South London Dance School Staff

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 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.

As a child, Tilly performed in many professional touring productions in Nottingham’s Theatre Royal and her Christmases were spent dancing in pantomimes at Newark Palace Theatre.  She was also a teaching assistant for her own dance teacher at Tozer Studios and this is where she discovered her love of teaching dance.

After A-levels, Tilly began professional training in dance and musical theatre at Performers College and during this time she obtained her ISTD teaching qualifications.

Since graduating from Performers College, Tilly has been teaching ballet, tap and modern back where her own dancing journey began, at Tozer Studios. Tilly loves being a part of the teaching faculty and administration team at South London Dance School, inspiring a new generation of young dancers with her passion for teaching and choreography.

Ellie trained at Bright Sparks Performers and with them performed as a child in many professional productions including pantomimes at the Hackney Empire and several TV adverts.  At the age of 16, she began full-time dance and musical theatre training at Performers College, graduating with a Level 6 National Trinity Diploma.

Ellie has performed professionally for Dreamworks ‘Penguin of Madagascar Live!’, the London 2012 Olympic Games and in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Pantomime at the Shaw Theatre where she was also given the responsibility of Dance Captain. Within this role when she looked after and taught the Juvenile dancers, Ellie discovered her enjoyment and passion for teaching young people and so she decided to take her ISTD teaching qualifications in modern and tap. As a teacher, Ellie hopes to inspire the next generation of young dancers and performers to follow their passion just as she has.

Tony trained as a professional dancer at The Royal Academy of Dancing and Bush Davies School where he won The Dancing Times Award for Choreography.

Tony went on to have a successful career as a professional ballet, jazz, musical theatre and commercial dancer.  His credits are extensive as a dancer, dance captain and choreographer, including ‘Miss Saigon’, ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’, ‘West Side Story’, ‘Theme and Variations’ and Stravinsky’s ‘Rite of Spring’.

After retiring as a performer, Tony qualified as a teacher with the ISTD gaining his Licentiate in Imperial Classical Ballet with Distinction. Tony has taught boys and girls of all ages and abilities and strives for his students to be the very best dancers they can.

Avalon Rathgeb graduated from Bird College in 2009 after studying on a 3 year full time scholarship. Recipient of two internships from the American Tap Dance Foundation 2009/11, Grant Swift’s TeAyPe (Melbourne, Australia) 2009-10, a scholarship for the Los Angeles Tap Festival 2012, winner of the 2013 cutting contest at Stockholm Tap Festival, invited to accept 1 of 25 places reserved for outstanding dancers in the 2014 Tap programme at the School at Jacob’s Pillow in Massachusetts, USA. Her career highlights include: dancing in the opening ceremony of London 2012 Olympic Games, the closing ceremony of the European Games (Baku Azerbaijan) 2015, Artistic Director of ‘Old Kent Road’ 2014-current, principle dancer for ‘Tapestry Dance Company’ under the direction of Acia Gray 2017-19. Avalon has been endorsed by Ruben Sanchez DanceWear since 2014.

Avalon is the Founder and Artistic Director of London’s pre-eminent tap dance company ‘Old Kent Road’ which she founded in London in 2014 supported by Arts Council England. Their most recent work ‘OSCiLLATE’ co-choreographed by Avalon and Dre Torres premiered at the world renowned dance house Sadler’s Wells- The Lilian Baylis Theatre. OSCiLLATE has been performed over 40 times including a China tour.

Humbled to have spent 2 years performing as a principal dancer with ‘Tapestry Dance Company’, North America’s only full time and salaried tap dance company Texas, USA. Under the direction of Acia Gray Avalon performed and toured shows including: ‘Just Tap’, ‘Mice and Music- A Jazz Tap Nutcracker’, ‘April Fools’, ‘Sound and Silence’, ‘Passing it Forward- The American Dream?’ and ‘The Souls of our Feet’.

As a solo artist Avalon frequently teaches and performs internationally for tap festivals and events including; Taptastic (Germany), Australian Tap Festival, TapUnited (USA), Tanzhaus (Germany), Riff Dallas (USA). Avalon was invited to create a show ‘K-Tap’ in Kuwait in collaboration with LAPA LOYAC and ‘Plaza’ as a movement director for Central School of Speech and Drama (UK).

In the UK is currently on Faculty at Arts Educational, Performers College and Pineapple Dance Studios and South London Dance Studios. Avalon’s passion for creation within tap dance originates in theatre through identity, current/political climate, communication and relationships. Her work has significantly contributed to tap dance being presented on stage within the UK and further afield.

Daisy Smalley-Nicholson trained at The Brit School and Performers College, going on to work as a professional performer in touring productions, in pantomimes and in Disneyland Paris.

Daisy discovered a passion for teaching dance, drama and musical theatre whilst working with children in nurseries and primary schools between performance jobs.  She chose to train as a dance teacher, gaining her DDE qualifications in ISTD modern and tap.

Daisy has trained children who have successfully become associates of the Royal Ballet School, performers with London Children’s Ballet and have been awarded scholarships for full-time training at top vocational performing arts schools.

Daisy is dedicated to enabling and encouraging her students to achieve their full potential in dance as well as enjoying the process and developing confidence.  Daisy is keen to teach a range of levels, ages and dance genres to continue to further her qualifications and experience.

Aimee trained at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, London. She further trained in clowning with Philippe Gaulier, Paris, in Commedia dell ‘Arte with Antonio Fava, Italy, in physical theatre with Atelier Teatro Fisico, Italy and with FLIC circus school, Reale Società Ginnastica di Torino in aerial hoop.

She has performed as Queen Titania in ’A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ TNT Theatre’s castle tour where she toured Japan, China and Europe and in the spoof comedy ‘Twist’ in the South of France, Cannes.

Other credits include: Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Belle in A Christmas Carol, Mina Murray in Dracula, Nina in the European premiere of Haymarket a New Folk Musical, Toad in Wind in the Willows and Mary Poppins in The Hard Comedy Sketch Show. She has worked for Academy Films, featuring in Tinie Tempah’s music video and in the BBC Drama ‘Coming Down the Mountain’ as well as featuring in ‘School for Stars’ on CBBC.

Aimee enjoys exploring and bringing something new to a piece of music or script and is very fuelled by ideas that can spark between people organically through improvisation, focus and play. She has worked extensively in Italy performing and teaching musical theatre to young people all over the country and has held workshops in China (including the International Cultural Centre, in Nanjing by Zaha Hadid), Japan and Germany.

Aimee loves the beautiful connections between people that theatre offers and it truly inspires her that theatre can transcend language, age, culture and class, and so, so much more.

As a passionate teacher, Yasmin is thrilled to be joining the SLDS team. Her energetic and encouraging teaching style provides a safe space for everyone to explore and unlock their creative potential.

She began training in classical styles at a young age, including modern and ballet, where she passed her RAD examinations with a distinction. She then branched out to street and commercial styles and later discovered a passion for teaching.

Dance works include Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells as a member of BirdGang Dance Company. Yasmin has also worked professionally as an actress, landing a lead role in Liberty Global’s 2017 TV advert.

Her teaching experience spans across all age groups and abilities. She regularly choreographs and teaches for competition crews, at summer workshops and for primary and secondary schools. Most recently, Yasmin has taught at Base Dance Studios in London and has also held a weekly teaching slot at one of the UK’s national centres for dance, Dance East in Ipswich.

Kayley started dancing from the age of 4 at Maria Anderson School of Dance, where she also participated in All England Dance Festivals and performed in professional pantomimes. She went on to train at Performance Preparation Academy where she graduated with a Diploma in Musical Theatre. She has performed in productions including The Producers and Dames at Sea, in which she was also Dance Captain.

Kayley completed her ISTD Teaching Qualifications at The Urdang Academy and she loves sharing her passion for dance and the performing arts with the students at South London Dance School.

Luca is a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher who is originally from Italy. It was his passion for music that brought him, at the age of 11, to his very first dance training session in breaking and in 2011, he moved to London, where he was offered a scholarship at Stella Mann College of Performing Arts.

Following graduation, Luca’s dance credits have included Lewis Capaldi, Britain’s Got Talent, BBC, HP, Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony, AKBANK, Tezenis, Ralph Lauren, Costa Cruises, Norwegian Cruises, Fringe Festival, Rambert, The Place, Move It, JBL and many more. Choreography credits include Dubai EXPO 2020, John Newman, Diaframma SRL (Italy) and weekly professional classes at Base Dance Studios.

Ciera trained for four years at the Brit School for Performing Arts, 1 year at The Urdang Academy and 3 years at D&B Performing Arts. Ciera worked professionally as Ensemble in Evita UK Tour, Principal Dancer and Understudy Tinkerbell in Peter Pan with UK Productions, Princess Jasmine in Aladdin Pantomime with touring company Chaplis, played Cinderella, Ariel and Rapunzel in Disneyland Paris, Dancer (Let’s Dance for Comic Relief) and Body Double for Hit Girl (Kick Ass 2). Photographic credits include Ford and Stub Hub. Ciera also worked as a Crystal Palace Cheerleader.

Ciera is a qualified ISTD tap and modern teacher and loves passing on her passion for performing through her teaching. She has entered children for their ISTD exams and has choreographed for numerous shows.

Ciera has been an examination administrator at South London Dance School since 2018 and loves the challenge of organising huge examination sessions for our students. It is especially rewarding when we receive such high standards of results and makes all the hard work worth it!

Kirsty comes from Glasgow, Scotland and holds her ISTD Diploma in Dance Education. She has passed her ISTD Cecchetti ballet exams up to and including Advanced 2 level and has completed courses with Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Elmhurst School for Dance and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures.

Kirsty has just graduated with a first class degree from Bird College, where she professionally trained in various genres of dance and musical theatre.

She recently performed as a dancer in the opening of ‘Move It’ at the ExCeL centre and was a featured ensemble member in the musical ‘Follies’ at the Doreen Bird Foundation Theatre.

Kirsty loves sharing her passion for dance with the students at South London Dance School.

Semra has danced since the age of six, for many years competing in dance festivals and performing at Sadler’s Wells and the Royal Albert Hall. She also loved assisting her own teachers in dance classes for the younger children.

At the age of 14, she began training at the Brit School for Performing Arts, achieving a Diploma in Dance as well as her A-Levels. While studying at the Brit School she was given the fabulous opportunity to perform at the Brit Awards alongside P!NK!

Semra graduated from the University of Roehampton where she achieved a BA Honours in contemporary dance and dance science. During this time, her passion for teaching grew through teaching commercial dance.

Semra is in the final stages of completing her ISTD Teaching Qualifications in tap and modern.  She loves being a part of a busy and dynamic dance school and teaching the wonderful children at South London Dance School.

Katie grew up in Surrey, and went to train at Arts Educational, Tring at the age of 16. She completed her training at London Contemporary Dance School, where she performed works by choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Richard Alston and Kerry Nichols.

In 2012 she danced in the London Olympics Closing Ceremony. She has since worked in both the UK and Europe, freelancing as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. She has taught and choreographed for Die Freiburg Tanz Akademie, Danceworks Berlin, and the Institute of the Arts Barcelona. In Germany she has worked for choreographers such as Canan Erek and Elisabeth Schilling, and danced in operas for Staatsoper Berlin. She has also created her own work both for stage and film.

Katie thoroughly enjoys teaching, and is delighted to be able to share her passion for movement with a wide range of dance students at SLDS.

Karen trained at the ‘Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts’, for three years. Gaining her AISTD qualifications in Ballet, Tap and Modern with Distinction.

She then went on to perform in various Television, Theatre and Commercial projects, as dancer, backing singer, then assistant choreographer and associate director. Including, Westlife (World
Tours) Dance Captain; Lionel Richie (European Tour backing singer/dancer);Royal Variety Show (2000, 2002 & 2004), and Kylie Minogue (Uk Tour).

She has worked along side Gary Lloyd (Director Choreographer ‘Thriller- Live’ Westend) as Assistant Choreographer on various projects including American Idol (USA Tours 2003 & 2004);
Ant and Dec Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV) and Kim Gavin (Take That, Olympic closing ceremony).

Karen was also Associate Choreographer of The Genius of Ray for the original production in the USA and went on to become Resident Choreograher/ Director for the Westend run at The Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Karen’s teaching credits include ‘Laine Theatre Arts’ (Master classes and audition technique), ‘London Studio Centre’ (Full time Jazz/Street teacher and choreography teacher), Urdang and
Bird College.

She went on to run a successful business for 10 yrs, delivering dance sessions to Primary Schools within the Bromley area. This led her to become an Ambassador for Rambert Grades where she partnered with London Youth Games to introduce a focused Dance Programme for all London Schools.

Karen is delighted to be joining the SLDS team.