Sue trained at Laine Theatre Arts and in her early career taught and performed around Europe and Canada. Choreography has always been a strong passion for Sue and she loves to explore the relationship between the musical phrase and body movement. Sue received Distinctions in all her teaching examinations and was made a Modern and Tap Examiner for the Imperial Society in 2000 and a Major Vocational examiner shortly afterwards. She has held full time posts at other leading dance colleges and has freelanced in other leading establishments. Sue began working at Bird College in 1999 and has remained at the College ever since, believing in its ethics, energy and commitment to outstanding training in dance and musical theatre. Sue became head of the Jazz Department in 2005. Sue is a freelance tutor for the Imperial Society, often lecturing on Syllabus but more prominently on uses of free work within the syllabus framework and free Jazz technique for all Vocational and Pre-vocational Levels. Sue has joined the creative team for the new Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 modern syllabus and is part of the teaching team travelling around the country and the rest of Europe. Sue completed her Certificate of Education in 2003 and is currently training to become a qualified registered Nutritionalist.

Belinda established herself in teaching at Tanz-Etage, Bremerhaven, Germany, after graduating from Laine Theatre Arts in Dance and Musical Theatre. Alongside her teaching she also enjoyed a Musical Theatre career both as performer and choreographer: of all the productions during her time in Germany, ‘Victor/Victoria’ remains her favourite!

On her return to England in 2002, she joined the Dance Faculty at Laine Theatre Arts, continuing to develop her teaching, and here completed her Cert Ed to further her qualifications. Other teaching credits include Performers College, New English Contemporary Ballet School, New College Nottingham, as well as Summer School and Jazz Workshop engagements throughout the UK and overseas. She is a regular guest Jazz lecturer for CAT Programme centres across the country.

As an ISTD Lecturer Belinda has taught classes for Award days, open days, UK and International Courses and Summer Schools. She holds ISTD Fellowship status in Modern Theatre and Tap and over the past years has been invited onto the Teaching Team for various syllabi in both Modern and Tap faculties – a great honour.

Now settled at Bird College since 2010, Belinda is a Senior Tutor for the Jazz Faculty, playing an integral part in delivering Jazz Technique and Theatre Jazz styles to all levels. She loves the creative aspect of her role, relishing any involvement as part of the creative team for college productions and events.

Justine joined London City Ballet at the age of seventeen and went on to enjoy an international performing career spanning 19 years. In 2003, while still dancing, she graduated from the Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma (PDTD) with Distinction, from the Royal Academy of Dance.

Justine has taught for the Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Central School of Ballet, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, Tring Park, Laine Theatre Arts, The Urdang Academy, The Place, Laban and BBO Scholars. For the Royal Academy of Dance she has taught for the Dance School, BA (Hons) in Ballet Education, Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Certificate, Licentiate of the RAD, and numerous national and international summer schools, workshops and CPD activities.

She has also taught Benesh Movement Notation at the Royal Ballet School, White Lodge, anatomy at London Studio Centre and held the role of Ballet Mistress with rehearsal and staging responsibilities for touring companies such as Ballet Ireland, Lisbon Dance Company, Wiener Ballet Theatre, Vienna Festival Ballet and European Ballet.

Justine has extensive experience in dance teacher education, having been a Lecturer in Dance Education for the Faculty of Education at the RAD from 2019 to 2022. She has been significantly involved in the Royal Academy of Dance’s Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma UK for over 10 years, including tutoring, assessing, and reshaping the programme. Justine was also the PDTD Programme Manager for the UK and China cohorts from 2019 until 2022.

Justine teaches Character technique and repertoire at the Royal Ballet School White Lodge and the Upper School, including on intensive programmes, both in the UK and in Hong Kong.  She is also an assessor for the Royal Ballet School’s Diploma in Dance Teaching and tutor for the final audition process at the Royal Ballet School White Lodge and the Royal Ballet School’s Inspire seminars and Enlighten webinars.

Other roles include former Chairman of the Royal Academy of Dance’s London and Middlesex Regional Advisory Board and Trustee of the Academy. In 2024, Justine resumed the role of member of the Board of Trustees and Artistic Advisory Committee for the Royal Academy of Dance, having been a former Trustee from 2016-19.

Justine has a particular interest in music in dance teaching and education and has championed this within many programmes of study. Justine holds a Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching from the University of the Arts, London, and the Master of Teaching (Dance) from the University of Surrey/ Royal Academy of Dance.

Sam started his journey at Bird College of Dance, Music and Theatre Performance in 2007. Since graduating Sam then went on to perform all over the world in Theatre, TV, Film and Cruise Entertainment including artists and productions such as Little Mix, Take That, Craig David, Robbie Williams, Louisa Johnson, BGT, X Factor, Royal Variety Performance, Brit Awards, Jingle Bell Ball, Rocket Man Movie, Death on the Nile Movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, Judy Garland Original Cast, Royal Caribbean and many more.

Sam always enjoyed the creative side of the industry and decided to transition into being a choreographer. Now an established international award winning choreographer working in Theatre, Film, TV, Ceremony’s and Corporate events, Sam has worked for clients such as, FIFA World Cup Ceremony, The Christmas Spectacular UK Tour, Cinderella, PON National Games Opening and Closing Ceremony, A Chorus Line The Musical , Fire Feathers and Fantasies Cabaret, Fame The Musical, Grease The Musical, Cirque Enchantment UK Tour, Bad Girls The Musical, Cryptic Monkey, Strictly Come Dancing’s AJ Pritchard, Evolution Pantomimes and many more.

Sam has always had a passion to educate and train the next generation of artists to help give students the best possible chance of a successful career in the arts. Sam holds a crucial role in the Bird College dance department as the Commercial Jazz and Jazz Pas De Deux specialist.

Thomas Ashton, with 13 years in the industry, has crafted hundreds of bespoke dance pieces and productions. He currently choreographs large-scale circus and dance performances for Boomtown Fair Festival, captivating audiences of up to 80,000 people. Notably, he contributed to Arcadia’s “The Reactor” at London’s Olympic Park and “Metamorphosis: Genesis” for Wilderness Festival. In 2023, Ashton made his mark in musical theatre as Associate Choreographer for ‘Trompe L’Oeil’ at The Other Palace, as well as choreographing for the production internationally in 2024 in the USA.

He was also the creative producer and co-director of Creation Box London with Rachel Kay, and a key collaborator on “Umbra” at The Vaults Festival and “The Reason I Fly.” As Creative Director of the Ashton Collective, he led sell-out productions like ‘Flight’ and ‘Sophie’ and partnered with prominent photographers and videographers on impactful concept videos.

Megan professionally trained at the Place London Contemporary and Bird College of Performing Arts. As a dancer, she has ticked off some dream jobs in the TV and Film industry for artists such as Demi Lovato, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Hugh Jackman and FKA Twigs. Megan has been blessed to work with creatives like Brian Friedman, Parris Goebel, Ashley Wallen and Dani Vitale. Choreographically, she has worked closely on many creative projects and has choreographed for artists such as Becky Hill and Sonia Stein.

Arethajay is a dancer, choreographer and tutor who started her journey with Glenlyn Academy then went on to Bird College in 2017 where she obtained her BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. Upon graduating, Arethajay dived straight into commercial dance, tv and film performing or choreographing for artists and productions such as Stormzy, Steff London, Ayra Starr, Raye, Tems, Rema, Lous and the Yakuza, BGT, National Social Media Awards, The Best FIFA Awards and more. Alongside that, Arethajay also launched into the Musical Theatre world, performing in the original cast of SoundClash: Death In The Arena The Musical and Little Shop of Horrors.

Arethajay’s passion for being creative began whilst she was training at Bird College, and she assisted creatives such as Simeon Qsyea and Thomas Ashton on performances for MOVE IT. With these experiences Arethajay knew one day she would transition into a choreographer which she has done at the very place she found that fire, Bird College. In addition to choreographing commercial dance pieces for MOVE IT, the Annual Year 2 Summer Showcase and “I AM”; a short episode which was a celebration of diversity, inclusivity, and community, she is also a resident creative on the syllabus at Bird College.

Arethajay has always had a desire to educate future artists on more than the traditional techniques. Providing them with industry knowledge and training, giving them the best tools to start a career with success and longevity.

Ruth began her training at The Pauline Howard School of Dance under the guidance of Miss Patricia Ellis FISTD Examiner/Committee. She continued to further her studies at Laine Theatre Arts and graduated with Diplomas in both Musical Theatre and Professional Dance, whilst additionally attaining ISTD Associate teaching qualifications in Modern, Tap and Imperial Ballet.

After several years working as a freelance teacher and choreographer Ruth joined the Dance Faculty at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in 1999 teaching Jazz, Modern and Tap alongside her role as resident choreographer for Dance and Musical Theatre  productions.  Ruth was instrumental in devising a structured course of study for Tring Park’s Outreach Dance programme which successfully encouraged the access to dance for children attending primary schools in Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.

Having pursued her ISTD Qualifications to Fellowship Status, Ruth became a Dual Examiner for the Modern and Tap faculties in 2005. As a member of the Modern & Tap Faculty teaching teams, she regularly lectures at teacher and student courses throughout the UK and Internationally. Ruth has a true passion for theatre jazz and dance artistry and was proud to have been instrumental in creating new Optional Jazz Award Amalgamations. More recently she has choreographed the Musical Theatre Amalgamation for the new Intermediate Tap syllabus and a Musical Theatre Amalgamation for the Modern Grades syllabus, soon to be launched. As a member of the ISTD Modern Faculty committee Ruth is proud to be able to contribute to the ongoing development of its syllabus and the evolution of training for dancers and teachers alike.

In 2013 Ruth returned to working as a freelance vocational teacher & choreographer and has since taught at various vocational colleges including Mountview, GSA & The Urdang Academy. She is currently part of the Bird College Jazz & Tap faculty where she additionally tutors the DDE Modern teaching qualification. Alongside her teaching commitments Ruth is a regular guest teacher for Chrysalis London, Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, National Youth Ballet and Gielgud Academy of the Performing Arts. Choreographic credits include commissions for National Youth Ballet, Encore Dance Company, ’Move It’ Exhibition and Gala Performances at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre and The Shaftesbury Theatre.

Jack trained at Bird College of Dance, Music and Theatre Performance, graduating in 2011 as the recipient of the Doreen Bird Award. Whilst studying, he also trained with Tap Attack under the mentorship of Jo Scanlan and James Doubtfire. Jack competed at the IDO World Tap Championships as part of the England Tap Team and in 2010 won the Adult Duo category with his own choreography. This achievement precipitated a choreographic career.

As a teacher and choreographer, credits include: The GB Tap Team (2009-Present); The London Studio Centre’s ‘Jazz Co’; Masters Performing Arts; Morea Performing Arts; The Urdang Academy; LIPA; Addict Dance Academy; Bird College; Mountview Academy; SKIN Fashion Show (Canary Wharf); The London Tap Dance Intensive, The Brighton Tap Festival, G-Star RAW – The Rhythm of Denim (Kyiv) and DATELEAP (Film)

As a performer, credits include: ’42nd Street’ (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, West End); ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ (Phoenix Theatre, West End); Dolce & Gabbana (Italy); ‘Anything Goes’ (Sheffield Crucible & UK Tour); ‘Burberry- Festive Commercial’ (TV); Daniel in ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ (UK & Ireland Tour); ‘42nd Street’ (Curve, Leicester); ‘Got To Dance 3: Adam Garcia’s Performance’ (Sky 1); ‘The X Factor Live’ (ITV); ‘The Anton & Erin Show’ (Guernsey); ‘McDonald’s Great Taste of America’ (TV Commercial); ‘BBC Proms- The Broadway Sound’ (Royal Albert Hall, BBC1); Laura Mvula on ‘Alan Carr- Chatty Man’ (Channel 4); ‘Priscilla Corporate’ (Leicestershire); ‘ATP Tennis Tournament Opening Ceremony’ (Doha, Qatar); ‘Spring/ Summer fashion week’ (Derby, Manchester Trafford Centre & Arndale); ‘Qatar Cool Awards’ (Doha, Qatar); ‘Gas & Oil Awards’ (Abu Dhabi); ‘Dick Whittington’ (Hereford Courtyard); ‘42nd Street Concert’ (London Palladium); ‘Aladdin’ (De Montfort Hall, Leicester); The Northern Tap Company’s ‘Soundz Extraordinary’ and ‘Tap A Story’ (Barnsley Civic); World Tap Champion 2010 (Riesa, Germany).

Jack is the writer and director of the short film DATELEAP, and the theatre production, Feet Keep Me Flyin’. www.jackevanscreative.com

Lai-Sheung Chan graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts where she majored in Dance and received an Advanced Diploma. After graduation she joined the Hong Kong Ballet Company and participated in many productions, appearing in various soloist roles.

Lai-Sheung furthered her studies and gained the specialist Teaching Diploma in the Teachers’ Course for Professional Dancers at the Royal Ballet School in London. She also obtained her Advanced Certificate in Education which is accredited by the Canterbury Christ Church University College in Kent, England. In 2007, she graduated with an MA in Arts Management from the City University in London.

Lai-Sheung has been teaching and coaching classical ballet worldwide and was the Ballet Mistress for the Hong Kong Ballet Group’s Winter Production in 2001. She has also adjudicated dance awards and competitions both in the UK and Hong Kong.

Lai-Sheung has been working at Bird College since 1997. Alongside her Classical Ballet teaching post, she was the Administrator for the BA (Hons) Programme from 2005 – 2007 and then the Assistant to the Artistic Director (Performance and Timetable) from 2007 – 2017. Further to the expansion of the college, Lai-Sheung is now dedicated to the role of Events and Performance Co-ordinator and Senior Ballet Tutor.

Born in Japan, Tomoko started ballet at the age of 7 and studied at Suzuki Classic Ballet Academy. She won the Espoir prize at Prix de Lausanne in 1991 and received a scholarship to Hamburg Ballet School and later to the Royal Ballet School. Tomoko joined the Royal Ballet in 1993 and enjoyed a successful 10 year career with the company. Having qualified with the Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma with distinction from the Royal Academy of Dance, Tomoko achieved her Licentiate and Fellowship qualifications with the ISTD.

Tomoko is currently teaching in London and regularly teaches at the RAD summer schools worldwide. She has taught classes for Phyllis Bedells Bursary and she was the judge of the London and Middlesex Awards Day at the Royal Academy of Dance Headquarters. She has also taught at K-Ballet School in Tokyo and many other schools and seminars.

Jacqueline was born in Canada and trained at the Rock School for Dance Education, Pennsylvania, on a full scholarship. She then went on to dance with the Pennsylvania Ballet performing in numerous productions. She has also worked with Alberta Ballet (Nutcracker), National Ballet Company of Canada (Sleeping Beauty), Danny Grossman Dance Company, Opera Atelier, Coiscéim Dance Theatre, Spirit of the Dance, Crystal Cruises and Thursford Christmas Spectacular.  She furthered her studies at Ryerson University, Toronto (Diploma in Theatre – Dance) and at the Royal Academy of Dance, London (Professional Dancer’s Teaching Diploma).  She has since taught as a ballet tutor at the Royal Academy of Dance, Laban, Lewisham College, DanceEast and Bird College.

Anna is a teacher, creative, adjudicator and researcher. Her choreography has been seen all over the world, including creating original work for Bailar Al Sol in the US and enjoying choreographic residencies at Moulin Belle in France and Andanza in Puerto Rico. Most recently she has co-choreographed the critically acclaimed Black Beauty for United We Dance International at Sadler’s Wells. Anna directs her own teacher training programme, Anna Morgan Dance, and has taught for institutions such as the Royal Ballet School and Performers College, and has been on the Ballet Faculty at Bird College since 2016. She is an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals and All England Dance, and is on the Advisory Board for the TIRED Movement. She is currently studying for her Masters at Rambert School, with gender equity in Ballet as her research specialism.

David started his formal training for theatre at Lewisham College where he studied dance and acting. He also studied at West Street Ballet School and the London School of Contemporary Dance. David obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of London. He performed with Adventures in Motion Pictures, Rambert Dance Company, DV8, Dance For All, Vienna Ballet Theatre and the Icelandic Dance Company. David has also worked throughout his career as a professional choreographer working in dance, opera and musical theatre. David joined the faculty of the Arts Educational School of Musical Theatre London in 1998 where he worked as a teacher and in various senior roles. He began teaching ballet at Bird College in September 2018. David mentors SOTE foundation course based in Birmingham.

Charise was born in Jersey CI and went onto train at the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts, graduating with a Distinction for her National Diploma in Dance. After graduating her first job was joining the Corps De Ballet in ‘The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Concert’ at the Royal Albert Hall, which then led her straight into the London company in the West End. With the show she has also performed at ‘The Olivier Awards’, and ‘30th Anniversary Gala’. Other performing credits include; Featured Dancer ‘42nd Street’ Gala’ (London Palladium), Dance Captain ‘Cinderella‘ ,’Dick Whittington’ (The Hexagon), Featured Dancer ‘Thursford Christmas Spectacular’ (Thursford), Dancer ‘Dick Whittington’ (Milton Keynes), Dancer ‘Sleeping Beauty’ (Churchill Theatre, Bromley). Since then her career has taken many different paths; from working closely with Justin Fletcher on CBeebies. She now has moved into the creative side of things, recently co-choreographer on ‘Gypsy’ at the Palace Opera House Manchester. Previously her choreographic credits include; Rogers and Hammerstein – Cinderella’ (The Hope Mill Theatre), ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ (Southport Theatre, Imagine Theatre),‘West End Eurovision’ (Dominion Theatre), Assistant Choreographer; ‘Gigglebiz’ (CBeebies), ‘Just Sing and Dance’ (Butlins Resorts), ‘Laine Theatre Arts Summer Show’ (Epsom Playhouse), ‘Dancing Kidd’ (PPA). She also teachers Ballet and Jazz and choreographs at top Musical Theatre colleges. She has a weekly Ballet and Jazz class at BASE Dance Studios in London.

Rachael has had a successful and varied career. She recently filmed at Warner Bros studios for a new film directed by Steve McQueen and prior to that an advert for “ World Asthma Day.” Her most recent stage appearance was in On the Town choreographed by Ashley page which took her to Japan. She was dance captain for Kiss Me Kate at the London Coliseum and was involved in the soundtrack recording of the new Mamma Mia film “Here We Go Again.” This was directly after a run at the London Palladium with Dick Whittington. Other credits include : Strauss (UK tour), Kiss Me Kate (WNO), Cats – Tantomile, Jemima, Victoria, Demeter (RUG Australia), West Side Story – Graziella, Phantom of the Opera (25th Anniversary tour), Peter Pan the Musical (u/s Wendy), We Will Rock You (Dominion & Antwerp), Fame (u/s Iris), Movin’ Out (west end), The Snowman (Ice Princess), Love Shack (uk tour) , Grease (dance captain west end and tour), Cats (Jemima, Demeter, Rumpleteaser), Phantom of the Opera ( Meg Giry). Rachael has also appeared in two major feature films namely Finding Neverland and Phantom of the Opera. She filmed Victoria for ITV, Devils in Disguise for the Discovery Channel and for BBC radio 5 the radio play Smith of Wooton Major. She also completed the RAD professional dancers’ teaching diploma in 2014 graduating with Distinction and is a CPD tutor for them. She has taught at Vocational Colleges across London and is currently on the faculty at Performers College Essex and teaches on the London Junior and Senior Ballet Associate programme. Rachael has taught the scholarship classes for the IDTA and RAD on numerous occasions along with being a judge for their Miss Dance and Dance Master grand finals. Rachael is also a judge for the Dance World Cup.

Bafana Solomon Matea was born in the township of Mamelodi Pretoria, South Africa and started his dancing career at Pro Arte Alphen Park High School in Pretoria where he studied Voganova and the Checcetti technique. After his studies he moved to NYC on a scholarship by Miss Judith Jamison to study at the Alvin Ailey school for 2 years. At Ailey, under Miss Denise Jeffreson, Bafana got to work with wonderful choreographers including Mathew Rushing, Colin Connor and Igal Perry. Bafana later joined Ballet Hispanico for 2 years, where he travelled extensively within the US. He later joined Elisa Monte dance for 3 years and toured Europe, visiting Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Brazil.

Bafana then joined Battery Dance Company under artistic director Jonathan Hollander. With Battery Dance he got a chance to see 5 continents in a span of 6 years including Australia, Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. The company also spent time in Germany working with high school kids on a project called DANCING TO CONNECT under Battery Dance Company.

Bafana help found Juxtapower (South African song and dance) where he was rehearsal director and choreographer and continued to work with Alpha Omega, Delerious Dance, Thomas Ortiz and Mathew Westerby Dance. Bafana has been living in the UK for the past 6 years. He holds tutoring positions at Bird College, Wilkes Academy and White Lodge. Since being in the UK, he has worked with Tavaziva, BOP Theater and State of Emergency as a choreographer on a project Where is Home. Bafana has just joined N’da Dance Company as Co- director.

Otis graduated from the Central School of Ballet in 2008. He initially trained in Music at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology, later moving to the dance strand to study for A Levels and a BTEC National Diploma. During this time, he also trained as a Ballet Black associate, progressing to Northern School of Contemporary Dance for his first year of preprofessional training. Otis is also a 2013 Finzi Scholar commencing intense study in Countertenor voice.

Upon graduation Otis performed with the Red Tape Dance Company as part of the Malta Arts Festival 2008 going onto further engagements with ACE Dance and Music for their Autumn Tour of SKIN and Turandot at the Royal Opera House 2008 & 2017. From 2009-2013 Otis danced with Rambert Dance Company working with choreographers including Henri Oguike, Henrietta Horne, Tim Rushton, Marguerite Donlon, Itzik Galli and Mark Baldwin as well as performing in works by Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor. 2013-2014 included performing as a Signet and Medium Swan in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake National and International tour. 2015 marked the start of a recurring working relationship with Barry Kosky and Otto Pichler creating both the Glyndebourne Opera’s Production of Saul and Royal Opera House, Covent Garden production of The Nose with Saul going on to be presented as part of the Glyndebourne 2015 Tour and the Adelaide Festival 2017. During this time Otis was also engaged with CIE 7273 (Geneva), performing Tarab in Europe, Serbia and the Middle East. Other notable work includes End of Line by Goshka Macuga preforming at the Lowry Gallery 2017.

Otis has presented work as part of the Rambert season of new choreography at the Place Theatre 2011 and Moveo Dance Company (Malta) 2022 as well as assisting rehearsals with the Choreographer Mbulelo Ndabeni in subsequent seasons. For the 2019-2020 Academic year Otis was a Graduate Intern in Dance Technique and Programme Support at Trinity Laban after which he obtained an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy accreditation (AFHEA) before becoming a Dance Technique Lecturer in February 2021. He Teaches Ballet, Cunningham based and fusion contemporary dance styles combining training methods explored spanning his fourteen-year career.

Otis is currently engaged with CIE 7273 (Geneva) after re-joining the Company for the creation of Ever 2021 and the revival of Tarab. He maintains a level of professional practice to enhance his educational work as well as teaching on the Center for Advance Training programme at Trinity Laban since September 2021.

Daisy gained a BPA(Hons) from Northern School of Contemporary Dance before joining Transitions Dance Company at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where she graduated with a Distinction Level MA qualification. Whilst with Transitions, Daisy toured internationally with works by Lauri Stallings (US), Tom Dale and Augusto Corrieri. During her training Daisy studied a range of techniques, including Ballet, Graham, Cunningham, Limon and Release-based methodologies. Daisy has also travelled to Ecole De Sables in Senegal to study Acogny Technique, a fusion of traditional Senegalese dance and western contemporary dance. Daisy now works as a freelance dancer, teacher and choreographer. As a dancer she has worked with a number of companies and independent artists such as Loop Dance Company, The Urban Playground Team (Performance Parkour), Clarisse ROUD Works, Brian Solomon (CA), Vicky Hunter, Marie Forbes and Sophie Nuzel.

Daisy is artistic director of Daisy Farris Dance Collective, a contemporary dance company boldly reimagining untold or forgotten stories through dance and physical theatre. Her most recent work The Great Thames Disaster, toured to communities along the Thames performing in exciting site-specific locations including on board a light vessel ship! Daisy is passionate about taking dance out of its traditional theatre settings and presenting work in unexpected locations, challenging how an audience experiences contemporary dance. As well as teaching at Bird College, Daisy is also a dance artist in the Learning and Participation team at Trinity Laban. She teaches across the Adult and Youth programmes as well as working with young people on the Centre for Advanced Training Scheme (CAT Scheme). Through her work at Trinity Laban, Daisy has staged her choreography in the prestigious Laban Theatre and at The Horniman Museum and Gardens.

Amy trained in contemporary dance at the London Studio Centre, supplemented with multiple stints in New York and Los Angeles where she refined her choreographic style. As a dancer Amy has worked for Channel 4, Burberry, London Fashion Week, Tate Modern and Sonia Friedman Productions to name a few. As a choreographer, her work has been performed at Breakin’ Convention, Breakout Kent, London Studio Centre, Bird College, MPAA, and abroad. Amy has won many awards for choreography at regional dance competitions and is proud to have worked closely with choreographer Lynne Page for the London runs of Olivier award-winning musical Standing At The Sky’s Edge. Amy is also the founder and director of Moments in Dance company based in North London.

Louise began her training at The Gay Holdsforth School of Dance and continued her studies at The Centre of Performing Arts College where she gained her teaching qualifications in Modern, Tap and Imperial Ballet. Her early career in teaching and choreographing took her to the USA where she has regularly returned to choreograph and teach for events, competitions and Spring and Summer courses. Louise has worked as a freelance teacher and choreographer at various vocational schools, colleges and dance schools in and around London as well as choreographing at Union Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Royal Festival Halls, Bloomsbury Theatre, Bob Hope Theatre, Stag Theatre and EM Forster Theatre. She has also taught teacher training courses and ran her own teacher training courses in Modern and Tap after becoming an approved ISTD tutor in 2012.

Hannah began her training at the Tivoli school in Kent and then went on to gain her professional ISTD teaching qualifications at Deborah Capon College. She then furthered her studies at the Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and Ripley Grier Studios, New York City. Hannah currently holds the position of Head of Tap Faculty at the Hasland Dance Studios. Hannah’s choreography experience includes Mack and Mabel, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, Me and My Girl, Scrooge, 42nd Street and Brigadoon for the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury. Hannah has won many prestigious awards for her choreography, both in regional and national competitions.

Ryan Campbell-Birch is a professional tap dance performer, teacher, and choreographer based in London, UK. His passion for tap developed at a young age, beginning under his mother’s tutelage in his hometown of Bristol, and has since taken him around the world from Stockholm to Sydney, London to LA, and New York to New Zealand.
Ryan graduated from Doreen Bird College of Dance and Theatre Performance with a 1st Class BA Hons in 2010, and just six weeks later returned as a faculty member to tutor students on the pre-professional diploma and degree programs. Since then, he has taught for many of the UK’s leading colleges, including Italia Conti, Urdang, Morea Performing Arts, Masters Performing Arts and Guildford School of Acting. Globally, he has taught pre-professionals at Brent Street in Sydney and the Australian Institute of Music, as well as workshops in Canberra, Perth, Tauranga (NZ), Auckland, and the National Ballet School in Dubai.

Ryan has performed at Stockholm and Brighton Tap Festivals and taught at the Australian Tap Dance Festival (2016) and Tap Dance Festival UK (2017). He is also a workshop faculty member for the UK’s leading youth company, Tap Attack, and his choreography has won bronze and silver medals at the IDO World Championships with the team.

Believing that good teaching stems from continuous learning, Ryan has travelled the globe in order to study under some of the world’s current masters.

As a performer, Ryan has toured extensively with the sell-out show Tap Factory (EU, US, UK, UAE) and was the first British cast member in 2014. He was a founding member of Avalon Rathgeb’s company, Old Kent Road, and has performed in the Arts Council-funded and critically acclaimed show Fall Out in venues around the UK and the Edinburgh Fringe. Ryan co-choreographed the company’s second show, Dirty. Tap. Funk! which was commissioned by Theatre Bench for the InMotion Festival at the Bunker Theatre, London in 2017, and he was also part of Old Kent Road’s collaboration with Josh Hilberman to create video documentation of his honoured piece of choreography Capella Josh. Ryan is currently touring with Fall Out and is rehearsal director for the company.
In addition, he is part of the organisational team at London Tap Jam, which runs every second month in Hoxton, East London. The team also frequently hosts guest tap dancers from around the world for masterclasses and performances. Ryan is the Creative Director of Tap Dance UK — an online hub for Britain’s tap dance community providing information on classes, performances and resources for teachers, students and enthusiasts. Ryan’s first web series can be found for free on YouTube, with further resources available through Tap Dance UK.

Additional clients and credits include: The Australian Football League, Canon, Northern Tap Company, UK Music Video Awards, YouKu, Audi, Mercedes, The Chinese Film Festival London, The Empire Casino London, Mumford and Sons, The IDTA, The ISTD, The Tap Rhythm Project and Move It.

Adam Buckley graduated from Bird College in 2003 and spent the first few years working as a tap dancer/teacher/choreographer until 2007 when he got accepted into the show STOMP. He spent the next 11 years leading the show in London’s West End and the world over. He has continued his association with the show since, performing, aiding in routine creation, training new cast members alongside moving into teaching tap and body percussion.

Adam has been working at a Willow Dene SEND school assisting children with autism and complex needs over the last couple of years. He has recently completed a ‘Music as Therapy’ course and is creating and implementing music & movement sessions for children there alongside his new role on the tap faculty at Bird College, where his passion for rhythm and performance are equally matched by his ambition to inspire others with all he has learnt.

Chris graduated from Bird College with a First-Class BA (Honors) in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. Upon graduating, Chris was presented with the Most Professional Gentleman Award and the Acting Achievement Award.

In 2014 he competed at the IDO Tap World Championships and won gold with the Tap Attack England Team. In 2019, Chris joined Avalon Rathgeb’s professional tap company, Old Kent Road, and has toured with the company in performances across the UK, Caribbean, and China. Chris was 1 of 24 dancers worldwide chosen to participate in the 2023 esteemed tap program at Jacob’s Pillow, Massachusetts, USA. His Professional Performance Credits include, Theatre: Bobby C in Saturday Night Fever (International Tour), Oscillate (UK and China Tour), Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Newcastle Theatre Royal), Cinderella (Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage), Television: Teen Patrick Swayze in The Real Patrick Swayze, In His Own Words (Biopic), and Feature Film: Young Dave in Brighton (Director Stephen Cookson).

Chris has a passion for teaching and choreography and teaches for the Tap Attack company and co-runs the Tap Attack South East Associates program. He is currently on the dance faculty at Bird College and Performers College and has experience teaching at a variety of schools and institutions including Masters Performing Arts, the Centre PAC and Professional classes at Pineapple Dance Studios.