Sam trained as a scholarship student at Bird College of Dance & Performance in London under the direction of Doreen Bird. As a student Sam obtained qualifications of the highest calibre from the RAD and ISTD. As Head Girl, Sam was part of the CDET Student Advisory Body, and often taught classes to First Year students. Sam was recipient of both the Jazz Dance Award (Yr 1) and the coveted Most Professional Award (Yr 3). Sam was also delighted to be invited to be a member of the prestigious Bird Theatre Company touring Europe performing, lecturing and taking workshops to enable children to create and perform.
Upon graduation Sam was immediately appointed Line Captain and Featured Professional Dancer for Princess Cruise Lines and later Project Co-ordinator where she taught and installed production shows on international cruise lines and maintained the standard of the shows on board as company manager and dance captain.
Sam has also performed in a wide variety of other events and productions for Sky TV, various theatres, professional pantomimes and in corporate entertainment and is an award winning choreographer.
As a teacher, Sam has taught and choreographed at a range of dance colleges and schools across the UK, including the Dance School of Scotland, the Centre PAC, SLP, NAPA, Centre Pointe, Bojangles, Pattisons, where she has held positions ranging from guest teacher to Head of Jazz, Lead Choreographer for agent showcases and productions, ISTD Approved Tutor, exams and timetable co-ordinator. Sam is also a well-respected adjudicator with a wealth of experience.
Sam co-founded ElliTe Productions in 2006 to provide a range of dance based services across the industry. ElliTe Productions provides dancers and choreography for corporate entertainment and events and ElliTe Management Agency provides dancers for professional contracts. Clients have included Prime Video, Future Artists Entertainment, Costa Coffee, Premier Inn, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises.
ElliTe Studios was added to the ElliTe Productions portfolio in 2007 to provide dynamic dance, theatre and performance training for young dancers. ElliTe Studios has gone on to become one of the leading schools in the area with pupils crowned as World Champions in 2020 (Tap, Ballet and Jazz) and again in 2022 (Classical Ballet and Jazz). Graduate students have gone on to train at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary, Central School of Ballet, Bird College, Urdang, London Studio Centre, Arts Educational, Performers College, Northern School of Contemporary and Northern Ballet School and are now enjoying illustrious careers in the industry.
ElliTe Studios became an ISTD Approved Dance Centre in 2011 and since then Sam and her team have successfully delivered all units of the ISTD dance teacher training qualifications to multiple students who have gone on to establish their own schools and teach in a wider range of establishments. ElliTe students and teachers are well-regarded and sought after across the industry.
In 2022, ElliTe expanded to offer a full-time course offering Level 3 fully-funded BTEC qualification in Performing Arts (Dance and Musical Theatre), alongside intensive professional training and options for three full Diploma in Dance Education qualifications.
Fiona trained at Northern Ballet School, Manchester where she was awarded a DaDA and gained an NVQ Level 6 Trinity Diploma in Professional Dance
Upon graduation, Fiona worked as Professional Dancer and subsequently Performance Company Manager for Costa Cruise Lines, MSC Cruise Lines and Assistant Company Performance Manager for Princess Cruises. Responsibilities included being an audition tour teacher and panel member, as well as maintaining the standard of a large variety of production shows.
As a teacher, Fiona holds the Licentiate qualification in ISTD Imperial Classical Ballet and DDE qualifications in Tap and Modern, which were gained as a student at ElliTe, and has taught at a variety of Northern based dance schools.
At ElliTe, Fiona teaches and choreographs in all genres, but specialises in the delivery and choreography of Classical Ballet. Roles include teaching and preparing students for ISTD dance examinations, choreographing for international competitions, showcases and productions. Pupils have gone on to win several awards, including World Champion titles in Ballet and Classical Ballet in 2020 and again in 2022. In 2022, Fiona established Yorkshire Ballet Theatre Company (YBTC), a widely respected dedicated associate Ballet training scheme and in 2023 became an ISTD Approved Tutor to deliver DDE qualifications as well as a BTEC Assessor.
Natalie completed her professional training at ElliTe Studios, gaining full DDE qualifications in Imperial Classical Ballet, Tap and Modern Theatre. She has since flourished into an extremely successful choreographer and teacher, working at a range of regional private and educational schools. Choreography projects have included for the film ‘How To Date Billy Walsh’ for Prime Video (set to be released 2023), ‘Matilda’ (2022) and ‘Chicago’ (2023) and for various corporate events. Natalie is also a Dance World Cup Choreographer, with pupils winning a 2020 world title (Tap).
Natalie is highly sought after as both a teacher and choreographer and is often invited to lecture / choreograph at external events.
Harrison is a highly skilled dancer, choreographer and teacher, specialising in a wide variety of dance styles including Contemporary, Commercial, Lyrical, Jazz, and Improvisation.
Training and studying in Manchester, Chester and Los Angeles, Harrison has gained a BA in Dance and an MA in Choreography. Performance credits include theatre and film for a wide range of companies including Take That, Boys in Motion, Company Carpi, E-motion Dance, Perfectly Frank and Company J-SHADE. Harrison also runs and choreographs for his own HarrisonJDance Company.
Teaching credits include Move It, Jelli Studios, ADAYS, University of Chester, Mission Inspire, Base, Vale Studios, Centre Pointe to name just a few.
Gabby trained at Performers College on a full scholarship. After graduating, Gabby went on to enjoy an extensive performing career on international contracts that took her all over the world including for MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, Vegas Showgirls, The Dance Mob, Timeless Productions, Plan B Productions, Romantica Entertainment.
As a teacher and choreographer, Gabby delivers all genres, but specialises in Jazz and Jazz technique and is well-known throughout the region for her Jazz with Gabby workshops. Gabby is currently Artistic Director of Lisa Marie Performing Arts (LMPA) as well as a freelance dance teacher and award winning choreographer.
Evie trained at Lisa Marie Performing Arts in York from 3-18 and went on to complete her professional training at the Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama, graduating in 2020 with a Distinction in Dance and Musical Theatre. Since graduating, Evie has put her knowledge and passion into becoming a freelance teacher, teaching the next generation and preparing them for professional life. Setting up Dance with Evie in 2023, she is highly sought out for Commercial and Acro workshops across the UK, as well as teaching other styles regularly such as lyrical, jazz and tap for schools across Yorkshire.
Evie has choreographed multiple routines for Dance World Cup Finals 2022/23/24 across a range of genres including Commercial, Jazz and Showdance with consistent top 6 and top 10 placings.
Rebecca trained at ElliTe Studios, Ballet West and Northern Ballet School, graduating with a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance and the highest level of ISTD qualifications. Rebecca established and choreographs for her own highly successful string of Tribute Acts, and has a wealth of performing experience in film (Prime Video), adverts, TV (ITV), theatre, corporate events and gigs.
Evy trained at Nadine’s Dance Company and then Bodyworks, Cambridge and now specialises in teaching and choreographing Lyrical, Modern, Jazz Tech, Jazz, Acro and Contortion.
Deborah trained at Urdang Academy on a full scholarship from the age of 14-19, graduating with a Performance Diploma. Following a successful performing career, Deborah took up teaching positions at East Durham College, Islington Arts Factory, New London Performing Arts Centre, Leeds University, and the Dance Studio Leeds as well as establishing her own successful Leeds based school. In 2016-2020 Deborah then studied for and gained the full DDE qualification in Imperial Classical Ballet and Modern Theatre, Advanced 1 Ballet, Advanced 2 Ballet and Licentiate Ballet here at ElliTe Studios. Deborah has experience teaching GCSE Dance, A-level Dance, BTEC Dance, Vocational exams and is an experienced ISTD Approved Tutor for the DDE qualifications.
Stacey graduated from the prestigious Arts Ed in 2020 with a First Class BA Honours Degree in Musical Theatre. During her training she had the opportunity to perform at the prestigious Olivier Awards and many concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. Since graduating, Stacey has been part of many professional workshops, voice work and has taught all over the UK.
Stacey’s true passion has always been teaching, using her professional knowledge and skills to guide, nurture and encourage students to be the best possible version of themselves when it comes to performing.
Stewart was one of the foremost black Jazz and Lyrical artists of his generation and the original pioneer of Lyrical Contemporary Jazz in the UK, developing the genre from as early as 1979 to the present day and co founding the first jazz company in the UK called Jazz Theatre London (1980). Trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance, his dancing heritage originates with the Martha Graham technique, with the likes of Bob Cohen, William Luther, Jane Dudley and Anthony Van Laast as his teacher/mentors that have been his springboard from which he has developed his unique style and genre, consequently becoming one of our most acclaimed and sought-after International Dancer Teacher and Choreographer. For many years Stewart has been constantly involved in a variety of top West End shows, including Wayne Sleep’s ‘Song and Dance’ as a soloist dancer, and Abbacadabra at Hammersmith Lyric Theatre. He was choreographer for Wayne Sleep’s dance company ‘Dash’ (UK Tour and London Palladium) and soloist dance /guest choreographer for the award winning BBC tv series “The Hot Shoe Show”, joint- choreographer on ‘The Wiz’ at the Hammersmith Lyric Theatre, and featured as a soloist dancer in Johnny Depp’s film ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Choreographing Pop promo’s for artists such as David Grant, Elton John, Kid Creole, and working exclusively with Kate Bush over the last 30 years as a dancer and a choreographic consultant have also been fitted in to an already busy schedule. He also had his own dance series on Channel 4, along with Claude-Paul Henry, called ‘Streets Ahead’, and toured Europe along with Anthony Van Laast and Claude-Paul with their own Dance Company called ‘Souls in Motion’ performing at Sadlers Wells, and took his own concept musical ‘Dancing and Singing the Blues’ on the same European circuit directing as well as choreographing the show.
As a teacher Stewart was one of the founder/pioneer teachers at the famous Pineapple Studio in London where he taught for over 15 years with people attending his classes from all over Europe. He taught master- classes and workshops all over Europe, including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Portugal as well as Japan and the UK for schools and academies such as ‘Mudra’(Maurice Bejart), Ballet Academy-Sweden, Elmhurst Royal Ballet School, Royal Academy of Dance, Arts Education (Tring and London), Bodyworks Studios (Cambridge) where he taught Louise Spence of Pineapple fame, Northern School of Contemporary Dance (also teaching Mel B of the Spice Girls), Urdang Academy, London Studio Centre, Bird College, Central School of Ballet, Performers College and Masters College of Performing Arts.
As a Director Stewart co-founded, directed and danced in Jazz Theatre Gothenburg in Sweden, Aspects of Dance (Hackney Empire – London), Dancing and Singing the Blues (European Tour), Hard Rock Jazz Café (Theatre Talia-Gothenburg, Sweden). 2018, he was back on stage as a soloist dancer/choreographer for the 40 year Tribute for Kate Bush ‘The Kick Inside’ album at Islington Assembly Hall (London) and The Grand (Wolverhampton).
As an artist Stewart is a unique innovator, whose work is a combination of old and new school, along with a spiritual and artistic richness which makes his work relevant, different and essential not only to the industry but also a great basis for anyone who works with him to start or enhance their creative and technical development as performers in their own right.
Stewart has choreographed for the last 10 years at Move It (Olympia/Excel) with great success and is also one of the founder choreographers at Can You Dance since its inception. Stewart is in huge demand as a teacher and choreographer across the UK.
Jo graduated vocational training with a Foundation Diploma in Musical Theatre and as an Associate and Licentiate of the London College of Music (Musical Theatre). Jo has been teaching performing arts (with a focus on vocal tuition) for 19 years and as founder and director of Red Carpet Theatre School has been co-directing, musical directing, choreographing and producing youth amateur musicals since 2013. In that time, Jo has also successfully prepared students for LAMDA exams in Acting and Musical Theatre with 100% pass rate.
Sonum is a Yorkshire-based Musical Director, Composer and Sound Designer
Credits as MD/pianist include: Guts The Musical (Hull Truck Theatre, upcoming), Beauty and The Beast (Cast), Pinocchio (Hull Truck), Spring and Port Wine (Bolton Octagon), Sleeping Beauty (Cast), Just an Ordinary Lawyer (Leeds University), 71 Coltman Street (Hull Truck), Aladdin (Buxton Opera House), Just an Ordinary Lawyer (Hull Truck), The Railway Children (Hull Truck), Dick Whittington (Grange Theatre), Aladdin (Embassy Theatre), Bend it Like Beckham (workshop, Dominion Theatre), Bring on the Bollywood (Belgrade Theatre), His Indian Boyfriend (Stratford East Theatre), Kat in Kixx (Stratford East Theatre), John and Jen (Rosemary Branch), Swallows and Amazons (Bristol Old Vic), They’re Playing Our Song (Catford Broadway).
Credits as Composer and Sound Designer include: Merry Wives of Windsor (Mountview), Jennie Lee (Mikron Theatre), (Lumbejills (Capitol Theatre, Blue Stockings (Mountview), Ladies Unleashed (Hull Truck), Animalis Carnivale (Roehampton University), Favour (Bush Theatre), Red Sky at Night (Mikron Theatre), Arabian Nights (Hoxton Hall), Relativity (Finborough Theatre) Not the End of the World (Edinburgh Fringe), Rare Dreams and Persona both for Youth Music Theatre UK and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Warhorse Theatre Works).
Sarah graduated from Rose Bruford College, Kent in 2011 with a degree in Actor Musicianship. She enjoyed a successful professional acting career for 7 years taking lead roles in touring productions, musicals and pantomimes. Sarah has since moved into directing and has over 20 youth musicals and plays to her credit, 5 of which she wrote herself. Sarah has also prepared many students for their LAMDA private and group acting and musical theatre exams with a 100% pass rate. Outside of teaching, Sarah is still actively performing in musicals with Lee Semley Theatre Productions in Barnsley, appearing in up to 3 shows a year.
Nikki, Originally from Yorkshire trained at Laine Theatre Arts, has worked professionally in London and Internationally for over 15 years and is now back in Yorkshire teaching and choreographing shows and productions in the UK.
Throughout her career she has performed in many productions and musicals, such as We Will Rock You, (Original cast Switzerland & Germany); Mack & Mabel (Southwark Playhouse, London); 42nd Street Gala , (London Palladium); White Christmas (The Lowry, Salford and Edinburgh Festival Theatre); Showtime! The Musical (The Spa Theatre, Bridlington); What a Feeling (UK tour); Christmas on Broadway (Niagra Falls and USA tour); Broadway (US Tour) She perfomed onboard Colorline cruises, working onboard both MS Color Fantasy and MS Color Magic. (Norway).
Television credits include: Harry HIll – The Movie (Film); A featured dancer on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV), featured dancer with Louie Spence on the Alan Titchmarsh Show (ITV); and a featured dancer on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV)
Nikki has performed in many pantomimes over the years: Most recent was Fairy Flutterby in Sleeping Beauty, (The Victoria Theatre, Halifax. Other pantomimes include: Cinderella (The Shaw Theatre, London); and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (New Victoria Theatre, Woking)
Choreography credits: Ghost, A Night at the Musicals, Legally Blonde, Hairspray and Priscilla Queen of the Desert for Diva Theatre Productions. Sleeping Beauty for Imagine Theatre at Rotherham Civic Theatre. Other choreography credits include: Showtime! The Musical, The Spa Theatre, Bridlington. We Will Rock You, CAPA juniors, Wakefield Theatre Royal.
Christina trained at The Guildford School of Acting, graduating with a BA Hons in Musical Theatre. She has worked in the industry for over ten years in a variety of productions, most recently with the Welsh National Opera on their touring production of Migrations and Imagine Theatre’s Pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk in Leicester. Christina’s other passion is teaching. A fully-qualified teacher, she delivers a variety of disciplines such as Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical and Tap. She also teaches Acting both group and private classes and has a wealth of experience teaching the LAMDA Acting and Musical Theatre syllabuses. Christina has worked at a number of prestigious schools and establishments including Guildford School of Acting where she was an associate dance teacher. She currently works at TBL Academy and Damien Poole Theatre Arts.
Evie trained at ElliTe Studios and Bird College, graduating with a Level 6 Diploma in Dance and Musical Theatre. She is still an active working professional performer on stage, TV and film and teaches freelance classes specialising in commercial, heels, contemporary and jazz in between contracts.
Tom started out his career as a teacher in various dancing schools across Yorkshire after graduating from College. He went on to take the position of Head of Musical Theatre on the 3 Year Trinity Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre course at SLP College, Leeds.
Tom has been working as a teacher within the industry for 17 years now and during this time has trained students preparing for colleges and also students preparing for the industry. He has past students singing, dancing and acting all over the world in West End shows, on Cruise Lines and fabulous Corporate work. He also has students he has trained in various colleges in London including Bird, Trinity Laban, Masters, Rambert, Mountview and more…
Tom has directed and choreographed shows all over the country and in France. From showcases of students for agents in London to full scale shows and musicals at prestigious theatres like Bradford Alhambra, The Criterion Theatre London and York Grand Opera House.
Tom has also worked on the corporate scene doing hair and fashion shows for companies such as L’oreal and Great Lengths. He has also choreographed and appeared on TV for Channel 4s No Angels series.
Tom is the Principal of TBL College, TBL Academy and the Producer of TBL Productions and we are delighted to have Tom on our college faculty here at ElliTe also.
Callum is one of the most sought after Choreographers from Hartlepool. He teaches freelance in several of the top North East Dance Schools. With a passion for Jazz, Lyrical and Tap he can be found providing training and solo & group choreography for lots of talented dancers in the area. He has sold out CYD? Classes! Callum is a Dance World Cup winning choreographer (2024). Callum’s work has also been showcased at CYD, Move It and has made finals of TDCI Championships.
As well as teaching at ElliTe Studios College, Callum also teaches for The Worx Academy College in Sunderland, sharing his passion and expertise for working with some of the best pre vocational talent in the North. Callum is also a festival adjudicator with fantastic feedback on his energy and positive nature!
‘Cals Creative’ was established in Jan 2023 and with this he’s been able to share his Choreography & Teaching in workshops and summer schools all over the country. His audition prep routines have helped students achieve success in gaining places at top HE vocational colleges to further their training.
