our faculty
meet the people behind
epa's success
FIRST CLASS FACULTY RIGHT HERE IN THE EAST MIDLANDS NO NEED TO GO TO LONDON FOR TOP CLASS TUITION
Maxine Glasby
PRINCIPAL
Founder and Principal of Expressions Academy of Performing Arts in 1989. Fellowship of the IDTA.International adjudicator. Trainer of numerous World championship dancers.
Lynn Nelson
VICE PRINCIPAL
Head of Singing, Musical Theatre
Lynn has been involved in musical theatre throughout the past twenty years, performing in over 40 musicals productions, taking such roles as Mabel, ‘Mack and Mabel’, The Witch, ‘Into the Woods’ and Mamma Rose, ‘Gypsy’. She has taken part in National and International Music Festivals and won best voice and best female performance.
Lynn enjoys teaching vocal technique and performance, focusing on the Jo Estill Voice Craft and finds the work both challenging and extremely rewarding. She is also a member of the BVA.
sian dakin
COURSE LEAD/AERIAL TUTOR
Sian having worked extensively in the Performing Arts for the past 20 years joins us from Celebrity Cruises having worked for the past 5 years as Lead Install director.
She has worked extensively in dance, acro and aerial work for Celebrity Cruises, Royal Carribean Cruises and Costa Cruises.
She also trained with C5 in Las Vegas aerial training and performed in Los Angeles in Phantom of the Opera.
Sian along with her role as Course Leader teaches aerial work with our students.
JORDI GUITART
American Jazz Tutor
Head of Dance
Jordi came to England from Barcelona in 1990 and trained as a dancer at Bodywork and The Urdang Academy. His professional career has taken him all over the World both as a dancer and choreographer. Jordi has also has previous worked in the West End in Saturday Night Fever (Jorge/Cesar), La Cava (Ensemble/Tariq),
Fame (Ensemble/Joe Vegas) West Side Story (Bernado) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas)
He has been involved, both as Director and Choreographer in many workshops for West End Musicals in the making such as Hell Sing, Stars Falling, The Golden Voice and Best of Friends. Choreographed the European premiere of Happy Ending and the World premier of Reeds Sway. He choreographed the opening gala of the 1st Middle East Youth Festival for the King of Bahrain at Bahrain. Choreographed UK tours for Jessica Steel (X Factor) Lydia Lucy (The Voice) and the UK tour of United Vibe (X Factor)
Jordi has directed and choreographed new pop artistes UK tours. Shows at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sadler Wells, O2 and Royal Albert Hall in London plus review shows in Paris.
Jordi has worked as a guest teacher and choreographer for many of the main dance and Performing Arts colleges in this Country and abroad, including EPA, where he is Head of Dance and Ballet West where is he Head of the Jazz Department.
Jordi loves to pass on a wealth of knowledge of dance and showbiz through his teaching and is extremely passionate and thorough in his methods. Anyone who experiences a Jordi dance class is sure to be inspired pushed, nurtured and helped.
RYAN DOUGLAS
Course Co-ordinator/Jazz Tutor
Ryan Patrick Douglas is from Mansfield, UK and trained at EPA himself from a young age.
Whilst training Ryan also gained teaching qualifications with the IDTA in Freestyle & Latin American. From graduating Ryan worked extensively for over 10 years in the professional world completing many UK based and International Cruise Contracts. This included pantomimes for UK Productions, Imagine Theatre and some in-house productions whilst also doing some gigs around the UK. Whilst at sea Ryan worked his way quickly from a dancer up to Dance Captain, Manager and Install Director for some of the world’s leadings cruise lines; Princess, Celebrity & Cunard.
In between his time away Ryan taught at several vocational colleges and dance schools around the UK, as teaching has always been a big passion of his. In this time Ryan has presented workshops and choreographed many pieces for various shows and corporate events including Move It & CYD. Ryan is also a member of the ADFP and DJ/Music Edits for several nationwide competitions.
Now, returning to his roots Ryan loves being at EPA training, mentoring and inspiring the next generation of talented individuals and loves delivering his #FALLOUT classes to the student’s week in week out.
tatiana tretyakova
Ballet Tutor
Tatiana trained at the Bolshoi Ballet School and Kiev University where she gained an honours degree in art and dance.
She was a principal soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet where she performed in over 30 ballets and toured in more than 60 countries.
She has also choreographed and coached many ice skating programmes including designing and implementing a sport scientific programme that has enhanced on ice performance.
She is also trained in pilates, advanced nutrition and advanced anatomy and physiology.
CHARLIE BRUCE
Lyrical & Commercial Dance Tutor
Charlie trained at the Arts Educational school from the age of 10-16 years and went on to further her training at Laine Theatre Arts until the age of 18. Additionally she spent 7 years with the National Youth Ballet.
In 2010 Charlie won the hit TV show "So you think you can dance"on BBC1. She then proceeded to dance in Los Angeles for the finale of Season 7 "So you think you can dance" where viewing topped 15 million viewers.
Charlie went on to play the role of Baby in the West End production of Dirty Dancing. She was then invited to take part in Revolution at the Theatre Royal as a featured dancer alongside Kimberley Wyatt and Adam Garcia
In 2012 Charlie performed in the closing ceremony of the Olympics. She has already had great success in TV including 4music advert, X Factor Live shows , Royal Variety, Britains Got Talent, Mamma Mia 2 the Movie.
Last year she took place in 2 major dance shows - Remembering Fred, dancing for Jeanette and Aljaz and Rip it Up at the Garrick Theatre, the 50s and 60s dancing alongside Natalie Lowe, Louise Smith, Jay McGuiness, Harry Judd and Aston Merrygold.
Elizabeth haslam
Ballet Tutor
Elizabeth trained at Central School of Ballet where she toured with British Gas Ballet central with Jane Regan as Ballet mistress. During this time she was selected by Christopher Gable to work with Northern Ballet on their adaptation of Dracula where she performed the duet. She then went on to perform as part of the corps de ballet in Aida with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra having been selected by Lynn Seymour. Soloist in Vis av Magi, Norway (ABT Choreographer). Elizabeth then progressed to a more contemporary root finishing her 10 year career in film and TV.
After performing Elizabeth moved into the world of teaching and choreography. This has taken he all over the world teaching master classes in London, Italy, Antigua and Guadeloupe alongside Patricia Ruanne (Ex Principal of the Royal Ballet Company) and Frederick Jahn (Ex Principal of the Australian Ballet Company)
Elizaeth has taught in numerous colleges. The Haslam dance academy has been running for 50 years and together Elizabeth and her mother continue to inspire the school
The highlight of Elizabeths teaching career was working with Ballet Theatre UK where she was the original ballet mistress to the company working on The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Snow Queen, A Christmas Carol and Alice.
Stewart Arnold
Contemporary Jazz Tutor
Having initially trained as a dancer at The London School Of Contemporary Dance, Stewart Avon Arnold has gone on to become a highly successful choreographer.
For the last 20 years Stewart has been constantly involved in West End Shows, Pop Promos and Television series.
He also finds time to teach intensive courses and master classes at leading schools throughout Europe, Scandinavia and Japan.
The breadth of his knowledge of forms of dance, together with his unique talent and sensitivity, make Stewart a very powerful creative asset to every production.
DEBORAH PEARCE
Acting Tutor
Deborah has worked extensively in TV as a presenter back in her native Ireland where she also gained her qualifications. She is no stranger to the theatre industry having worked for the past 20 years both backstage and directing a range of productions. Debs has been heavily involved in theatre within the community as a way to encourage a love of the performing arts in young people giving them the opportunity to perform.
In 2010 Debs was involved with the Billy Youth Theatre London project where she attended the production of Billy Elliot and had the opportunity to workshop with the director and writer of the show. Bringing the Billy youth theatre project back to her local community she was a part of a production team that staged the show at the Mansfield Palace Theatre and the Nottingham playhouse Theatre. Having been inspired by the project Debs remained involved with the community production team who collaboratively have since staged Sunshine on Leith, Our House and Happy days to name a few.
Over the last 10 years Debs has been working in Theatre in Education settings producing and directing over 40 productions including Pantomimes, Musicals and Plays as well as many workshops, inspiring the next generation of performers. She now joins us to nurture our talent with her wealth of experience.
Debs is delivering acting, presenting and tv and screen work to our students.
CHARLIE KEEN
Commercial Dance Tutor
Charlie is dancer and choreographer from Leicester. Having started dancing from a young age has a wealth of experience in competing and performing.
Appeared on Got to Dance and Britains Got Talent
Charlie specialises in stage performance pieces and competition choreography, and provides versatile choreography in a vast array of hip hop and commercial styles.
Charlie prides himself in providing a safe, hardworking and enjoyable environment for the students to learn and grow as dancers.
ellie cobb
Cabaret Tutor
Ellie is professionally trained in Musical Theatre. She has worked in Theatre, Film and Television throughout her career.
Past credits include We Will Rock you, 42nd Street, Assistant choreographer BBC The People's Strictly, Resident Director Thursford Christmas Spectacular.
Dancer The John Bishop Show, Resident Dancer ITV Pop Star to Opera Star, Dancer Thursford Christmas Spectacular, Soloist Spirit of Broadway UK Tour, Vocalist/Dancer Songs from the Musical, Dancer 20th Century Fox Mrs Henderson Presents.
PETE SMITH
Singing Tutor
Musical Director
Pete is an experienced Musical Director, Musical arranger, pianist, vocal coach and repertoire tutor.
as a musician he plays piano, clarinet, saxophone and flute.
On stage Pete has played many lead roles including a robot and a Waxwork actor !!
Other roles include Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady, Mr Bumble in Oliver, Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar and Oliver Warbucks in Annie.
As a musical director he has conducted numerous musicals including Brigadoon, Me and My girl, Barnum, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Sweet Charity, Anything Goes, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oliver, Joseph and Little Shop of Horrors
Pete loves working with singers of all ages and abilities to help them realise their full potential.
kris manuel
Acting through Song Tutor
TRAINED: The Royal Academy of Music (London) and The Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama (Nottingham).
THEATRE INCLUDES: Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's Theatre, London) Cover 'Andre' and 'Reyer'; Matilda the Musical for the Royal Shakespeare Company (Cambridge Theatre, London) The Doctor/The Escapologist; Cover Mr Wormwood/Sergei; Billy Elliot the Musical (UK and Ireland Tour) Cover Mr Braithwaite/Big Davy; La Boheme (Royal Albert Hall); Starlight Express (UK Tour 11/12) Ruhrgold/Alternate Electra; Starlight Express (UK Tour 07/08) Ruhrgold/Cover Rusty; Saturday Night Fever (UK tour) Lou/Cover Bobby C/Joey/Chester/Gus; Crazy for You (UK tour) Wyatt/Cover the Rhythm Kings; Peter Pan The Musical (Genting, Kuala Lumpur); Hooray for Hollywood (Monte Carlo Sporting Club) Soloist; Elton John and Ray Cooper (Royal Albert Hall) Soloist; All Male Iolanthe (Union Theatre) The Fairy Queen, Ruddigore (Tabard Theatre) Sir Despard of Murgatroyd; Aladdin (Lincoln Drill Hall) Aladdin. Sleeping Beauty (Lincoln Drill Hall) Prince; Robin Hood (Oxford Playhouse) Sir Guy of Guisbourne.
CHARLOTTE DANIEL
Singing Tutor
Music has been my passion and purpose for as long as I can remember. I spent hours teaching myself to play the recorder and singing in my childhood bedroom (sorry, parents!), I studied flute and piano as a teenager and went on to achieve a first-class BA (Hons) Music degree from the University of Nottingham. This was followed swiftly by a further MA Music degree, during which time I also started conducting and teaching, and my passion for musical theatre and singing really came to the forefront both in my academic studies and the work I started as a musical director in community theatre.
Since then, vocal coaching has become a specialism for me. I've put hours of work and study into my own professional development in this area; I have completed numerous courses including Estill Voice Training Levels 1&2, joined the BVA (British Voice Association) and AOTOS (Association of Teachers of Singing), attended numerous conferences and development sessions, and most recently commenced work on becoming a certified Vocal Health First Aider. I've been able to pass this knowledge on to my amazing students who have gone from strength to strength gaining incredible exam results, opportunities and their dream places at top drama schools like Urdang Academy, GSA and LIPA. I’ve also had the chance to be musical director for some incredible, award-winning community and youth musicals, and have recently started a new venture opening VoxFresh Derby, a contemporary singing group for young people!
JUSTINE LEE
Tap Tutor
Justine trained at Arts Educational Schools and the AMTA, graduating in 2011 as the winner of the Dance Award. She is qualified at Fellowship level with the IDTA and has fifteen years experience teaching all ages at several dance schools and colleges across the country.
Choreography credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Theatre Royal, Nottingham), The Queen’s Knickers (UK Tour and West End), Different Class (Barons Court Theatre), On Paper (Young Actors Theatre, Islington), The Visit (New Wimbledon Youth Theatre), Cyrano of Brixton (Brockley Jack Theatre).
As a performer, Justine has appeared in over twenty professional productions including The Queen’s Knickers (UK Tour and West End), Father Christmas Needs A Wee! (Swindon Arts Centre), Father Christmas Comes Up Trumps (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), The Giant’s Loo Roll (UK Tour), Fifty Days of Grey (UK Tour), Honk! (The Lost Theatre).
Following her West End Debut, 2022 was the beginning of a few career changes for Justine. She is now co-principal of the Lisa Gail Theatre School and resident choreographer for TaleGate Theatre Productions. Justine is also the host of ‘Centre Stage’ for Box Office Radio.
dana de waal
Pianist/Composer/Singing Tutor
Musical Director
AMY LEGGE
BA Hons Course Leader
Amy trained as an actor at Bretton Hall before completing a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education at The Institute of Education (University of London) and a Masters in Applied Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Amy worked extensively as an Agent and was part of the casting team for the long running
TV Series The Bill and Murder Investigation Team.
Amy worked as a teacher of Acting in Musical Theatre at the BRIT school in
Croydon before joining Nottingham college as course leader for Level 3 Acting. Amy now runs the BA Performing Arts programme at Nottingham College which incorporates the BA at Expressions
Amy has directed over 40 productions, ranging from absurdist and post dramatic drama and full length musicals. Her focus is on the development of the actor as a part of an ensemble and her ethos is to encourage creativity and the development of the thinking actor. Amy is passionate about working with young people and encouraging them to have a voice, to develop their creative skills and performance technique in order to help them build careers in the Industry.
As well as running the BA Amy works as an Associate Artist with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and is a member of the participation team at the Nottingham Playhouse. She also hosts regular guest lectures specialising in audition t
Since relocating from South Africa has performed on stages all over the World and wowed audiences far and wide with his critically acclaimed vocal agility and unparalleled technical vocal abilities over a range of styles. As an accomplished pianist Dana has performed with orchestras and chamber music ensembles. Highlights of his performing career include The Nelson Mandela tribute concert at The Royal Albert Hall, the Messiah in Bophutatswana for President Lucas Mangope, Mass in B Minor by Bach , Carmen, Acis and Galatea.
As a lifelong scholar of music Dana specialises in bespoke compositions and arrangements. After gaining his B Mus degree with distinction for Piano and Singing, M Mus (Hons) cum laude and A Mus cum laude. As a highly qualified musician Dana teaches students to degree level.
THOMAS COOPER
Acro/Gym Tutor
Thomas has been working onboard Princess Cruises as Assistant Company Manager. Previous he worked with P&O cruises as a dancer and acrobat, having completed the inaugural
sailings with Iona. A fully qualified dance teacher and coach Thomas was trained by his late father Stuart Cooper who was a County club gymnastic coach.
Thomas will be training the students in gymnastic and acro.
simon horne Student Liaison Officer/Residential Officer
....
BEN RICHARDS PATRON
We are very proud to have Ben as our patron for many years. Ben is currently appearing as The Duke in Moulin Rouge the Musical West End.
Ben is known for his TV roles playing PC Nathaniel Roberts in Britains longest running
police drama The Bill as well as a long stint on
Footballers Wives and most recently Ben
appeared in a recurring role in Emmerdale as
Calvin. Other TV roles include Holby City and
Doctors and his film credits include Bring me
the Head of Mavis Davis and Julie and the
Cadillac's as well as Penny on Mars.
Ben is also an accomplished Musical Theatre
performer with many West End shows including
Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls , Danny Zuko
in Grease , Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever
and Jerry Lukowski in The Full Monty, Ben took
over from Jason Donovan to play the lead role
in Priscilla Queen of the desert at the Palace
Theatre.
Other stage roles include Time flies, Robin Hood
and Babes in the Wood, 9 to 5, The all new
Jimmy Cricket show, Radio Times, The Joe
Longthorne Summer Show, The Magic of the
Musicals, The Golden songs of the silver screen
Tour, Tribute to Rudolf Nureyev, Meet the Boys,
Up on the Roof, Hot Mikado and Smokey Joes
Cafe.