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Meet the CDA Teaching Team


​MISS CLAIRE

PRINCIPAL
 
Miss Claire is Principal of CDA responsible for the running of the dance school.  Miss Claire's main focus is to ensure the safety of the children and the delivery of inspiring, professional and technical lessons by supporting all members of staff.  Claire organises key events in our dance calendar and liaises closely with Vice Principals and other staff including the dance committee to ensure that CDA is the very best we can be for our young dancers.  Claire is also Junior competition team lead and prepares pre-junior, junior and inter dancers for their ballet and tap examinations as well as delivering acro and jazz lessons.

Claire holds associate qualifications in BATD Stage (tap and modern) and Ballet teaching certification and is an associate member of NCDTA, as well as training and holding and completing examinations in other disciplines - ISTD, RAD, Cecchetti and was a competitive dancer.

She is a BATD and NCDTA Associate and fully qualified to teach the disciplines ballet, tap and modern as well as pointework and her training extends to other disciplines including lyrical, cheer and musical theatre.  She has completed certification in Acrobatic Arts and Acrotrix level one and two.
She qualified as a dance teacher in 2011, but has 8 years teaching experience prior to this, 6 years teaching the BATD syllabus.
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Claire has a degree in Biology and has a PGCE in secondary education, is a Lead Practitioner and NPQML certified.  She has first aid training and safeguarding training.

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MISS EMILY A

VICE PRINCIPAL
As vice principal, Miss Emily has the focus of choreography for performance pieces at external events that CDA take part in across the course of the year.  She is also competition team lead for Juniors, Inters and Senior competition team dancers and prepares our senior students for their professional examinations.  In addition to this Miss Emily is heavily involved in the training of our acro dancers and a wide range of our students in a variety of dance styles.

Miss Emily has been dancing for many year and worked her way through all of her grade work in  BATD Ballet, Tap, Modern and National achieving the top grades in all disciplines. Emily has since taken her professional examinations and achieved her Associates in both Stage (Tap & Modern) and Ballet with BATD and NCDTA.
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Miss Emily has taken her professional examination in the renowned Acrobatic Arts course and is also Acro certified.
Emily was the Dance Coach for Northumbria Northstars University team and achieved 3 National Championships and grand overall champions with this team.
Whilst training, Emily was accepted into the London Schools: Arts Education at Urdang Academy and Laine Theatre Arts to train professionally.  She also competed regionally and Nationally during her early dancing career.

Miss Emily also has a degree in psychology and a masters degree and is a huge advocate in the mental health of all of our dancers and staff and has worked as a therapist for the NHS.
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MISS LAURA

​VICE PRINCIPAL
As vice principal, Miss Laura has the focus of Business Manager and Designated Safeguarding lead along side Miss Claire.  Miss Laura is involved in the organisation of competitions, cover staff, holiday workshops and privates and safeguarding.  She is also competition team lead for Beginner competition team dancers and prepares tiny tots in our preschool classes at the very start of their dancing journey.  In addition to this Miss Laura is  involved in the training of our beginner acro dancers and inter cheer dancers.

Miss Laura started dancing when she was only 2 years old, giving her over 28 years of training to date.  She trained with NCDTA and was also a competitive freestyle dancer where she gained the title of Commonwealth Games Solo Champion.
Laura gained her foundation degree in Contemporary dance with Newcastle College and from there went to work professionally in a touring show around the UK and in a professional Pantomime.

Laura has also worked for 3 years professionally as a Choreographer/Singer and Fitness Instructor in France, working with a team of 10 to put on 3 shows a week for holiday makers.  After those three years, Laura took a job in the Lorraine Crosby band and performed as a backing singer and dancer for a year and a half touring Great Britain and now she performs solo as well as teaching dance.
Laura holds a FDA Contemporary Dance and BATD Associate qualifications and acro qualifications with Acrobatic Arts.  She is a fully qualified level 3 EYFS practitioner, currently studying for her level 5 EYFS Lead Practitioner course, is first aid trained and is SENCO including training in safeguarding.
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MISS ANYA

​SENIOR STAFF MEMBER
Miss Anya is senior dance lead and has the focus of the training of our senior level dancers in a wide variety of styles including jazz, lyrical and Pom.  In addition to choreographing for seniors, Miss Anya is also teacher to our little beginner dancers in ballet and tap and is also competition team lead for our Tots competition  team dancers.

Anya is a home grown CDA student who danced all her examinations and developed her technique and choreography skills through CDA mentoring and her work with other fellow professionals, embracing every opportunity offered to her.  Anya has always performed at the highest level and has competed representing CDA for many years as well as dancing abroad and representing industry professionals with their companies.  Anya is fully first aid trained and works in primary education in addition to teaching at CDA.  Anya has successfully obtained her Stage Associate examinations, is specially trained in early years provision and has many years of teacher training through CDA.

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MISS ALISSA

SENIOR STAFF MEMBER
Miss Alissa is cheer dance lead and has the focus of the training of our cheer team dancers in a wide range of ages and taking them to competitions to represent CDA.  She is also involved in the teaching of pre-junior classes and junior classes in acro, jazz and commercial.  Miss Alissa is also competition team lead for our Pre-Junior competition  team dancers.

Alissa completed her dance training with CDA from a young age when her dance journey began.  She completed all tap and ballet examinations as a students and has successfully completed her Associate Stage examinations.   Alissa is a fully qualified AcroTrix level 1 and 2 certified teacher delivering high quality, safe instruction in acro.  She is fully first aid trained and works in primary education in addition to teaching at CDA.  She has a lot of teaching experience and has worked at CDA from being a teenager.  She strives to push children to their potential and has very high expectations of her students .

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MISS CAITLIN

​SENIOR STAFF MEMBER
Miss Caitlin is tap dance lead and has the focus of the training of our tap dancers in a wide range of ages and taking them to competitions to represent CDA.  She is also involved in the teaching of inter and senior tap and ballet classes.

Caitlin completed her dance training with CDA from a young age when her dance journey began.  She completed all tap and ballet examinations as a students and has successfully completed her Associate Stage examinations.  Caitlin has a lot of teaching experience and has worked at CDA from being a teenager.  She is very skilled in tap and Irish dance and competed internationally.

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MISS REBECCA

STAFF MEMBER
​Rebecca has developed her dance training through CDA and has successfully completed her NCDTA associate exams in both ballet and tap achieving top marks in both genres. Rebecca has inspiring choreography skills and  through her extensive training and work with industry professionals has developed and refined her craft when working with young children. Rebecca is a Championship winning dancer and now passes on her expertise to our dancers.  Miss Rebecca delivers lessons in ballet and tap as well as beginner stretch and jazz, pre-junior jazz and musical theatre and inter lyrical.

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MISS NEVAEH

​STAFF MEMBER
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Nevaeh has been a CDA dancer since the school first opened and has completed all of her dancing examinations in ballet and tap, assisting in these classes from being a teenager and developing her craft.  Nevaeh has successfully completed her NCDTA associate exams in both ballet and tap achieving top marks in both genres. Nevaeh has also undertaken certified training in cheer dance and acro and is in the process of completing her Acrotrix level one certification.  Nevaeh is very nurturing and has a lot of experience working with our little dancers and has her extensive training and work with industry professionals has developed and refined her skills and technique tips. Nevaeh is a winning competitive dancer  and now passes on her expertise to our dancers.  Miss Nevaeh delivers lessons in beginner ballet and tap as well as junior jazz, inter commercial, tots acro, jazz and cheer.

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MISS MILLIE

​STAFF MEMBER
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Millie has trained for over ten years at The Worx academy and followed on from this by completing her extended diploma in performing arts and dance at The Worx College and completed this to the highest standard.  Millie is trained in NCDTA in classical ballet, tap, acro, jazz and also trained in musical theatre, contemporary, commercial and RAD ballet, and has completed her Level 1 teacher training and working on level 2.

​Millie has gained huge achievements as a performer including TDCI  championship titles in song and dance, ballet and modern.  She has also made the world performer finals and is a Dance World Cup gold medalist.  She would now like to share her knowledge and expertise with the younger generation.




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MISS EMILY L

​STAFF MEMBER
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Miss Emily started her dancing journey through amateur dramatics from the age of 13.  After leaving school, Emily attended Newcastle college studying dance and musical theatre for four years before being accepted in the prestigious dance school Laine Theatre Arts on a three year Musical Theatre BA Hons course, graduating where she worked with world renowned choreographers and industry professionals.
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COACH DAN

​ACRO COACH
Coach Dan is Acrotirx level one and level two qualified.  He leads high quality and safe lessons, allowing this acro students to safely develop and progress in more complex acrobatic balances and other tricks and skills whilst developing knowledge and progressions with the children.  He is first aid trained and has many years of experience working with young children in both football and fitness coaching and worked with other industry professionals and British gymnastics coaches delivering high quality acro teaching.

Dan also works for the NHS as a mental health nurse with over 19 years experience and qualified and actively promotes the safety and mental wellbeing of our dancers.

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MISS GEORGINA

​STAFF MEMBER
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Georgina has been a CDA dancer since the school first opened and has completed all of her dancing examinations in  tap and  assisting in both street and commercial classes from being a teenager and developing her craft.  Georgina has successfully completed her NCDTA associate exams in tap achieving top marks in this field. Georgina has worked with different industry professionals in different styles of street and commercial dancing and competed successfully in street dance competitions.  She  is very nurturing and has a lot of experience working with our young dancers.

Miss Georgina delivers lessons in beginner, junior and inter street dance as well as commercial dance and works hard with street dance competition dancers.

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MISS Victoria

​ACTING & SINGING COACH
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With over 20 years of experience, Miss Victoria is a fully qualified teacher and adjudicator dedicated to nurturing talent across all areas of dance and performance. I am a qualified member of the IDTA, RAD, NCDTA, and an official British Dance Council Adjudicator.


She has proudly run her own dance and performing arts school for over two decades, training students from beginner to professional level. Her teaching covers a wide range of disciplines, including:
    •    Ballet
    •    Tap
    •    Contemporary Modern Jazz
    •    Theatre Craft
    •    Acro
    •    Cheer
    •    Street
    •    Freestyle
    •    Musical Theatre


Victoria also prepare students for:
    •    LAMDA exams in drama and singing
    •    IDTA and NCDTA musical theatre and speech & drama exams
    •    Professional auditions, competitions, and shows


In addition to Victoria teaching and adjudication work, she has had the privilege of performing professionally as a singer/dancer, sharing the stage with artists such as Take That and Cheryl Cole.




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COACH CONNOR

​BREAKDANCE INSTRUCTOR
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Connor works both as breakdance instructor at CDA as well as a professional breakdancer in two international touring crews who compete and battle at international events. He specialises in delivering street dance and break dance to our boys.  The boys in his care flourish under his instruction and he leads by example inspiring those in his classes.  He leads high quality and safe lessons, allowing the boys to learn freezes, balances and other tricks and skills whilst developing their rhythm and own dance styles. He ensures that the boys develop  safe and solid foundations before showing them the progressions and end aspirations of the complex breaking skills.

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MISS CELESTE

​ASSOCIATE STAFF
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Celeste grew up as a self-trained hip hop and commercial dancer before graduating from the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance where she was classically trained.  After graduating, Celeste travelled internationally and throughout the UK, performing in various shows as a dance artist before choreographing performances and stage productions herself. 

Since then, Celeste has focussed on more teaching and choreographing throughout the North East and the UK, with links in London, Manchester and Leeds.  
Celeste teaches Urban Hip Hop and Commercial choreography with a strong emphasis on musicality, technique and performance skills and she is extremely passionate about self exploration and the development of future artists.
​Celeste is also yoga trained and has started a new venture of Reiki, as she is passionate about self-health and mental wellbeing.

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JAZZ PETERS

​ASSOCIATE STAFF

Jazz graduated from London studios with a BA Hons degree in Professional Dance.  Since then, Jazz has worked continuously in a wide variety of genres in the entertainment industry.  Film credits include: Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Warner Bros. Wonder Woman and Justice League.

Jazz has performed on television with artists such as Will.i.am (BGT), Lionel Ritchie, Rita Ora, Camilla Cabello (X factor), Robbie Williams, Due Lipa (Brit Awards).  She also enjoyed performing for Black Eyed Peas (UEFA), Petshop Boys (The Super Tour).  Jazz has just recently finished touring as part of the European tour with J Balvin and recently completed the London leg of 50 Cent's Final Lap tour in London.




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BETH YOUNG

​ASSOCIATE STAFF

Beth is a former Great Britain acrobatic gymnast, having represented her country and competed internationally, her highest achievement being a silver medal at the World Games in Taiwan.

After retiring from competing, Beth transitioned into coaching and has worked all around the world coaching acrobatics in Australia (including Australian national team gymnastics), delivering choreography in Canada and coaching gymnasts from team GB in the UK.

Beth is also a qualified Acrotrix Teacher Training Tutor, and accredited acrobatic gymnastics and dance judge and regularly delivers workshops worldwide.

Beths passion lies in sharing her knowledge and experience with the next generation of gymnasts and dancers, helping them reach their full potential.

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YASMEEN AFZAL

​ASSOCIATE STAFF

Yasmeen trained at Elmhurst Ballet Associates and SK dance before gaining a full scholarship to the Urdang Academy where she continued her training.
During her time at college she was part of the Urdang Academy's 'Can You Dance' company and dance captain on the Sleeping Beauty pantomime productions.  Most recently, Yasmeen danced for Warner Bros world in Abu Dhabi as part of their winter contract directed by Scott Coldwell and Gareth Walker.  Since then, Yasmeen has been teaching all across the North East and the industry sharing her knowledge and expertise.

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FAYE

​CDA ADMINISTRATOR
Faye works incredibly hard behind the scenes as CDA administrator.  She is the go to person for everyday queries and deals with our enrolment, uniform orders and advertising events as well as organising chaperone licences.  She is very efficient in responding to messages and emails and is the liaison between staff and parents.

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CDA PARENT COMMITTEE

​We have a dedicated team that run our CDA parent committee.  These dance Mums, chaired by Gemma, Faye and Lisa meet regularly to discuss upcoming events, charity work, fundraising and any and all methods for keeping CDA at its best and supporting staff to provide the very best opportunities for all of our dancers.  For further information please speak to our amazing team of parent chaperones: Kirsty, Fiona, Lisa, Gemma, Faye, Philippa, Ashleigh, Mel, Sara, Tori, Helen W.

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