Teachers

Amy E Churchill

BA (Hons) AISTD (DDE) RAD RTS – Principal

Amy's dance training began at The Jill Stew School of Dance at the age of three. Amy then went on to study a BA Honours Degree in Performing Arts at Middlesex University where she studied and majored in all dance genres, alongside drama and musical theatre, providing her with a broad and extensive training.

After finishing her degree Amy then studied at The Judith Hockaday School of Dance and Drama. Here she qualified as a teacher gaining her Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD) Modern and Tap Teaching Associate Qualifications. Amy has since gone on to complete her FDI and DDE certificates with the ISTD. Amy has completed her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) where she was awarded her full registered teacher's status by Dame Beryl Grey.

Amy's performance experience includes Rough Magic - London, Dance Explosions - London, Carmen - Broadway Gloucestershire, Hansel and Gretal - Stowe Landscape Gardens, Save The Children Gala Performance - Oxford Apollo and The Wizard of Oz - The New Theatre Oxford.

Amy choreographs for local performances, pantomimes and festivals and has additionally choreographed the musical Cabaret - The Amey Hall, Abingdon and The Boyfriend both for The School of St Helen & St Katherine in Abingdon. Recently Amy was part of the choreography team for the musical Chicago at St Edwards School, Oxford where she also teaches Modern and Tap.

Anna L Henry

BA (Hons) LRAD AISTD (CDE) PGCert (dis) – Principal

Anna began her training at The Jill Stew School of Dance whilst attending classes at the Royal Academy of Dance and London Junior Ballet as an associate. Anna qualified as a teacher at the Royal Academy of Dance on the The Art and Teaching of Classical Ballet degree programme and was awarded her Licentiate. She is a qualified Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD) teacher having gained her Certificate in Dance Education (CDE) in Ballet and Modern Theatre Dance. Anna has also completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning gaining a Distinction validated by The University of the Arts, London.

Anna taught at the London Studio Centre for over 10 years as a personal tutor and ballet teacher to vocational students on the B.A. Hons Theatre Dance course and was also the Course Coordinator for the Foundation Course. Anna has also taught at The Royal Academy of Dance, London, Central School of Ballet, London within the Junior School for over 8 years and also at Ballet Train, Kilburn. Anna has taught on courses in Germany, Japan and Portugal.

Anna also teaches Ballet and Modern at St Edwards School, Oxford.

Cheryl Leslie-Spinks

MSc, RAD RTS, AISTD (Cecchetti Method)

Cheryl started training at the Skeleton Hooper School of Dance in Hull. During that time Cheryl had the wonderful opportunity to dance the leading role of Swanhilda, at the Hull New Theatre. At the school Cheryl achieved very high marks in all her examinations, regularly took part in regional festivals, pantomimes and was awarded the IDTA Scholarship for ballet. In the 1980’s Cheryl started her full-time training at the Royal Ballet Upper School, London.

After leaving the Royal Ballet School Cheryl was engaged by the Northern Ballet Theatre, now Northern Ballet on a full-time contract. Here she worked alongside world famous choreographers and dancers such as Birgit Cullberg, Rudolf Nureyev, Alicia Markova, Lynn Seymour, Christopher Gable, Moira Shearer, André Prokovsky, Galina Samsova, and Gillian Lynne in the BAFTA award-winning production of “A Simple Man”. Cheryl danced soloist and corps de ballet roles all over the world in many of the well-known classical ballets, The Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, Swan Lake, Giselle, Les Sylphides, The Nutcracker, Cinderella and many triple bills staged by world famous choreographers.

After qualifying as a teacher in the Cecchetti Ballet Method with Kate Simmons in Warrington, Cheryl taught and guested at summer schools in Italy, France and Germany. She then went on to be ballet mistress for the production of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ performed by the Slovenian National Ballet. After qualifying as a teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, London with distinction, Cheryl took over the well-established Ballett-Studio Roehm in Essen, Germany which she ran for 20 years with her husband a former ballet dancer, choreographer and director. Together they staged and choreographed many full-length productions of the great classical ballets and their students regularly performed with the resident ballet company in Nutcracker and other productions. Cheryl piloted the Discovering Repertoire in Germany and has entered numerous students for examinations, with 100% pass rate and the majority gaining distinction.

As a lifelong learner Cheryl is passionate about getting the best out of all the students she teaches. Cheryl regularly attends professional development courses and applies research from dance science and medicine to her teaching practice while keeping up to date with dance education current issues. Cheryl holds the Safe and effective Dance Certificate, distinction with Trinity Laban and has an MSc in dance science from the University of Wolverhampton. Cheryl is also an assessor for the ISTD DDE Unit One Assessor for SIDI (Safe in Dance International).

After returning to the UK with her husband, Cheryl now works as a freelance RAD RTS teacher and is delighted to be on the team at The Jill Stew School of Dance.

Georgina Andrews

BA (Hons), ISTD DDE

Georgina started dancing at the age of three at Susan McMillan School of Dance in Northern Ireland before moving to Oxfordshire where she completed much of her training at the Sullivan School of Dance. Here Georgina took exams through both the RAD and ISTD examination bodies and then went on to study Contemporary Dance at the University of Chichester where she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Dance in 2018.

After returning from university Georgina went on to teach dance at a summer camp in Connecticut, USA for two months. She then proceeded to complete her vocational examinations and DDEs (Diploma in Dance Education) with the ISTD in tap, modern and national at the Judith Hockaday School of Dance and Drama, Swindon. Georgina has taught at several schools in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire and joined The Jill Stew School of Dance in 2022.

Chelsea Tyson

Chelsea Denise Tyson is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, California USA. Chelsea graduated from Chapman University on the Chancellors List in 2014 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in Dance and a Minor in Education. Since graduating, she has taught across the United States, including being the Artistic Director for Dance Premier in Washington USA, and internationally around various counties in England.

Some credits in her career include dancing for the Disney Channel on multiple occasions, dancing in music videos including Kendrick Lamar, toured Europe with a professional dance company, teaching children from the popular USA television show 'Dance Moms,' and performed lead roles in various stage shows throughout the years including The Nutcracker, Peter and the Wolf, The Little Match Girl, and a modern day take on Alice in Wonderland.

With her extensive dance training in all styles of dance, Chelsea has been a nationally awarded overall dancer and an award-winning choreographer several times. Chelsea currently teaches in England and is continuing to expand her creativity in making Dance Films and working with motivated and eager dancers to continue with her passion for dance and to help future generations better their careers.

Molly Johnson

Molly started dancing at the age of 2 at the Welland School of Dance where she attained her RAD Ballet, ISTD Tap and Modern Theatre grades. At the age of 10 she trained at the Urdang Academy, London progressing to join their Elite team. At the age of 16 Molly went on to perfect her skills at Laine Theatre Arts before attending Bird College Conservatoire on their Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre.

Her credits include: Supporting role in Rent the musical produced by Ewan Jones and Josh Sood, It’s gotta be you commercial video Sisco Gomez, Representative at the National television Awards, ‘How to Adult’ Supporting role and ensemble Lindsay McAllister, ‘Summer of love’ , ensemble Director Max Reynolds, Showcase dancer Megan Westpfel, Jazz Dancer Eleanor Wilson, ‘Material girl ‘Jazz dancer Bellinda Basu, Lead school girl in the play ‘ Girls like that’ Claire Lindsay, Dance project; dancer Thomas Ashton. Other credits include dancing for the Olympic torch and Flash mobs in cities and performing for McMillan charity.

Cara James

Cara James studied at Bodywork Performing Arts in Cambridge initially on the 1 Year Foundation Course alongside teaching and then went on to receive her diploma. After completing her 3 year dance course at Bodywork Performing Arts, Cara continued to teach and started working in the industry, performing in shows and events, utilising her skills such as stilt walking in street performances and events. Cara’s heart has always been in teaching and she is delighted to be sharing her passion, knowledge and enthusiasm for the industry at The Jill Stew School of Dance.

Katie Forteath

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