Our people
We understand how important it is to bring our member communities together regularly online or in person, which is why we're introducing and expanding our regional representative network. Whether you're a member of the Society or not, everybody is welcome to join your regional ISTD Facebook page. Share local news, and updates and promote ISTD CPD events and membership.
Jessica initially trained at Tiffany Stage Academy and then at Performers College graduating in 2005 with a Trinity National Diploma in Dance and also her ISTD Associate in Modern Theatre and FDI in Tap. During her time at Tiffany Stage Academy, Jessica performed in the NYMT’s West End production of Bugsy Malone. She was also a finalist at the ISTD’s prestigious Janet Cram Awards and won Outstanding Dance at The Marjorie Davis Star Tap Awards.
Upon graduating from Performers College, Jessica immediately knew that a teaching career was what she wanted to pursue. Jessica now holds Fellowship status with both the ISTD Modern Theatre and Tap faculties. She is an ISTD DDE Tutor for Performers College, Jackie Barnes Teacher Training, The Company Performing Arts, and Adagio College of Performing Arts. She also currently teaches ISTD Vocational Graded classes at Performers College.
Jessica is on both the Grades and Advanced 1 teaching team for the ISTD Modern Theatre faculty and has lectured at the ISTD online Summer School and Spring Programme. She has also
conducted classes at both the heats and finals of the Janet Cram Awards. Jessica hopes to inspire each and every student and teacher she works with and share her passion for performing arts.
Jayne is an examiner with the national faculty and has been a committee member for the faculty for a number of years. She also has her fellowship with the modern and tap faculties.
Jayne has run a successful school in Leicester for 35 years, an Approved Dance Centre (ADC) for the ISTD. She is also a DDE tutor at three ADCs, encouraging young teachers from the Midlands area.
Jayne has been adjudicating for over 10 years and is a BIFF and All-England adjudicator.
She lives in Leicestershire with her husband and has two children and stepdaughter and a granddaughter.
Amy Jarrett has followed the ISTD since the age of three and has been a full teaching member since 1999, when she founded her own dancing school in Fakenham, Norfolk 23 years ago.
Amy holds a Licentiate status in Modern Theatre and is currently training for her Licentiate qualification in Tap and Imperial Ballet.
With a passion to progress with her qualifications, Amy is keen to motivate the Norfolk region, offering help and guidance to fellow ISTD teachers in the area by promoting future CPD courses of each genre.
Andrew initially became a regional rep as he met so many local teachers in his role at Preston College, wanting to find a way to build a community of local teachers in order to share experiences and develop a hub of ISTD activity in the Northwest.
Currently a member of the ISTD Tap committee, Andrew holds fellowship status with the Tap Dance Faculty. Andrew is a Curriculum Leader and Dance Principal at Preston College Dance (PCD), where he teaches Vocational and DDE Unit 4 Tap. He also teaches at the Amanda Rogers School of Dance and Performing Arts, as well as adjudicating festivals and regularly lecturing for other dance awarding bodies.
Laura grew up in Lydiate, Merseyside, and began dancing at the age of 2 and a half where her love of dance, music, and live theatre has developed into a career of performing and teaching, as well as identifying and nurturing talent.
After training at Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre and attaining her ISTD teaching qualification in Classical Ballet, Tap, and Modern Theatre Laura took up a dancing position with the Italian Cruise line “Costa” travelling throughout Europe and the Middle East. However, her passion for teaching and choreography saw Laura return to Liverpool in 2008 where she now divides her time between teaching at schools and colleges across Liverpool and Chester. Laura continually strives to further her professional development and has secured her Licentiate in Classical Ballet, Tap Dance, Fellowship in Modern Theatre, and is a tutor for the DDE.
Laura’s refreshing and enthusiastic approach to choreography and her love to inspire others in dance brought her to the Liverpool Empire in 2012 where she works with the Youth Ballet and Musical Theatre groups.
She is excited to be a Regional Representative for the ISTD and create a community for teachers where they can socialise, network, and support each other.
Gillian is based in Renfrewshire, Scotland and currently teaches full-time in further education, as well as running her own dance studio. She commenced her dance training with Elizabeth Henderson, and as a child studied the ISTD Tap, Ballet and modern set syllabus’s as well as being a junior associate with Scottish Ballet.
She graduated from Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts, London with her Diploma in Dance and ISTD teaching qualifications and danced professionally on board cruise ships, around the Mediterranean and Baltic Capitals, during summer season both in Europe and Britain and pantomimes all around the UK.
She commenced her teaching career at Dance Studio Scotland, Glasgow, where to date, she still teaches NQ through to HND students. Gillian has independently embedded the ISTD training programme into the current SQA framework, where she is now head of the programme at Glasgow Clyde College. She has also been part of the teaching faculties at the Dance school of Scotland, and the Scottish Ballet Junior associate programme. She also recently achieved her TQFE, which further allowed her to become a full GTC registered member in professional teaching.
Within her own private dance studio, she has created both a competitive and holistic training programme, dependent on what kind of experience her students are looking for. With her pupils she has attained multiple dance titles, from all over Britain and has had many join her when choreographing for the Scottish premiere of Evita, Orpheus In the underworld for Scottish Opera and Mother Goose for Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock.
Gillian is extremely honoured to be taking on the regional representative role after her mentor Elizabeth Henderson retired. She hopes that she can continue to support and inform our members well and is very excited to meet everyone at our first meeting!
Victoria is a dance teacher from Southampton and has run her own school since 1998 where she teaches Imperial Classical Ballet, Tap, Modern Theatre, and National Dance to children and Adults. She is proud to have permanently adapted to a Hybrid way of teaching with a successful Adult Programme running both in person and online. Victoria is a member of the teaching faculty at The Point Eastleigh and is an Associate Artist of the Luminelle Collective Identity Project teaching people with Parkinson's and other neurological conditions. She also works with Hampshire County Council and their Falls Prevention Team, specialising in dance, exercise, and movement.
Outside of her dance work Victoria is a theatre director, producer, and event coordinator for a number of South Coast charities and arranges large-scale variety shows and fundraising events. She is also a trustee for PLANETS Cancer Charity and enjoys bringing her event management skills to this post.
Victoria says:
“I stepped into the role of South Coast Regional Representative in 2015 when our wonderful team of local examiners chose to retire from their well-established local committee. I enjoy helping our members to continue their professional development and look forward to networking and facilitating some great courses and opportunities for the region!”
As an active member of the ISTD since 1984, Kathy has been involved with the Modern, Tap and Imperial Ballet branches for many years and has seen many changes. She has also acted as area organiser for the region since taking over the Western Stage Group in the 1980s, and has continued to offer ISTD Courses and an exam centre each term over the years. These are run from her studios - Dance Station in Fishponds, Bristol which has plenty of amenities and good access to motorway links. Kathy runs a busy dance school with 6 local branches and a college offering part-time DDE teacher training courses.
Kathy is very excited about the recent changes in the ISTD and keen to assist members in any way she can by building a ‘buzzing’ dance community.
Nicola Carmichael trained at the Hammond School in Chester. After three successful years of study, performance, and the role of Head Girl she then moved to work and teach abroad in Germany and Northern Italy for several years. On returning to the U.K. she became Principal of Carmichael School of Dance and Theatre Arts in 1987 and under her guidance, Nicola and her colleagues developed it into a 400-strong student-based art school covering a full range of genres.
The school became an Approved Centre for the ISTD in 1998. Nicola is an approved tutor for the new Classical Ballet Teaching Certificate for the RAD. Nicola holds her Licentiate Diploma in the Modern Dance and Imperial Ballet faculties for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
Fleur says:
"I have been the regional rep for the ISTD since I took over from the wonderful Cynthia Carr about 15 years ago. I am excited to catch up with many Yorkshire teachers and to also meet new teachers in the area that would like to network and gain support from your region.
I have had my own dance school for 30 years on the outskirts of Hull, near Beverley, and have been a qualified ISTD teacher all of that time. I feel well placed to support teachers in running a successful business and also furthering their careers. The ISTD has been working hard on the regional representative roles and I hope to build a community of teachers so we can all help each other and you all feel more supported form your society."
Laura trained, at the Centre Performing Arts College, where she undertook 3 years professional dance training, completing Advanced Vocational dance exams and Associate teaching qualifications in ISTD Imperial Ballet, Modern and Tap. She graduated from the University of Surrey with an upper-second class honours degree in Dance and Culture the University of Greenwich, with a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education and Training.
Laura has been teaching dance since 2002 and is a recognised teacher through the Council of Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre and Foundation for Community Dance. As well as running her own business, Laura also freelances as a Community Dance Practitioner in and around Kent.
In 2008, Laura gained her UKA Diploma in Salsa running Salsa nights under the name Latin Essence and dancing professionally until 2014. She is a qualified gym instructor, exercise to music instructor, exercise referral instructor and personal trainer. Laura also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Dance Cultures, Histories and Practices in at The University of Surrey.
Laura is a qualified Module 1 and 2 Acrobatic Arts Dance Instructor and was one of the first dance schools in Medway to offer this syllabus. In 2019, Laura completed her MA in Professional Practice Dance Pedagogy at Middlesex University and ISTD Licentiate Tap, through DC College in Whitstable. She completed the Progressing Ballet Technique training course with founder Marie Walton and the Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swans training. Laura is currently studying for ISTD Fellowship Tap and ISTD Licentiate Modern. She is an ISTD approved tutor for the DDE Level 4 Teaching Qualification.
Webinars
Join your local International ISTD Regional Representative for our termly member update meetings. These meetings will give you the...
Online
Tuesday 17 Dec
Workshops
Join us to learn about how the ISTD street dance syllabus can revolutionise your dance classes and boost your...
Online
Sunday 5 Jan
Workshops
Join this webinar to answer all questions about DFR Grand finals weekend 2025.
Online
Wednesday 8 Jan
Competitions
The Disco, Freestyle and Rock 'n' Roll Faculty are excited to be touring venues around the UK for their...
venue not specified
Sunday 12 Jan
Webinars
Join our teacher support sessions to have your questions answered by our Heads of Faculty Development.
Online
Wednesday 15 Jan
Competitions
Members who are currently entering pupils for ISTD Ballroom, Latin American and Sequence medals are eligible to take part...
Various
Sunday 19 Jan
Workshops
Whether you are on stage performing, making or learning dance, we know how to support people with the dual...
Online
Tuesday 21 Jan
In studio courses
Come and learn the New Advanced 1 Tap syllabus in studio!
The Company Performing Arts, Oxford Road Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 3TH
Sunday 26 Jan
In studio courses
Come and learn the New Advanced 1 Tap syllabus in studio!
Pilands Wood Centre, Chamberlayne Rd, Southampton, SO31 8DT
Sunday 26 Jan
In studio courses
Participants will learn about the core fundamentals, historically and physically for Locking and Hip Hop.
ISTD HQ studio - 22/26 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4QE.
Sunday 26 Jan
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