DanceWest Teaching team

Delivering our work in the community are a team of professional dance teachers and assistants. Our team bring a huge range of expertise, skills and experience, including movement adaptation for disabilities, dance for dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke recovery, amputees and youth work.

All teachers are:

• DBS checked and insured to teach dance.

• Adhere to our strict safeguarding policies for children & young people, vulnerable adults.

• Adhere to our Health and Safety policies.

• Adhere to our GDPR policies.

Some teachers are First Aid trained and certificates of training and qualifications are available on request. All details are provided in advanced to the activity.

Delene Gordon

Delene gained her dance degree from The Northern School of Contemporary Dance during this time she also began to develop an interest in teaching and education, after a period of working with Phoenix Dance Company, Tutti Frutti children’s theatre and travelling she later completed her Dance PGCE. Delene has since spent over ten years working in secondary and tertiary education improving student’s participation and achievement in dance as well as securing the place of dance qualifications within the curriculum. As well as the occasional dance performance. With a desire to progress Delene has returned to working as a freelance dance artist getting the opportunity to work with different arts and educational organisations, as well as independently taking on dance projects in schools and the community. Delene is committed to making dance accessible to all, pushing participants to work harder in a fun, supportive and productive environment, she has experience in delivering a range of dance styles from Contemporary to Jazz, African, Salsa and social club styles, she is also a qualified Zumba instructor, massage therapist and trainee Biodynamic Psychotherapist.

Natalie Dodd

Natalie began her training at Susan Robinson's School of Ballet, went on to train and gain a First Class BA Hons Degree at Rambert School (2010-13), and gained a Masters Degree focused on Dance for Parkinson’s through NSCD in 2016. She has also completed courses on inclusive dance and dance in health and wellness.

Aside from her performing experience both on stage and on screen, Natalie has had the pleasure of teaching for Rambert School, Rambert, Mark Bruce Company, The Place, Trinity Laban and an extensive number of local dance schools around Surrey and London. She has been teaching since 2014 and works with children of all ages, amateur and professional adults and older adults in over 60’s Contemporary classes. Natalie is also a movement creator, teacher, examiner and ambassador for Rambert Grades.

Ryan Munroe

Ryan Munroe trained at London Contemporary Dance School whilst maintaining a keen interest and practise in other dance styles and genres. Ryan has performed, choreographed and movement directed work for Universal Records, nbc Universal as well as internationally for site-specific work, dance, theatre and opera. Ryan facilitates dance across the UK for a diverse range of abilities, ages working with groups of all needs. He has led work in schools, community centres and projects local council authorities. Ryan supports and leads work for young people who want to pursue a career in the arts via The Place and for Paddington Arts.

Danielle Capretti

Danielle's childhood memories include grooving to 'Kung Fu Fighting' at a dance recital and watching Soul Train in her grandmother's kitchen.  After teacher training at Dance District in Toronto, Canada, she sought to bring disco to the masses.  Her signature course, 70s Disco Fever, debuted in 2008.  In London, she has worked with Move It, Chiswick Theatre Arts, The Daffodil Group, The WI and The Forget-Me-Nots.  Aside from DanceWest, Danielle currently teaches with Sadler’s Wells, Rambert, Open Age, and AgeUK. 

Nicholas Norman

Nicholas is a Choreographer, Teacher and Performer from London. Trained at the Urdang Academy Covent Garden (Dip Musical Theatre) and Middlesex University (BA Hons) and MA. Professional Practice Arts Management Degree. Royal Academy of Dance teacher and Trinity College London Arts Award Advisor. Performance jobs include Fame and The Lion King The Musical in London’s West End, BBC voice-overs, Gloria Estefan and X factor backing dancer. British Fashion awards, Spillers Pantomime and Millennium Dome.

Hanna Wroblewski

Hanna is a London based dance and yoga teacher with 20 years of experience in Germany and the UK. Hanna has been teaching regularly for DanceWest since 2018, delivering workshops for Dance Umbrella and The United Nations (GirlUp Summit) as well as teaching workshops for community and professional dancers in Germany. Through the years, Hanna has supported the following groups of people: teens, toddlers, young children and families, children and young people with learning disabilities and older adults. Hanna has facilitated classes on following DanceWest programmes: After School Programmes (Yoga & Flowga), Dancing Books, Summer Schools, DanceWest and Chelsea Theatre Online Classes, Move It Mondays. Hanna holds a BA hons in Dance Pedagogy, a Master in Fine Arts with Merit in Choreography and is a certified 300hr yoga teacher as well as an Anusara Elements Teacher. A highlight for her is to be able to support the young women at St.Paul's School for Girls in their physical and mental well-being.

Yasmin Edwards

Yasmin began training in classical styles at a young age, including ballet and modern, before branching out to street styles. She’s worked with some of the UK's leading dance companies including BirdGang Ltd and Avant Garde Dance and so her professional dance experience encompasses both hip-hop and contemporary dance styles. Yasmin has also worked professionally as an actress, landing a lead role in Liberty Global's 2017 TV advert.
Her teaching experience spans across all age groups and abilities. She regularly choreographs and teaches for competition crews, BirdGang’s Youth company and for primary and secondary schools. Most recently, Yasmin has taught at Base Dance Studios in London and has also held a weekly teaching slot at one of the UK’s national centres for dance, Dance East in Ipswich.

Anna Smith

Anna Smith trained at The BRIT School and National Youth Dance Company which then led her to further her training on the degree course at Rambert School of Ballet and contemporary dance.

Anna is part of the Sadlers Wells School Outreach team and has taught at various places such as The BRIT School, Rambert School. As Well as working with Imprint on creating projects for Great Ormond Street Arts. And current involvement with English National Ballet Parkinson Dance Programme.

She has recently performed professionally, as dancer in an Opera at the Royal Opera House. A company member with the project company BalletFolk. As Well as working with choreographers such as Richard Alston, Darren Ellis and Allyne Dance during training.

Hannah Mellor

Hannah trained as a gymnast until she was British champion in 2012. She then went to the Urdang Academy 2014-2017 where she trained in dance and musical theatre. Since graduating Hannah has performed in the Bring it on UK tour, London pantomimes, TV adverts, and motion capture video games. Teaching is a huge passion of Hannah’s and is a profession she has been keeping up alongside performing. ‘I love teaching at Dance West; the studio is so lovely, the team are wonderful and pupils enthusiasm is so refreshing. I cannot wait for the new term.’ - Hannah.

Holly Smith

Holly is a dance teacher and specialises in teaching Dance to Disabled Children and young people and Primary aged children. Holly trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Whilst studying Holly discovered her passion for dance teaching and education through working on children's classes at Chisenhale Dance Space and Trinity Laban. After graduating Holly joined the Learning and Participation team at Trinity Laban where she gained a wealth of experience of working in education and community settings. This included coordinating their Youth Dance Programme, and supporting a variety of projects, performances and events including U.Dance London Regional Platform. Alongside this Holly taught and assisted classes for children and young people, including working with young people with additional needs and disabilities, all the way up to teaching adults, older adults and adults with acquired brain and stroke injuries. Holly has taught people in dance studios, schools, church halls, museums and in local parks and loves giving participants the chance to experience, explore and create movement.

Ellyn Hebron

Since graduating from London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS) in 2013, Ellyn has performed in various operatic productions, many of which toured internationally. Ellyn returned to LCDS in 2018 to complete her MA, focusing on the significance of dance education in young males. Ellyn continues to teach adults and children at The Place, as well as in various educational settings and online. 

Azerley Keller

Azerley trained at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, on a full-scholarship. She has taught Dance, Gymnastics and Acrobatics across the UK for companies including Wired Aerial Theatre, Ludus Dance, Cecchetti Ballet Associates and the British Ballet Organisation. Azerley has led community dance projects in schools and is teaching for adults, children & young people. Azerley is First Aid trained, a level two counsellor and has completed safeguard training for vulnerable children & young people.

Luke Roberts

Luke Roberts is a professional performer and dance teacher from Buckinghamshire, living in London. Luke trained in various Street Dance styles for 10 years at Urban Strides, where he went on to perform on 5 UK arena tours as the dance captain, performing alongside Alexandra Burke and Clean Bandit. 

Since moving to London, Luke has gone on to dance in music videos, adverts and live performances, performing overseas in Amsterdam and the Seychelles. Luke will always remain a student, training in various styles of dance and loves to pass on his knowledge to other dancers. 

Tommaso Petrolo

Over the past 12 years Tommaso has built an extensive career as a performer and more recently as a maker. His teaching skills are in demand and he regularly collaborates as Lecturer with Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, National centre for Circus Arts (NCCA), The Place (LCDS) , Tripspace, Canterbury Christ Church University, London Studio Centre, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama amongst others. His dance training with established artists has laid the foundations on which he thrives today both as a performer and educator.

Based in the UK since 2016 he has  collaborated as a performer with the likes of Van Huynh Company, for which he works as Artistic Assistant, and Rehearsal Director, Tavaziva, Rob Heaslip Dance Company, Mathieu Geffré, Neus Gil Cortés, Joao Cidade, Martino Muller amongst others. His previous works as a choreographer include two majorly acclaimed solos:  She (2019) commissioned by Dance Bridges Festival,  PrEp ME (2017) performed at The Point Eastleigh as part of Pitch dealing with Queer  thematics. Tommaso has collaborated with renown composers and musicians such as Elaine Mitchener, Dai Fujikura, Tansy Davies, Matt Wright and through these collaborations his practice has expanded across disciplines to include extended forms of vocal improvisation. After graduating from Balletto di Roma in ballet technique, he moved to N.Y.C. to complete his contemporary dance studies at Peridance Capezio Center. There he joined Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, directed by Igal Perry and performed with renown choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Francesca Harper (Forsythe), Charlotta Hofverholm (DV8), Manuel Vignoulle (Cedar Lake), Gregory Dolbashian (The Ensemble), amongst others.

Shannon McAvoy

Shannon McAvoy is a performer and dance teacher from America. She trained at The Young Americans College of Performing Arts in California, Hubbard Street’s Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago and Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester in New York City. Shannon has had a range of professional experience in musicals like Mary Poppins and West Side Story, on six-star cruise ships such as Crystal Cruises, pantomimes, variety shows, dinner theatres, corporate events with The Gatsby Girls, and touring alongside the Tony Jacobs and Glenn Miller Orchestras with The Swing Time Jivers. Other credits include The Evil Stepmother in an original contemporary ballet titled Snow White: Reimagined, Jingle Bell Christmas at The Barbican, Cinderella at Newcastle Theatre Royal and West End Musical Brunch in London. Shannon loves to pass on her knowledge of musical theatre, jazz, tap, and street dance to all ages.

Allison Mun-Gavin

Allison Mun-Gave in a fully qualified Level 3 Mat Pilates and BarreConcept teacher based in Fulham. Her aim as a teacher is to help as many people as possible to fall in love with the many benefits of movement . Her sessions are creative, dynamic and flowing so that your mind and body are challenged and connected. She has a fun and energetic teaching style catering for all ages and abilities. In her pilates sessions, you will learn how to have greater control and awareness of your body concentrating on strengthing your core stabilizing muscles and increasing flexibility and mobility. It is a great way to compliment sports training and when not at DanceWest, Allison also leads sessions at the Queen’s Club. In her BarreConcept classes you will combine the precision of pilates and grace and technique of ballet increasing muscle tone, flexibility and stamina whilst improving posture.

Corinne Meredith

Corinne is a freelance Community Dance and Theatre Artist with an MA in Text and Performance Studies from King's College London and RADA and a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Dance from Trinity Laban. Corinne has taught across many of DanceWest’s programmes since 2016. She currently works as a Dance Artist with SLiDE's Youth Company, the Place, Sadler's Wells, Akram Khan Company, is the Creative Support Artist for the National Youth Dance Company and works on community projects with the Young Vic. Corinne has previously worked with Body and Soul Charity, the Royal Academy of Dance, Trinity Laban, the Bush Theatre, the Orange Tree Theatre and was a Project Associate and Dance Captain for Public Acts at the National Theatre from 2017 – 2019.

Patricia Okenwa

Patricia trained in Jivamukti yoga in Berlin in 2007 with David Life, Sharon Gannon, Yogeshwari Eichenberg and Patrick Broom and perinatal and baby yoga from 2010 with Francoise Freedman and Birthlight Yoga. She currently teaches Vinyasa, Community Yoga, Chair Yoga and Pregnancy Yoga classes in West London. Her yoga classes build on her lived experience as a professional dancer with more than 15 years experience including 12 years with Rambert Dance Company and as a mother to two lovely, lively boys.Patricia has taught contemporary dance, ballet choreography and repertoire to company dancers and in community workshops at Rambert.She taught vocational and masters students at London Contemporary Dance School, London Studio Centre, Urdang Academy, Central School of Ballet and the Royal Ballet School and is currently a tutor for contemporary dance at Tring Park School and a guest tutor in choreography at the Architecture Association Interprofessional Studio.

Carol Victoria

Carol is a professional dance teacher and a registered NHS Dance Movement Psychotherapist. Carol has ten years teaching experience in a variety of settings including mainstream schools, dance schools, SEN and in the community and facilitate sessions for children, young people, older adults and dancers with physical and learning disabilities. Carol trained at The Urdang Academy of Ballet and Performing Arts and Musical Theatre at Arts Educational in London.  Carol has led programmes for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties, and dance movement classes to aid cognitive function in adults during stroke rehabilitation. In her role as a dance movement psychotherapist she specialises in adult mental health, CAMHS/LD and older adult psychiatry including dementia. Through my work at DanceWest I have enjoyed facilitating after school dance classes and dancing with the Bolder Not Older dancers who really prove that dance has no age limit. Carol has a BA Musical Theatre - Arts Educational and MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy - University of Roehampton.  

Holly Wilmot

Holly graduated in 2012 with a BA (Hons) in contemporary dance from York St John University. Since then, she has taught dance and performing arts extensively in schools and community settings for a range of organisations, including Artis Foundation, The Place and Springs Dance Company. She joined the DanceWest team in 2019 and has worked on Let’s Dance – By DanceWest, Dancing Books, Dance in The Parks and DanceWest’s Easter and Summer holiday clubs. Holly enjoys sharing her passion for dance with others and to help students flourish in an encouraging, friendly environment.

Elise Antonia

Elise Antonia trained in Street Dance for over 11 years, having been taught by some of the worlds most renowned artists and pioneers of the Street Dance styles to which she now brings her knowledge to the classroom, competition floor, commercial work and Hip Hop Theatre stages. Elise believes that dance is for everybody, she approaches teaching with optimism and over the course of 7 years she has formed classes that engage, adapt to different learning styles and support the growth of each individual student. Alongside teaching, Elise has performed on stages such as Sadlers Wells, The Congress Theatre, Hackney Empire, Brighton Dome and many more; is a  member of UK Leading Hip Hop Theatre company, Birdgang.

Parbati Chaudhury

Parbati Chaudhury is a dance artist whose practice has evolved to include choreography, writing, making, performance, and teaching. Her piece, Fader, was highly praised by critics at The Place's Resolution 2020, and she is currently developing her first production, Goodgirl. Driven by a passion for constructing and echoing transformative narratives and experiences, Parbati's process and works draw on her multifaceted kathak training alongside the development of text. Her collaborative approach with musicians and composers, as well as a love for theatre, television, and film provide crucial inspiration too.  Alongside creating her own work, Parbati also engages with several companies and organisations around the UK. Commissioned by English National Ballet, Akademi, and The Line, a 2022 highlight was co-choreographing Aamad with Kirsten Ho on two talented East London school groups in response to Rana Begum’s sculptural installation, No. 1104 Catching Colour. Over the spring and summer, she performed extensively in Pagrav Dance Company’s (PDC) latest productions. Finally, as a teacher, Parbati leads classes for PDC, as well as independently, and is the Kathak Lead Artist at Fabric’s CAT-Yuva Gati. 

Simone Sistarelli

Simone is a professional dance artist and musician. Simone is passionate about inspiring people and is the Founder of Popping For Parkinson's, a project that transform Parkinson's patients into Popping dance students. Awarded in the Universal Hip Hop Museum Hall of Fame for his contribution to Hip Hop Culture. Original member of the Red Bull Academy UK. Simone has over 12 years of teaching experience, specialising in dance for Parkinson's, dance for older people and dance for children. Simone has a BA in Contemporary Dance from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance; soon he will have a MSc in Dance Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire. Simone’s best memory is leading classes for the Funky Fridays programme, consisting of Hip Hop dance classes for teens in partnership with Action on Disability.

Beth Ackroyd 

Beth began her dance training in Lincoln at a local dance school and additionally as an Associate of the Urdang Academy. She then went on to graduate with a First Class BA (Hons) Degree in Dance Studies from the University of Roehampton in 2019 receiving the Andy Hardy Prize for Excellence, and an MSc in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2020 receiving a Trinity Laban Dance Award. Beth has also been awarded the status of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor. Beth is a dance teacher, community dance artist, choreographer and dance science educator and joined the DanceWest team in 2019. Beth is a versatile teacher and has a vast amount of experience facilitating dance for people aged 1 to over 80 in various styles of dance and different populations including Dance for Parkinson’s, SEN, and early years. At present Beth is also; a Freelance Dance Artist with Sadlers Wells and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Step into Dance Programme; an RAD Ballet teacher and Vice Principal of Butterfly Ballet; and a Dance Science Lecturer at the University of Lincoln; among many other teaching and academic roles. Other notable organisations Beth has worked with include One Dance UK, Trinity Laban, Royal Opera House Chance to Dance Programme, Amici Dance Theatre Company, and University of Roehampton.

Kate Finegan

Kate completed her training with a BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre from Laban and then a City and Guilds Level 3 in Teaching Certificate Adult Education. After many years teaching contemporary technique and choreography in higher education, in 2014 Kate decided to focus full-time on teaching dance in a freelance capacity, specialising in contemporary dance and creative movement within community settings. Kate has a particular interest in Dance for Health for older adults and people living with Dementia and Parkinson’s, working in care homes, community centres and sheltered housing projects. Kate co-runs Inclusive Intergenerational Dance, an Arts for Health charity within Surrey. However, she continues to very much enjoy creating dances with all ages, facilitating within early years settings, schools in curriculum time and after school clubs, as well as private dance schools. For DanceWest Kate has been fortunate to teach on the Bolder not Older programme as well as on Dancing Books.

Jane Woolley

Jane is a dance educator who has worked in the dance sector for 20 years. She trained at Trinity Laban focusing on education and participatory dance and has an MA from London Contemporary Dance School specialising in creative practice, somatics and dance pedagogy. She has extensive teaching experience across both formal education and community settings working with all ages and abilities from pre-school to older adults. Jane has taught across the full spectrum of educational settings from primary schools to secondary schools (GCSE, Btec and A Level) and extensively at university level. Jane has 15 years experience teaching in a range of London universities (Roehampton, Kings College London, Kingston University and Brunel) delivering on the BA & MA modules in the field of Participatory Dance, Teaching & Leading, Professional Practice and Dance for Health. As an independent dance artist, she has taught for many renowned dance companies including Hofesh Shetcher, English National Ballet, Richard Alston and Cullberg Ballet. As a dance education consultant she has created education resources for Russell Maliphant, Jasmin Vardimon and Shobana Jeyasingh. Jane completed a two-year Yoga Teacher Training Diploma at The Life Centre London. She is currently teaching adult yoga classes and delivers specialist sessions focusing on Teen Yoga, Yoga for Sport and one to one sessions for specific health conditions and injury rehabilitation.

Caroline Rutzler

Caroline has 30 years experience working in dance education. Caroline has taught in secondary schools, higher and further Education. She led programmes and local authority initiatives for Primary teachers encouraging teachers to develop skills to teach, raise their confidence and assess their students. Caroline has an English and drama degree, a masters in dance and a PCGCE. Caroline is a qualified pilates teacher and specialised in rehabilitation she was resident Pilates instructor for Pineapple Studios rehabilitating professional dancer. Caroline now specialises in clients with spinal and neurological difficulties. Every group that I have worked with for DanceWest, has given me a great feeling of personal strength. Each group uplifts me to continually encourage everyone to dance.The over 65 groups are a real inspiration and living proof that dance is the key to a mobile body and happy mind.

Caitlin Barnett

Caitlin is a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher and trained at the world renowned Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. She has worked within all areas of the industry performing in immersive theatre, contemporary dance, music videos and commercials. Caitlin has her own contemporary dance company who have gone on to perform across a variety of platforms and festivals, recently winning ‘Best Short Performance’ at the International Youth Arts Festival. Caitlin has extensive teaching experience working regularly with young children, college students and dancers undertaking their professional training. She is a passionate, personable and patient teacher who injects positive energy into every class.

Sonia Illescas

Sonia is an experienced Dance teacher and Choreographer specialising in Movement adaptation. She enjoys providing dance training to any-body and every-body, regardless of age and or abilities. For the past ten years Sonia has been teaching the principles of Ballet and Contemporary dance technique to older adults with and without disabilities. Sonia also has experience of delivering projects for vulnerable adults with particular needs with different conditions including: Dance for Dementia (English National Ballet, Age UK & Alzheimer's Society) Dance for Parkinson's (Rambert), Stroke recovery (London Hospitals) and Amputee outpatients (Queen Mary's Hospital). 

Zoë Tisim

Zoe is a dancer, teacher and Pilates instructor. She holds a BA (Hons) in Dance from Surrey University and is a qualified STOTT Pilates Matwork instructor. She has been part of DanceWest since 2019, leading Pilates and extracurricular dance classes in schools and assisting the Dancing Books program in libraries. Zoë’s other work both in the UK and abroad, have included community and private Pilates classes, curriculum based creative workshops and dance clubs in schools, ballet and contemporary technique classes (young children to teenagers) and facilitating dance programs for adults with learning difficulties. This experience has been built both independently and also with a variety of companies including Springs Dance Company, Magpie Dance, The Place, Freshwater Theatre Company.

Dominique-Nicole

Dominique is a volunteer on the DanceWest inclusive dance programme. She is a Fine Arts graduate who has always been passionate about dance, her favourites being Hip-Hop and Street dance. Profoundly deaf, she loved attending from a young age summer dance workshops organised at Sadler’s Wells by the National Deaf Children’s Society. She is always happy to share her love of the Arts with the community.