We are lucky enough to have a range of guest teachers, including our guest vocal coach Judith, visiting us in class on a regular basis giving our students a range of different styles to learn from and industry professionals to learn from.
Our Company Classes are taught by Hannah, Matty, Lucy with support from our teaching assistants Lucy B, Izzie, Lucy F and Roseanne.
Private singing lessons and weekly Singing Groups are taught by Cris and Jenny with support from our singing teaching assistant Annabel.
Acting Groups are taught by Nick with support from our acting teaching assistant Lucy B.
HANNAH
(Principal)
Hannah started dancing aged 3, studied most dance and musical theatre skills and completed her training at Arts Educational Schools, Tring (now Tring Park School for the Performing Arts) and Bird College. She then studied Street Arts (BAHons) at the University of Winchester, after graduating performed in various festivals and events across Europe before coming back to Kent to set up her own events entertainment company and begin a career in teaching.
She joined The Creative Dance Company in 2000 when Valerie McDonald began classes, was a teaching assistant from 2005 and taught with the company until she took over from Valerie in 2018.
Miss Hannah welcomes all feedback and hopes to be providing children with an inspiring and enjoyable introduction to performance and the arts.
MATTY
(Vice-Principal)
Matty discovered dance slightly later than most, at the age of 15. He studied GCSE, BTEC & A Level Dance alongside his ballet grades before heading to university at Canterbury Christ Church to study for his (BA Hons) Dance Education course.
Matty is a professional actor who often tours the UK entertaining audiences of all ages! He is very privileged to have performed in various theatres and venues from the Margate Winter Gardens to the 02 Arena.
He is very passionate about working with children and helping them develop their skills through the arts.
Matty is a doting father to this daughter, Fosse.
LUCY
(Dance Teacher)
Lucy started her performing journey in 2002 when she joined the Creative Dance Company at the age of 4. She went on to perform with Creative Dance at Euro Disney, Her Majesty’s theatre Sadler’s Wells and many more. She also took part in many dance festivals/competitions and gained first place at the All England Finals. Lucy was not only a student at Creative dance from ages 4-18 but also assisted classes a year before leaving.
She graduated from her BA (Hons) course at Performance Preparation Academy (PPA) in Guildford in 2021 and has completed an MA in Dance Performance at London Studio Center over the last year. She is very excited to be returning back to where her Musical Theatre journey all began and continue sharing her knowledge and passion for the arts.
CRIS
(Vocal Coach)
Christine Descher is an American soprano and singing teacher. After receiving her Masters of Music degree, she spent several years singing, teaching, and studying in St. Louis and New York. Her teachers included some of the greats: Cornelius Reid, John Stewart, and Ellen Shade. She taught in schools and maintained a private studio. At the same time Cris was a jobbing singer both on the stage and at private events.
After a break from her singing career Christine returned to her musical roots with a rich and varied compendium of experiences which, when applied to music and to pedagogy, allows for a deeper connection and understanding of her students and of artistry as a vocation. She now aims to sing and teach others to sing with conviction, courage, ease and beauty!
JENNY
(Vocal Coach)
Jenny has been singing since she was small and at the age of 9 performed in the UK tour of Evita at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. As music scholar at Sutton Valence School she went on numerous tours to France, Germany and Italy where she performed in the famous St Mark's cathedral in Venice.
She went on to study Performing Arts in Liverpool where she graduated with a first class honour degree. During that time and for a total of 5 summers she worked at a summer camp in America leading the Musical Theatre department putting on a musical every week with children aged 7- 17. In Liverpool she led a comunity choir on a weekly basis for a few years and was vocal coach for a show with students from the Liverpool Intstitute of Performing Arts.
She then completed a PGCE in Drama and Music and went on to teach full time in secondary schools. This then led to her wanting to pursue teaching singing privately and she now leads a choir and teaches in two schools. She also teaches children and adults from her house and loves her job!
NICK
(Acting Teacher)
Nick graduated with a Masters in Drama and Stand Up Comedy from the University of Kent in 2010 and has worked consistently within the arts ever since. A regular on the panto circuit, with experience of TIE, Open Air Theatre, Shakespeare, Musicals and Comedy amongst others, Nick has performed to a variety audiences from schools halls to Olympic Arena in Stratford.
Nick is passionate about teaching and has a firm belief in putting the student first, adapting teaching techniques where needed to get the best out of every student - anyone can act!
JUDITH
(Guest Vocal Coach)
Judith Colman trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Birmingham Conservatoire and completed her studies at the Royal Academy of Music. She has worked with British Youth Opera and English Touring Opera. Further solo work includes Principal Soprano with the English Brass Group, Opera Interactive and Soprano roles with many Choral Societies across the UK.
Subsequently, Judith has worked as a choral director, voice coach for the BBC and regularly coaches several Military Multi-Capability Bands. She has worked with the Glyndebourne ‘Sing Up’ campaign and has directed productions at The Round House Theatre, London and the N.E.C. Birmingham. Judith currently very much enjoys teaching at Battle Abbey School, Millenium Performing Arts, the Creative Dance Company and co-founded the B.A.Y choir courses, bringing young singers from across the UK and Internationally to make music together.
LUCY B
(Juniors and Acting Teaching Assistant)
Lucy is 17 and Head Girl at Claremont. She has been at Creative Dance since she was 5. Lucy is studying A-levels and BTECs in Drama, Dance, History and Politics. She is currently working towards her silver medal in Acting and Musical theatre LAMDA and is thoroughly excited to work with the teachers and students at Creative Dance.
IZZIE
(Juniors and Mid 1s Teaching Assistant)
Izzie has been dancing from the age of 3. Since joining The Creative Dance Company 11 years ago, she has grown in confidence and couldn’t imagine dancing anywhere else. Izzie is currently doing her alevels and hopes to study musical theatre at university. Izzie is so excited to be helping the juniors and Mid 1s develop a love of dance as big as hers.
ROSEANNE
(Mid 1s and Mid 2s Teaching Assistant)
Roseanne is 16 and has loved to dance since age 8. Currently studying English Literature, Psychology and Classical Civilisation, she is looking forwards to helping nurture the younger Creative Dance students alongside studying for her A levels. She is incredibly excited to be passing on her passion for the company and dance itself!
ANNABEL
(Singing Teaching Assistant)
Annabel has been a part of The Creative Dance Company for the past 10 years. During this time, she has been on any exciting adventures performing at events such as Come Alive, One Night at The Playhouse, Disneyland Paris, Her Majesty's Theatre London and even on a Mediterranean Cruise! Annabel says, "combining my love of singing with dance is fantastic and I am so excited to be given the opportunity of supporting younger children in finding their voice"!
Annabel is studying for her Grade 8 Singing and also plays the violin and flute, so music is a huge part of her life. She is currently in 3 choirs at school and has been attending the BAY choir courses since she was 8! Annabel has also been a member of West End MT which gave her the wonderful opportunities of singing with many professional artists including singing a solo at the G4 Christmas concert in Edinburgh.
LUCY F
(Juniors and Mid 1s Teaching Assistant)
Lucy started with creative dance age 5 years old and soon realised her passion for dance and music. Now lucy is 16 years old soon approaching 17 and she has danced with the company for 10, close to 11 years. During this time Lucy has had the opportunity to perform at incredible places like Disney Land Paris and Her majesty’s theatre to name a few. Lucy is currently studying both dance and drama at A-level and BTEC at cranbrook school.
Lucy says, “Creative dance has always been a place i’ve felt comfortable and happy to share both my love and passion for performing. The professional standard of dance pushes me to always try my hardest and become the best performer version of me.” Lucy hopes to study Musical theatre and Dance at Drama school in the near future.
