Teachers

Principal

Holly Mayer

Trained Vocationally at Elmhurst School for dance in association with the Birmingham Royal Ballet and Laine Theatre Arts.

National Diploma in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. NDPD.

Royal Ballet Junior Associate and Senior Associate.

Qualified Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance RAD RTS

 Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance ARAD -Advanced 2 Distinction.

Qualified Teacher with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing ISTD.

 Qualified Teacher Progressing Ballet Technique PBT.

 Qualified Acrobatic Arts Instructor.

 

Holly began dancing at the age of 3 and fell in love with ballet at an early age. Holly danced at ‘Jenny Brennan School of dance’ near her home town in Staffordshire. She followed the RAD Ballet syllabus and the ISTD Modern and Tap syllabus, gaining distinctions at all levels.Whilst training at Jenny Brennan School of dance Holly was a Junior and Senior Associate of the Royal Ballet School. She also had lots of performance experience dancing with English Youth ballet and National Youth Ballet. Holly was a Juvenile dancer at Stafford Pantomime for many years. Holly also danced in many Festivals and was very successful winning many medals and trophies. She also competed in the ISTD Janet Cram awards in 2000, where she won the ‘Outstanding Dance Award’. At 16 years of age. Holly then went on to train at a top Vocational Ballet school Elmhurst School for Dance in association with the Birmingham Royal Ballet in Birmingham. Holly then decided to broaden her experience by going on to train at musical Theatre college Laine Theatre arts in Epsom Surrey. Holly Graduated in 2006 with a National Diploma in Professional Dance (NDPD).

Holly then went on to dance professionally and performed in many shows. Amongst her many credits she danced in the feature film Nine (based on the Broadway musical) in 2008 director Rob Marshall, alongside stars such as Daniel Day Lewis, Judy Dench, Nicole Kidman and Sophia Loren.

In 2009 Holly became a freelance dance teacher teaching all over Surrey and London. Holly taught adults and children of all ages including preschool movement at several nurseries e.g ‘The Mouse House’ in Wandsworth. and Dicky Birds in Wimbledon. Teaching dance became her new passion! Holly then went on to do teacher training with the Royal Academy of Dance on the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies course, giving her Registered Teacher Status with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD RTS) in 2013.  Holly also trained with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing where she gained her ISTD qualifications. Holly is also a certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor and Progressing Ballet technique teacher.

 

                                   Our logo is Miss Holly! 


 

Laura

Cooper

Trained Vocationally at Performers college.

National Diploma in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. NDPD.

Qualified Teacher with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing 

Qualified Teacher Progressing Ballet Technique PBT.

Dance World Cup Finalist.

Laura began her training at the Liz Robinson School of Dancing and became passionate about dance from an early age, competing at festivals in the UK and internationally, including the Dance World Cup finals. She continued her training at Performers College, graduating in 2014 with a Diploma in Dance Theatre along with her ISTD DDI examinations. Laura is also a registered teacher in Progressing Ballet Technique. Laura’s professional credits include dancing for the FA cup final at Wembley Arena, ‘One Night Only’ at the London Palladium, Paul Roberts ‘The Tide’ and the 2014 film ‘Cuban Fury’. Since then she has enjoyed teaching both the RAD and ISTD syllabus students both in the Channel Islands and across London. 


 

Cara Balfe

Qualified Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance 

BA (HONS) Ballet Education and Licentiate (LRAD) 

 

Cara has been in ballet classes since the age of three, having started her journey at the Wicklow School of Dance in Ireland. This is where she completed many Royal Academy of Dance exams up to Grade 8 and intermediate. Along with ballet, Cara has trained in jazz and contemporary. 

Cara has recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance BA (Hons) in Ballet Education degree and the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance, where she learned the entirety of the RAD syllabi, and gained the deepest understanding of it. This degree allowed her to learn about many aspects of dance including science, history, analysis, teaching, and performance. During this time, Cara achieved her Advanced 1 examination, specialised in choreography for her final year, and performed in shows such as the 2023 Sharing of Work and Graduation show. 

In 2023, Cara had the incredible opportunity to assist and teach at the London Children’s Ballet whilst preparing for their production of Snow White. Cara worked alongside the director and lead choreographer, Gavin McCaig. This opportunity allowed Cara to observe the work it takes to build an entire show beginning to end in the preparations for it being seen on a West End stage. Cara has also worked in many dance schools across London where she has grown her experience, expertise, and love for teaching. Cara has a passion for helping you not only grow your love for dance but also for helping you grow stronger and enhance your self-esteem in the dance space and beyond.


 

VICTORIA MATTHEWS

Trained Vocationally at Bird College (Conservatoire for dance and musical Theatre 

BA HONS Dance and Theatre Performance

Victoria trained at Bird College graduating in 2012 with a Degree in Dance and Theatre Performance.

Dancing since the age of 3 Victoria has trained in Contemporary, Ballet, Pas de Reux Jazz, Tap and Musical Theatre.

Since graduating she has been travelling the world, starting in Paris at Disney and then moving onto Royal Caribbean for 5 years. She has performed in an array of different shows such as “Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme”, “Boogie Wonderland” and an Argentine Tango – “Tango Buenos Aires”. Musical Theatre and Ballet were her first passions.

Victoria is thrilled to share her knowledge and support you all into the world of Dance.


 

DANIELLE GREETHAM

Trained Vocationally at Laine Theatre Arts.

National Diploma in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. NDPD.

Qualified Teacher with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing ISTD.

 Qualified Teacher with Darcey Bussell Diverse Dance mix DDMIX 

Danielle began dancing at the age of 3 at Gaynor Walters School of dance in Devon, studying various genres including, ballet, modern, tap, national and jazz. Danielle competed in numerous competitions at a young age including the Janet Cram awards, ballet awards, pantomimes, shows and festivals.

 

Danielle’s passion for dance grew and at the age of 16 auditioned for various full time colleges. She gained a full scholarship and went on to study for three years at the Laine Theatre Arts School in Epsom. After completing 3 years Danielle was awarded the Trinity National Diploma in Professional Dance. 

 

For two consecutive years during her time at Laine, Danielle auditioned and went on to dance on stage at the Royal Variety Performance. Upon leaving Laine theatre arts she travelled and danced on various cruise lines including Carnival Cruises. Danielle then went on to complete her Level 4 Diploma in Dance Instruction (DDE) teacher training for the ISTD for both tap and modern theatre. 

Since completing her teacher training Danielle has taught for various dance schools in the Surrey area. Following her teaching career, Danielle has gone on to study and complete the City & Guilds Diploma in Digital Marketing Level 3, to strengthen interest and knowledge of using the digital / social media space. 


 

SOFIA ZUSI

Training  ArtsEd

Currently studying at London Studio Centre 

BA HONS Theatre Dance (2025)