty is a contemporary teacher and dancer. She received her 1st class honours degree at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance before completing an international tour with London Contemporary Dance School’s post-graduate company EDge, continuing to receive an MA in Performance.

She has performed professionally for a range of choreographers including Seke Chimuntengwende, Chilean company Jose Vidal and Co, has worked in The Place Prize and the English National Opera. She has been involved in independent projects with the BBC Symphony Orchestra Outreach at the Barbican in the UK, and Places to Dance, a series of short films shown on BBC2. Most recently Miss Kirsty was involved in the creation and performance of The Drowned man, co-produced by Punchdrunk and The National Theatre. She has received Arts Council funding for her own choreographic work.

Miss Kirsty has taught and toured internationally, and is pleased to now be London-based and introducing Contemporary dance to the senior students at South London Dance School.

Dan trained at Dolphin Dance Studios in Liverpool. After graduating he went on to work professionally worldwide, on television shows, trade shows and with various artists, at prestigious venues such as The Royal Albert Hall and Cannes Film Festival. Other dance credits include: Rihanna (CH5), Will.I.Am (Cannes Film Festival), We Are Fashion (Westfield Shopping Mall), Sunflower Jam with Bill Bailey (Royal ALbert Hall), Mel B Dance (XBOX)(Wii), Resident dancer on Justin Lee Collins – Good Times (Tiger Aspect), Iceland (TV Commercial) and Across the Universe (Film).

Dan has Choreographed for various stage productions, television shows and corporate events, highlights include:

For The New Vic Theatre, Oliver!, Wizard Of Oz, Laurel and Hardy UK Tour and Don Giovanni. For The Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, Our Day Out The Musical.

For television: Jane MacDonald for Loose Women (ITV).

Corporate Events Include: The Bridging and Communication Awards, Debenham’s, Alton Towers Resort, Selfridges&co, Royston Blythe Hair Salon, Paramount, OK! Magazine, Hilton Hotel, SkyTV, Vogue and The Isle Of Wight Music Festival.

Dan has a huge passion for teaching, and has taught all over the U.K. for the last 8 years. Dan is happy to be part of the South London Dance Studio team.

Katie started dancing when she was just three years old at 344 Dance School in Bristol where she achieved all her ISTD examinations through to Advanced 2, as well as her teaching qualifications in Ballet, Tap and Modern.

At age eighteen, Katie was awarded a place on the three year programme at Laine Theatre Arts from where she has just graduated with a level 6 diploma in Professional Dance. Katie is now excited to pursue a career teaching dance as well as the business/administrative side of the performing arts industry.

Miss Pippa trained on a full scholarship at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Since graduating she has performed all over the world as a dancer in both Television and Theatre.

Miss Pippa appeared as Dance Captain in the German tour of Break Every Rule – Tina Das Musical and in the European Arena Tour of GREASE the Musical. Dream Clarice in ‘Silence The Musical’ for Tony Award winning Broadway choreographer Christopher Gattelli.  Two contracts as a dancer for P&O cruises where Miss Pippa also got the chance to work with and workshop a new show for Kylie Minogue’s Choreographer William A Forsythe, La Traviata for the Ukrainian National Opera, UK tour for Illusionist Guy Barrett and regularly performs around the UK and Europe in Shows, Award Ceremonies, and Events for Blue Fish Entertainment.

Television credits include: Let’s Dance for Comic Relief (BBC) Rock and Chips (BBC) the Kylie show (ITV) The Friday Night Project (Channel 4) and Adverts for Britain’s Got Talent, Hotel Chocolat, Sainsbury’s and Siemen’s.

As a teacher she has over 10 years experience and has worked all over London teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Contemporary at several London schools and colleges and has also coached children for West End Musicals and for Vocational Schools auditions.

Miss Emma graduated from The Centre Performing Arts College in 2008, achieving 3 years of professional performing and ISTD dance teacher training under the direction of Karen King.

She went on to dance on The Celebrity Constellation cruise ship with The Gary Musick Company enjoying several months travelling the Caribbean and the Baltic.

Miss Emma then started her teaching career at her local dance school in her home town Beverley, East Yorkshire. After a few years she felt it was time to venture back to London and is very happy teaching at South London Dance School as well as coordinating the festival team.

 Georgina trained in ISTD ballet, tap and modern as well as street, jazz and contemporary dance.  As a child, she performed in the local pantomime and successfully danced in competitions all over the country including at the Royal Albert Hall.  Following her A-Levels, Georgina traveled the world performing and choreographing for the family resort Club Med.  Whilst choreographing abroad, Georgina realised her love for teaching and decided to return home to complete her ISTD teaching qualifications. Georgina has recently qualified as a modern teacher and is continuing her studies in ballet and tap. Georgina has a passion for teaching and wishes to inspire young dancers and performers to follow their dreams.

Miss Jemima began dancing ballet, tap and jazz at McAlpine Dance Studio before further training in ballet under Miss Stassinopoulos at Vacani School of Dance (Cecchetti) and with Anna De Boisson at West London School of Dance. Following her training at The Royal Academy of Dance, Miss Jemima completed her BA (Hons) degree at London Contemporary Dance School.

Miss Jemima has performed a range of work under choreographers including Irek Mukhamedov, Maresa von Stockert and Richard Alston.

Miss Jemima is very excited about the opportunities to further her teaching career at South London Dance School.

Miss Chloe started dancing at the age of five at Deborah Capon School of Dance, giving her the chance to compete and perform, both locally and nationally.  After studying for her A-levels, she was offered a place on the one year course at Bird College, where she trained in various styles of dance and theatre performance.  Miss Chloe then returned to Deborah Capon School Dance College to complete her ISTD Teaching qualifications and now teaches at dance various schools around Kent.  Miss Chloe was awarded a ‘Premiere Special Commendation’ at the 2015 ISTD Star Tap Awards and is now part of Tap Attack.  Miss Chloe is excited to be teaching various styles of dance both children, baby ballet, melody movement and adults at South London Dance School.

Liam trained on the three-year diploma course as a dancer / musical theatre performer / dance teacher at The Centre Performing Arts College. Upon graduation Liam danced for Carnival Cruise Lines and other major clients such as Playstation 3, V Festival, BBC Three, Plan B Productions, The Flashmob and One Direction. Liam has also represented Studio 68 London as a dancer and is currently performing with B Supreme Company B which is based in Brixton.

Liam is still performing alongside teaching dance and gymnastics.  As a teacher Liam strives to cater for every level and every child’s individual needs whilst motivating and giving them the opportunity to let themselves go from fear.  He hopes his students will learn something new each week, and most importantly smile and have fun in his classes.

Lorraine gained the LGSM Teaching at the Guildhall School of Speech and Drama and a BA (Hons) in Community Theatre at Portsmouth University.  From 1990 to 2000 she held the post of training director at South London Theatre.  She then taught drama in Singapore for two years. Since returning to England she has worked on a number of teaching, acting and directing projects. Acting roles include Kath – “Entertaining Mr Sloan” and Lizzie Jackson – “Roofing the County of Surrey with Crystal”.  In 2013 she performed at the Camden Festival and Edinburgh Festival in “Very Still And Hard To See”.  Directing credits include “Skellig”, “Brandy” and “Experiment With An Airpump”

Jack’s stage work include City of Glass (59 Productions, Lyric Hammersmith and HOME Manchester), BRENDA (HighTide and The Yard), Coram Boy (National Theatre), A Doll’s House and Rats’ Tales (Royal Exchange Theatre), Beasts and Beauties (Hampstead Theatre and Bristol Old Vic), The Merchant of Venice and Twelfth Night (Propeller), Afore Night Come (Young Vic), An Inspector Calls (Garrick Theatre, West End), A Month in the Country and Troilus and Cressida (Royal Shakespeare Company). Screen credits include The Imitation Game, Doctor Who and The Genius of Mozart. For Presence Theatre he has directed staged readings of The Deep, Emperor Fukushima, Now That’s What I Call Music, The Frugal Horn and The Returnings and conceived and co-created The Animal (You)  for CHORALE – A Sam Shepard Roadshow. He has taught drama at East 15, Ludwig  Maximilian University Munich, Oxford University, The Old Vic and youth theatres across London.