Meet The Teachers
Co Principal
Natalie Marshall ~ RAD RTS, AIDTA, ABATD
Natalie began dancing at the age of 6 at a local Ballet School in Essex and was trained by Maura Bowes FISTD and then progressed onto a second dance school (Beverly Marks Stage School) to train in Tap, further Ballet, Modern Jazz and Street. In 2003 she completed the first of her four Associate Dance Teaching qualifications and began teaching part time alongside attending full time Vocational Dance College (Reynolds Performing Arts College). She graduated Reynolds with a Performing Arts Development & Teaching Diploma and went on to enjoy a career as a Dancer, dancing up and down the country, as well as abroad in numerous Cabaret Shows, Music Festivals, Corporate Events, and as a Freestyle dancer. She worked in various Dance Schools over the years, gaining knowledge and expertise in her field of training young dancers for a career in the Performing Arts, as well as examination preparation, show choreography and show production. She particularly enjoyed her time working for a well known Children's Theatre company, where she had the opportunity to choreograph numbers for West End productions at The Sadlers Wells, The Royal Albert Hall and two productions at The London Palladium, before taking a short break to start a family. Natalie now has 3 children. She opened her school with only 2 classes in January 2014 to enable her to teach her own daughter Ballet, who has now progressed onto training at the Royal Ballet School. Natalie has also been teaching Ballet & Dance in Prep Schools since 2008 and runs the After School Dance Programmes for two Prep Schools in Hertfordshire. Natalie also works as a mentor for the RAD helping to train student Ballet teachers. Natalie is a fully qualified and registered Ballet & Dance teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD RTS), the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA associate) and the British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD associate).
Co Principal
Holly Smith ~ BA (Hons)
Holly began dancing at 5 years old at a local dance school, performing regularly and completing ISTD Ballet, Tap and Modern exams.
After a foundation year in Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting, Holly went on to complete her degree at Arts Educational Schools London in Musical Theatre. In her professional career, Holly has performed at; Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Royal Opera house, the Royal Albert Hall and The Other Palace and sung with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and The BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Holly found her love for teaching and choreographing across a range of styles (street/commercial, tap, ballet, contemporary, jazz). In her teaching career, Holly has choreographed numbers for children's theatre schools performing in West End variety shows (Shaftesbury Theatre and His Majesty's Theatre). She made her professional choreographer debut with Campus West's 'Robin Hood' 2023 Pantomime.
Holly is very excited to join Natalie as co-principal and hopes to continue building her students confidence, technique and love for dancing and performing.
Teacher
Jessica Coole-Clarke ~ BA(Hons), LRAD, ARAD, RAD RTS
Jessica began dancing at the Suzanne School of Dancing in Andover at the age of 3 and hasn’t stopped since! Whilst training Jessica had many opportunities to achieve her Graded and Vocational Graded Ballet Exams, perform on stage in school shows, and take part in dance competitions such as the British Arts Awards.
In 2009 she went to study at the Royal Academy of Dance in London, where she gained her BA (Hons) in Ballet Education and completed the three levels of the RAD’s Licentiate course. After graduation with RAD registered teacher status (RTS), Jessica has been enjoying teaching dance to a variety of ages.
Following Jessica’s success in achieving her RAD Advanced 2 ballet examination, she was awarded the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance teaching qualification, which was presented to her by Darcey Bussell CBE.
Teacher
Holly Shiels - ISTD DDE
Holly began dancing from the age of 3 across many genres such as, Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary and Commercial. Regularly taking ISTD Tap, Modern, Jazz and RAD Ballet exams. Holly went on to train at Momentum Performing Arts Academy, graduating with a 3-year Diploma in Musical Theatre. Whilst studying, Holly took on several different roles within shows and performing on cruises.
Holly also did the ISTD Teacher Training course, completing her qualifications in ISTD Tap, Modern and Commercial Street Dance Associate.
Teaching has always been a passion for Holly and she loves to see children enjoying themselves whilst dancing and also growing as a performer.
Teacher
Sophie Draper ~ BA (Hons) BBO
Sophie has been dancing since she was 3. Over the years she has trained and taken exams in Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Tap and Drama. In 2014 she started training at London Studio Centre where she had many performance opportunities including a UK tour with Intoto, the Contemporary Dance Company, in her 3rd year. She graduated with a BA Hons in Theatre Dance and then began to start her teaching career while studying for a Level 6 Diploma in Dance Teaching. Since securing her qualifications and a Registered Teaching Status with the British Ballet Organisation, she now teaches / choreographs for a few companies while also running and teaching at her own dance school.