Charis Holdsworth - Tap
BA (Hons); FISTD Tap; Body Control Pilates
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.
Penny Woodman - Ballet
ISTD LISTD(DDE); RAD RTS
Penny has been teaching ballet for 27 years, helping and encouraging students to enjoy dancing across a wide range of ages and abilities (from under-fives/Pre-Primary to Advanced 2 students). During her career, she has taught at several different schools across East and West Sussex, as well as vocational colleges. She holds the Level 6 Diploma in Dance Pedagogy (DDP).
Choreography is also a passion and over the years, Penny has worked with local societies in Worthing, Crawley, Littlehampton and Brighton on shows, pantomime, even one opera. Particular favourites have been West Side Story (Pavilion Theatre, Worthing; Theatre Royal, Brighton), La Cage aux Folles (Theatre Royal, Brighton), Carousel (Hawth Theatre, Crawley), Oliver (Theatre Royal, Brighton).
Penny also delivers dance classes for people suffering with Parkinson’s Disease.
Carol Vasko - Unit 5
Dip LCD, FISTD & Examiner, RAD Reg
Carol trained at London College of Dance, where she studied a variety of dance genre. She was trained by Tereza Theodoulou, Victoria Chappell, Katie Morea and Myra Tiffin. She graduated with Distiction for Teaching Studies and was awarded the Audrey MacBeath Shield for Most Promising Teacher.
She started her career in Canada, as Head of Ballet at the Northwestern Ontario Dance Studio. Upon returning to the UK she freelanced in some of the most respected dance studios in Hampshire, developing her skills and undertaking a range of CPD courses to be sure that she stays up to date with current teaching methodology, styles and issues. She has been a teacher at the Southsea School of Dancing since 1996; and in September 2009 took on the additional role of Principal of the Hayling Dance Academy an is enjoying the challenge that this brings.
Carol is a Fellow of the ISTD, and an examiner for the society. She holds Fellowship status in Classical Greek Dance, Licentiate status in Imperial Classical Ballet, and DDE in Modern, Tap & National Dance. She is also a Registered Teacher (RAD Reg) of the Royal Academy of Dance and is experienced in preparing and entering dancers for the GCSE and A level examinations in Dance.
Carol has a special interest in Classical Greek Dance. She fell in love with this form of dance because of its diversity, freedom of movement and the opportunities for creativity it offers.
Carol is an examiner for the Classical Greek Dance Faculty, and is current Vice Chairman having served on the Faculty Committee for over ten years. She is responsible for syllabi review; the provision of Courses of Study and the delivery of Teacher Training. She is frequently asked to give lectures and workshops in this dance style within the UK and Europe; regularly teaches on the Classical Greek Summer Schools; gives lectures and presents demonstrations at ISTD Congresses.
Carol's main aim is to provide all students who study with her a sound technical grounding and an essential understanding of the mechanics of dance technique. from there, artistry and individuality can be explored with integrity and personality.
Liz Hewson
Liz began piano and composition aged 4 and went on to study with Alan Richardson at the Royal Academy of Music, followed by a few years in music publishing. She began working as pianist/musical director in the '80s for ballet classes and theatre productions, as well as a brief but glittering episode of pop "stardom" on Top of the Pops and in France. Since '91 Liz has composed and played for the ISTD London Mabel Ryan and Southern awards and accompanied the grades video and later the inter-foundation/grades dvd. She plays for regular ballet classes at various schools and enjoys extensive freelance exam accompaniment around the country, as well as playing her beloved chamber music.
