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LAURA BEARDMORE

Teacher : Ballet Technique

Laura began dancing with Angela Beardmore’s school of dance at the age of 3 and this is where she gained her love of dance.  She gained a BBO scholarship at the age of 11 and a Royal Ballet Senior Associate place at 13.  She also completed five seasons with National Youth Ballet, where she danced the role of Little Alice in Wayne Sleeps Alice in Wonderland.

Laura then went on to train at Central School of Ballet and danced in their touring company. Following one of these performances of Northern Ballet Theatre’s “Fireside pas de deux” she was cited as a “New Name” to look out for in the Nationwide Dance Awards.  While still a student she was chosen to dance with the Kirov Ballet Company at The Royal Opera house.

She then professionally went to work with theensemblegroup in Edinburgh, Scottish Ballet performing in Ashley Page’s Nutcracker, English National Ballet (Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet) New English Contemporary Ballet, Valencia Spain TTG (Natcho Duato, leading Roles) and Scottish Opera.

Laura has over 15 years teaching experience and teaches for numerous dance schools in the Staffordshire area.  She has organised and taught ballet workshops around the country and toured with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Education department.

 

Miss Laura teaches all of the Ballet Technique Classes for our Ballet Associates. 

PENNY MCCANN

Principal

BA (HONS) Dance.  BBO-ATS

Penny started dancing at 2.5 years old, firstly studying Ballet & Tap, and then progressed to Jazz, National and Modern styles.  After completing her A-Levels, she decided to further her dance passion and education and went to study Contemporary Dance at York St John University, graduating in 2007 with a BA (hons) in Dance.  

 

Whilst at University, weekly ballet classes were also taken at the Northern Ballet School in Leeds, and  intensive courses at the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars, and the BBO dance days at White Lodge, London. She was also chosen for a ballet solo in the Opera ‘Aida’ at the York Theatre Royal, and then went on to perform in ‘The Nutcracker’ with the English Youth Ballet. 

 

After graduating, Miss Penny followed her lifelong ambition to become a dance teacher.  She trained with the BBO and completed her Level 4 Diploma in Dance Teaching in 2010.  This Approved Teacher Status enables her to teach the BBO syllabus and enter students for exams.  She started teaching directly after completing her Teaching Diploma  in 2010, and then opened her dance school 'Penny's Dance Academy' in 2011.  5 Years later, the perfect location and dance school was founded - 'Oak Tree Dance Studio', with fantastic facilities, and more dance classes on offer.


Dance has always been her passion, she has always loved everything to do with it; from performing, to spectating! Dance is more than just a hobby for children; not only is it fantastic exercise, it teaches correct posture and alignment, increases confidence, children gain performance skills and it also teaches discipline & musicality whilst gaining friends for life.

 

Miss Penny's teaching approach is to teach in a fun yet disciplined manner so children can enjoy learning different dance styles; children will learn best when they are confident, relaxed and enjoying the class!

Miss Penny teaches the Conditioning Classes for our Ballet Associates.

KEI JONES

Teacher : Body Conditioning & Ballet Repertoire

Born in Japan, Kei Akahoshi started ballet at the age of 4. After a successful audition, aged 14, she came to UK to study at Elmhurst Ballet School.  Kei then progressed her training at the English National Ballet School at the age of 16.

 

She was offered a professional contract to work with UK’s largest International Touring Ballet Company at the age of 18 with the English National Ballet. 

Kei was promoted to Junior Soloist during her 13 years career as a Ballerina. She danced all over the world, performing over 30 different Classical and Contemporary Dance Productions.  Collaborating with the best dancers of the generation including Alina Cojocaru, Vadim Muntagirov, Akram Khan, Flawless and more. 

Currently Kei teaches Ballet, Contemporary, Stretch and Private Lessons at Newcastle-under-lyme.  She is also the Senior and Upper Mid Ballet Teacher at Ballet Boost.

Miss Kei teaches the Ballet Repertoire Classes to our Ballet Associates.

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