Charis Holdsworth - Tap
Charis completed her professional dance training at Bird College, and gained a first-class honours degree in Dance and Theatre Performance.
After leaving college, Charis worked as a professional dancer and dance captain in contemporary, cabaret and commercial shows. Her career as a dancer allowed her to work with a variety of choreographers and enabled her to travel throughout Europe, South America, Asia and South Africa.
Charis holds the ISTD Level 4 Certificates of Dance Education in Ballet, Tap and Modern Dance and is also a qualified Body Control Pilates Instructor. She currently teaches at the Drusilla Duffill Theatre School in Burgess Hill, Grace Dance Academy in Worthing, and also runs her own adult tap and Pilates classes.
Charis enjoys choreographing and has had the pleasure of creating pieces for Brighton Dance Diversion and Sussex Youth Ballet Company. She is looking forward to getting creative with the Dance2Advance students and to share her love of tap dance with them.
Robyn Baker - Ballet
Aged 16 Robyn was awarded a full scholarship to Elmhurst Ballet School where she completed her training and graduated at 19 with a Higher National Diploma and ISTD teaching qualifications in both Ballet & Modern. Robyn went on to dance at The Grand Opera House, Belfast, with QDOS productions before joining Carnival Cruise Lines, with whom she travelled extensively for 3 years as a featured singer and dancer. On returning home in 2007, Robyn began teaching. She has continued her ISTD teachers qualifications and last year was awarded her Licentiate in Classical Ballet.
In 2010 Robyn founded Sussex Youth Ballet Company with the aim of nurturing talent and inspiring young dancers to continue with their weekly ballet classes. She has since choreographed and produced 8 original productions.
Callie Sant - Progressing Ballet Technique
Callie Roberts was born in Australia and trained under Marie Walton-Mahon (the founder of Progressing Ballet Technique) until the age of 16. After finishing all RAD exams including receiving her Solo Seal award and a silver medal at the Adeline Geneé awards Callie was offered a full scholarship to The Royal Ballet School. After graduating with honours, Callie took up a contract with Birmingham Royal ballet. Callie had 7 successful years as a professional ballerina with BRB then decided she was ready for a change. Callie is currently a freelance dancer and teacher specialising in the extremely successful 'Progressing Ballet Technique' program. Callie teaches PBT workshops for students and teachers throughout Europe.
Jodie Clark - Jazz
Jodie trained at The Roshe School and Bird College where she graduated with Distinction. While at Bird College she toured throughout the UK and Europe as part of The Bird Theatre Company. Jodie enjoyed a diverse performing career across many genres including Musical Theatre, Cabaret and Contemporary Dance throughout the UK, Europe and Worldwide on board luxury cruise liners.
Jodie is currently Assistant Director of Dance at The BRIT School where she helps run a dynamic department providing training in dance technique and its related studies. Jodie teaches a range of techniques and related subjects, She also writes, choreographs, directs and produces performance work as well as running an extensive ISTD extracurricular programme.
Jodie has choreographed corporate events for clients including Superdrug, The Lion Awards and the Edge Awards and is part of the creative team for many theatre productions in her local area including Pirates of Penzance, Scrooge, Oh What a Lovely War! and many Pantomimes. She is often involved in project work, working with a range of organisations and client groups for example the aDvANCE programme at the Royal Ballet Upper School, TEDx, Big Dance and St. Christopher’s Hospice.
Jodie has successfully gained BA (Hons.) in professional educational studies at Canterbury Christ Church University, holds QTS and Fellowship status with the ISTD and is an adjudicator member of The British and International Federation of Festivals. Jodie has taught for the ISTD Janet Cram Awards, The Dance Summer School, Scotland and was part of the original cohort for the Dance UK Dance Teacher Mentoring programme where she worked closely with a variety of industry professionals including CDET and Arts Educational Schools and continues to do so.
Damien Delaney - Musical Theatre
Training: London Studio Centre
Choreography: Pump Up My Dance (RTE TV); Asst Choreographer Alexander the Great, Warner Bros.; Ex, the Musical (Soho Theatre); Threepenny Opera (Chichester University); Carousel (Chichster University); Anything Goes (Chichester University); Rent (Chichester University); Cabaret (Chicheser University); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Chichester University); Pajama Game (Chichester University); Half A Sixpence (Chichester University); City of Angels (Chichester University); Honk (Chichester University); Babes In Arms (Chichester University); The Matchgirls (Chichester University); Sweet Charity (Chichester University); Whispering Woods (West Sussex Council); Cinderella for FFE (Manchester, Brighton & Milton Keynes).
West End: Cats (New London); Hard Times (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Tonight’s The Night (Victoria Palace); original cast member of Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace Theatre) also acting as children’s dance captain.
Other theatre includes: Half A Sixpence (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Singing in the Rain (National Theatre production UK Tour).
TV & Film: Phantom of the Opera (directed by Joel Schumacher); Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham (Bombay, India); Wind in the Willows (directed by Terry Jones); Victoria Wood Xmas Special 2009; The Sound of Musicals (BBC); Brit Awards; commercial for Supernoodles.
Damien has lectured for the IDTA at the Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House and taught at most of the accredited performing arts colleges in the UK. He is a qualified teacher with the British Ballet Organsiation with a Level 6 DTLLS.
Currently Damien is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Chichester on the Musical Theatre Triple Threat Program.
Georgina Da Silva - Tap
Georgina studied at the prestigious Bush Davies School of Dance where she gained her ISTD teaching qualifications in Ballet, Tap and Modern.Upon graduation, Georgina went on to embark on a successful career as a professional dancer.
Career highlights included dancing in the West End production of 42nd Street in London’s Drury Lane, and dancing with Wayne Sleep at a Royal Gala in the presence of Queen Elizabeth. Her professional career extended for 10 years during which time she worked as a dancer/Dance Captain on Cruise ships working with world class choreographers such as Vicki Davis and Gene Castle.
After finishing her professional career, Georgina performed in several amateur productions including the lead role in 42nd Street. She then focused on teaching and has worked with children and adult groups over the last 18 years teaching a broad spectrum of dance styles, including tap, ballet, modern and musical theatre. Whilst living in Australia she taught at 3 of Melbourne’s most renowned dance schools. More recently she has taught musical theatre at Godalming Stagecoach, Phillipa Hogans school of Dance and The Elizabeth Fenton School. She is currently runs classes at a private school in Surrey teaching both children and adults the joy of dance. She is also the choreographer for their productions.
Hayley Ovens - Contemporary
Hayley is a freelance dance artist, specialising in contemporary and community dance. She graduated with a first class honours degree in Dance Studies from University of Roehampton and went on to complete an MA in Performance at University of Chichester. She is trained in contemporary techniques Release, Limon, Cunningham and Contact Improvisation, as well as Ballet and Jazz.
As a member of Mapdance 2012, Hayley toured 13 venues and festivals performing in work by professional choreographers, Nigel Charnock, Saju Hari, Matteo Fargion, Kiera Martin and Detta Howe. Since, she has performed in professional work by CoDa Dance and Ceyda Tanc Dance across the UK. In 2014, she took part in a research trip and tour of venues across Turkey with Ceyda Tanc Dance.
Hayley has experience facilitating dance for all ages and abilities, leading creative projects in a range of community, health and educational settings. She is currently Rehearsal Director for the YMCA's Youth Dance Company in South West London, and a teaching assistant for Rambert's Dance for Dementia project, as well as running workshops and regular classes for young people. Hayley is a founding member of Ceyda Tanc Dance and is Education Manager for CTeD, the company's education strand.
Emma Cronk - Jazz
Emma's love for dance began at the age of 3 and for many years trained in all aspects of dance and performed locally in many pantomimes and summer seasons, before attending Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom on their 3yr Musical Theatre Course.
After graduating Laines with her teachers associate in Tap, Emma travelled the world with 'Spirit of the Dance and 'Spirit of Broadway' as singer/dancer and lead Irish and later moving on to become dance captain and to tutor new casts arrivals with Spirit, working alongside Brian Rogers and Alan Harding.
Emma's travels have taken her all around the world touring the U.S, Japan, Europe and the Far East for over 8 years and in 2001 having the most amazing experience of her career, performing in Soeul, Korea and Munich, Germany on Michael Jacksons 'Michael Jackson and Friends' tour.
Emma is a qualified Tap and Modern teacher with her Teachers Associate and DDI and teaches at 'Ratton Academy of Performing Arts' Eastbourne and 'A2 Arts Academy' Hove. She has a real love for Commercial Dance, American Tap and Choreography having choreographed many groups, duets and solos for various festivals and also Bugsy and Peter Pan for Young Eods in 2009 and 2010 and most recently the Rattonians 30th Anniversary Production 'West End to Broadway'.
Emma is looking forward to teaching Jazz at 'Dance2advance' and cannot wait to pass on some of her knowledge and passion for teaching.
Kim Adam - Lyrical Jazz
Regarded as an industry icon, Kim Adam has established herself as Australia's foremost dance choreographer, mentor and teacher. With an extensive portfolio of work that extends globally, Kim is always pushing the boundaries of the dance discipline and innovating in every performance, masterclass or workshop she is a part of.
Kim's unique ability as a storyteller has seen her work extensively throughout Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Domestically, Kim's work as a choreographer and performer has been highlighted by her work as a founding partner of “ Collaboration the Project” in association with Paul Malek. “Collaboration the Project” is a company that inspires and allows dancers a chance to explore various avenues of contemporary dance and choreography, since opening Collaboration they have produced numerous award-winning productions with their 2013 production “Yours Truly” winning the Victorian Dance Award for ‘Best Independent dance production’. The dedication and Love installed into “Collaboration” has grown in recognition within the professional industry. In October 2012 Kim choreographed and directed her first show “4 LETTERS” at Theatreworks and in October 2015 Kim will be presenting her second solo work ”Distorted Pictures”.
Kim’s innate ability as a communicator sees her on a daily basis inspiring the next generation of Australian dancers. Working with Australia's elite performing arts schools and programs, Furthermore, Kim is regularly invited to teach workshops throughout Australia and to adjudicate eisteddfods.
Kim Adam's ongoing professional performing credits span 15 years in the areas of film, television, music theatre and corporate performances:
“Fire and Ice” Gasworks,‘Underground Events’ ’Golf Air Airlines’ ‘Wog Boy the Movie’ (Film Victoria) ‘Bad Eggs ‘(Film Victoria). Dance credits include Michael Ralphs “Now and Then”, Crown Casino “Shared Tables”, and Disney Live shows, The Footy Show Players Review, Countdown The Arena Spectacular.
Francesca Leyland - Musical Theatre
Francesca trained at the Arts Educational School in London gaining a BA Hons Degree in musical theatre. Prior to this she trained at the Dance School of Scotland where she gained her ATCL diploma in Musical Theatre from the Trinity College London. Graduating in 2010, her first job was Les Miserables in the West End. She was lucky to be part of the 25th Anniversary concert at the 02, screened live in cinemas worldwide and on DVD and also was asked to record vocals for the Les Mis film at Pinewood studios. Since then she has performed in various other productions in London and in pantomimes across the South East. Her teaching includes various workshops for Pineapple performing arts and Les Mis workshops for various schools across the country. Francesca teaches dance for Stagecoach in Hove, and also teaches the early stages classes in Redhill, she also teaches for RAPA performing arts in Eastbourne. This Christmas she will be performing in and choreographing Snow White in Fareham (for Jordan Productions), although she still performs, she is equally passionate about her teaching.