Industry Day 2025 promises to be a wonderful programme of workshops for all age groups, where children can focus on the enjoyment of dance through Musical theatre and Street dance. Culminating in a exciting Q&A session with Anthony Van Laast CBE, ISTD Vice President, and musical theatre choreographer. 

Teachers can also gain valuable knowledge and CPD from our lecturers, in their own workshops. 

There will be an opportunity to network with other teachers and committee members and ask any questions you may have about membership or our syllabi.

A warm welcome awaits you from our Modern Theatre Faculty Committee. 

Anthony Van Laast – CBE

Anthony is a renowned choreographer whose career spans theatre, film, television, and live performance. A graduate of the London School of Contemporary Dance, he began as both performer and choreographer with the school’s company.

Anthony’s theatre credits include global hits such as Tina The Musical (Outer Circle Critics Award, Tony Award nomination), Mamma Mia! (Dora Mavor Moore Award), Sister Act (Olivier Award nomination), Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat (Olivier Award nomination), and Candide (Olivier Award for Best Musical). In film, his work features in Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia!, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, and more.

On television, Anthony has served as Creative Director for The Olivier Awards and The Royal Variety Show. He has also choreographed concerts for iconic artists including Cher, Kate Bush, and Sarah Brightman.

A dedicated educator, Anthony has taught at the London Contemporary Dance School, The Royal Ballet School, and Rambert Dance Company. He is a patron of Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama, Urdang, and The Place.

Honoured with an MBE in 1999 and a CBE in 2018 for services to dance and choreography, Anthony also holds an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts. As Vice President of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, he continues to inspire the next generation of dance artists.

Lukas Hunt

Lukas trained at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.

Lukas’ dance credits include La Strada (Sadler’s Wells), McOnie Company Nutcracker (Southbank Centre); Dancer for, Alina Cojocaru, Marguerite and Armand (Sadler’s Wells); Alice’s Adventures Underground (Royal Opera House); Toreador in Carmen (Ballet Ireland); Dancer in Káťa Kabanová (Glyndebourne Opera House); Apprentice in A.D. Contemporary Company (Holly Noble); Ensemble in Back & Waltz in Swingtime (Dance Theatre of Harlem); Soloist in Interludes (Temple of Understanding Gala)

Lukas’ theatre, TV & film include BAFTAs 2024 (Paul Roberts), Swing/Dance Captain in The Artist; McOnie Company Ensemble/Dance captain in Cake (UK Tour); Ensemble/Dance Captain in Dreamgirls (UK Tour); Ensemble in Carousel (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Dancer in Death on the Nile (20th Century Studios); Ensemble in On The Town (Hyogo Performing Arts Centre, Japan); Fisherman in Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again (Universal Pictures); Dancer in Artemis Fowl (Disney); Ensemble in The Lion King (UK & International Tour).

Lukas is also a keen choreogrpaher, and credits include choreographer for Anyone Can Sing TV series (Sky Arts); Associate Choreographer for Cake Musical Tour (Drew McOnie).

Lucy-Jane Adcock

Lucy-Jane is an experienced West End performer and has appeared in a multitude of West End productions. Her theatre credits include: Sylvia in AN EVENING OF DIRTY DANCING, (UK Tour), Carmen, u/s Charity in SWEET CHARITY at The Royal Exchange, Manchester, Miss Adelaide in GUYS AND DOLLS (Tel Aviv),  Mimi and u/s Miss Adelaide in GUYS AND DOLLS (Phoenix Theatre, West End and UK Tour), u/s Mrs Wormwood and Mrs Phelps in MATILDA THE MUSICAL (Cambridge Theatre, West End), Pinkette, u/s Pinky and Mrs Cunningham in HAPPY DAYS THE MUSICAL (UK tour), Judy Turner u/s Cassie in A CHORUS LINE (London Palladium, West End), Featured dancer and u/s Madge in TOP HAT (UK tour and Aldwych Theatre, West End), featured vocalist in Ruthie Henshall’s SOUNDS OF HOLLYWOOD (UK tour), Hunyak in CHICAGO (Cambridge Theatre, West End), ensemble and u/s Ali in MAMMA MIA (Prince of Wales, West End), Dinah in STARLIGHT EXPRESS (UK and Scandinavian tours) u/s Serena and Miss Bell in FAME (Aldwych Theatre, West End) Original cast of TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT (Victoria Palace Theatre, West End) and Silly Girl in DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (international tour).

Other work includes: Carabosse in SLEEPING BEAUTY, Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Choreographed DICK WHITTINGTON Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, BRIDGET JONES - THE MUSICAL (workshop) THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE (workshop) assistant choreographer for LEGENDS OF HOLLYWOOD (Grosvenor House for Private Drama) Assistant to Alan Burkitt on BBC’s STRICTLY COME DANCING and original cast recordings of TOP HAT and TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT.  

She also teaches and choreographs at various colleges and performing arts schools across the UK and can be seen as a guest tutor at many of the venues of the ‘Can You Dance?’ tours and she holds open Musical Theatre Jazz and tap classes at Base Studios for graduates and professionals.

Freya Sands

Freya is the West End and International Associate choreographer on SIX - The Musical, responsible for setting up and maintaining productions worldwide, including Australia, America and Korea.

Freya’s other notable choreography work includes - Associate Choreographer on A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Lido2, Paris); The Merry Widow (Glyndebourne Opera); Assistant Choreographer on The Next Generation (Royal Festival Hall); Jeeves and Wooster (West End); ZooNation's Groove on Down the Road (Wolverhampton); FFS (Arts Depot) and The Realness (Hackney Down Studios). 

As a dancer credits include - Capital Summertime Ball (Wembley Arena); iTunes Festival (Roundhouse) and MTV Malta, all of which dancing for Kiesza. Breakin' Convention (Sadler’s Wells); Back to the Lab (Sadler's Wells), work with ZooNation and two U.K. Arena tours with Diversity (Limitless the Reboot and Up Close and Personal), along with various TV roles alongside the all-female Hip Hop company Boadicea.

Jacqui Jameson

Jacqui has had an extensive career on stage and screen. She is proud to have worked with renowned artists including Gwen Verdon, Anne Reinking, Joel Grey, Chita Rivera, Gillian Lynne and Anthony Van Laast. Passionate about inspiring the next generation of performers, Jacqui has taught at the Guildford School of Acting and recently as Head of Jazz at Laine Theatre Arts. She is currently a freelance teacher with classes at Pineapple in London. LaDuca have paid homage to Jacqui’s incredible career by naming an iconic boot in her honour..."The JJ”. Credits include: KISS ME KATE ( Barbican Theatre) BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED (Lyric Theatre); MY FAIR LADY (National Theatre & Theatre Royal Drury Lane); FOSSE (Prince of Wales Theatre); CHICAGO (Adelphi Theatre); HEATHCLIFF

Lecturers

In the instance of a change to availability, we may need to find an alternative lecturer (than the one originally scheduled). This will not affect the content covered.

Further questions

If you have any further questions, please contact modern@istd.org and a member of the team will get back to you.

Terms and Conditions

A media consent form must be completed by parents/carers/guardians confirming consent for any images/video footage taken during this event to be used for marketing and publicity purposes by the ISTD. Images and video footage may be kept and used by the Society for any promotional purposes for up to two years.

The ISTD accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or damage to you, persons around, your property or your identity.

The ISTD reserves the right to cancel or amend any session within this event and these terms and conditions without notice. Any changes to the event will be notified to participants as soon as possible by the organiser.

No refunds are payable once a ticket has been purchased and payment received.

This event relies on a certain number of entries being received. If insufficient entries are received the event may not be viable and in this case entry fees will be returned.

Behaviour and Conduct

Should any delegate display behaviour or conduct that is not deemed appropriate or respectful during or after the event then they may be asked to leave for the benefit of the other attendees.

How we use your information

Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing will process your personal information in accordance with our privacy policy. Please refer to our privacy policy which can be found in full on our website, www.istd.org

Any concerns should be emailed to modern@istd.org