Natalie Vinson School

 

Natalie Shaw BA (Hons) Dance, RAD Teaching Certificate, AISTD, ALAM, RSA
(School Principal & Teacher of Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap & LAMDA/Drama)
Natalie’s early training was with Miss Ruth French at the RAD, Miss Maria Fay at the London School of Contemporary Dance and the schools of Dame Merle Park and Mrs Bette Bayliss. From the age of 16 she trained full-time at Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts where she achieved her Major Examinations and teaching qualifications in Dance and Drama as well as A’Levels in English, Art with History of Art and Sociology. She went on to attain an honours degree from West Sussex in Dance and Related Arts. After a couple of years of performing professionally and working in the Film Industry, Natalie begun her teaching career at Heathfield and a number of other schools in the Surrey/Berks area. She has taught a huge variety of subjects over the years including Dance GCSE, Creative Dance, Ballet, Modern, Tap, Drama GCSE, LAMDA, Musical Theatre, Pointe-work and Aerobics. The Natalie Vinson School of Dance and Drama opened in Ascot in 1992 and has grown considerably with over 450 children currently attending  classes each week! Natalie has choreographed and performed in shows both professionally and at local level. Pupils from the Natalie Vinson School of Dance and Drama have raised over £16,000 for charity and many have had the opportunity to perform in top theatres both locally and in the West End. Former pupils have gone on to full time vocational training and to work professionally in theatre, film and television.

 

 

 

 

Lisa Spurway BA (Hons) Choreography and Dance, AISTD, NCSSE
(Teacher of GCSE Dance, Drama/LAMDA, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Cheerleading & Conditioning) 

Lisa has always held a passion for both teaching and performing. As a child, she trained with Italia Conti and Renton School of Dance. After completing her Performing Arts (Dance) National Diploma through Guildford College and Guildford School of Acting, Lisa studied for and completed her teaching Associates with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). Since then, Lisa has gone on to complete her BA (Hons) in Choreography and Dance, Higher National Diploma in Musical Theatre and also trained as a Cheerleading Coach through the National Council for Spirit Safety and Education (NCSSE). Lisa has trained as Cheerleader with the London Phoenix Allstars and the BCUC Swans and has had many performance and choreography credits to include...Assistant Choreographer for the European Premier of M. J. La Chuisa's 'The Wild Party', 'Life of Riley' (series 2) for the BBC, 'Streetdance' for Vertigo Films, 'Cemetary Junction' with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, 'Sunday Night Live' at Her Majesty's Theatre, West End, ‘West Side Story’ at the Alban Arena and 'Cinderella' at South Hill Park Arts Centre for Hammond Productions.

 

 

 

Jenny Brown LLAM
(Teacher of Drama/LAMDA and Musical Theatre)

Jenny Brown has worked as a registered LAMDA Speech and Drama teacher for more than twenty years in the Ascot area.  She has taught all ages and abilities and her students have gained very successful results in the LAMDA examinations over the years. Jenny has a wide range of experience in teaching the A level Theatre Studies, GCSE Drama and more recently the Btec in Performing Arts. She has also enjoyed developing the drama activities in Primary school where confidence building is an essential part of a child’s development both socially and academically. Jenny directs musicals and plays for local adult theatre groups at South Hill Park, the Wilde Theatre Bracknell and at Pinewood Little Theatre Crowthorne which is the home of EBOS.  As well as the regular school shows, she has enjoyed running summer school drama workshops that have allowed young people to go on to perform in the community productions or to just have fun!!

 

  

 

Stacia Keogh MA Drama, BA Drama in Education

(Teacher of Drama/LAMDA and Musical Theatre)

Stacia is an actor, storyteller and arts educator.  A dual citizen (Irish/American) she has worked as a professional actor in regional theatres throughout the Northwest when based in Seattle and Southwest based in Denver.  She was the resident storyteller with Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle as well as Seattle Public Library for 6yrs.  Stacia was a founding member of Book-It Repertory Theatre Co. (Seattle) and on the Faculty of the Youth Theatre Northwest (Mercer Island, WA).  Since locating to the UK Stacia has continued to work as a drama practitioner in various fringe theatres, touring extensively throughout the UK and Ireland and served as an Education Officer with Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. She currently lives in Maidenhead and teaches the LAMDA syllabus at Godstowe Prep School in High Wycombe, Heathfield in Ascot and does Creative Partnerships with schools throughout the Thames Valley.  Stacia has experience as a puppeteer, voice artist, physical theatre practitioner and TV/Film actor.  She holds a degree in Speech and Technical Communication from University of Colorado, MA in Drama in Education from New York University, and completed the Professional Actor Training Programme at Drama Studio London in Ealing.

 

 

 

Ellie Haigh BA Hons 

(Teacher of Ballet, Pilates, Pointe-work and Conditioning) 

Ellie started Ballet aged 4 at The Jeanette Du Fray Academy of Dance, where she also learned Tap, Modern and Jazz, until the age of 14. She continued her Ballet training at both Hurst Lodge School and The Royal Academy of Dance, where she completed the RAD syllabi. Alongside Ballet, Ellie is very passionate about music. She studied at The Academy of Contemporary music where she gained an HND in Contemporary Popular Music followed by a BA Hons in Music. She plays acoustic guitar and sings under the name Ellie Mae, and is in a band named Rigolo. In her spare time, Ellie enjoys doing casting work and has appeared in numerous commercials, TV shows and films including Sense and Sensibility, The Bourne Ultimatum, Inception and Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, as well as being Lily Cole's stand in for the film The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus with Heath Ledger.  Ellie adores Ballet and feels incredibly lucky to be doing a job she loves.  

  

  

  

Lizi Withall

(Teacher of Jazz, Tap, Pointe-work, Conditioning,  Musical Theatre, Ballet and Adult Classes)

Lizi started dancing at the age of 2 and trained at a number of Performing Arts Schools including Redroofs Theatre School. She first met Miss Natalie at the age of 11 when she attended the Heathfield Summer Camp. At the age of 16 she joined Italia Conti Arts Centre in Guildford. After three years of full time training she graduated from Italia Conti Arts Centre gaining her Performing Arts Diploma with Teacher Qualifications. Whilst at college she performed in nine productions. Other production credits include Slice of Saturday Night, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sound Of Music and Lizi has also danced at the Brit Awards. Lizi has appeared in a number of Films and TV Programmes such as The Core, Harry Potter (films I-IV), Ruth Rendell’s  Harm Done, Thunderpants and Goodbye Mr. Steadman.

  

  

  

Holly Longland

(Teacher of Drama/LAMDA)

Holly trained from the age of five with the Natalie Vinson School of Dance and Drama and has performed in many productions including Variety Shows and Fundraisers in London's West End. She enjoys working in different parts of the theatre, in particular, performing, choreography, scenic art, set design and directing. For more than five years Holly has taught Drama workshops and the LAMDA syllabus at the Natalie Vinson School of Dance and Drama and in 2007 she was appointed Head of Drama at the Marist Preparatory School where she teaches both class lessons and LAMDA. In September 2009 she joined the team of LAMDA teachers at Heathfield School in Ascot and has been involved in a number of productions including the opening of the St Mary’s Theatre.

 

 

 

Lesley Longland

(Teacher of Drama/LAMDA) 

Lesley’s first involvement with the Natalie Vinson School of Dance and Drama was as “mother” to Holly, who started dancing with Miss Natalie at the age of five. Lesley has taught Drama workshops and LAMDA classes at the school for over six years and in that time has been involved in numerous productions including Peter Pan, Encore and In the Spotlight. Lesley’s LAMDA students have achieved great results over the years – with 100% Distinction and Merit! Lesley was crowned Miss Marks and Spencers in 19?? (see photo) !!

  

  

  

Emily Grahamslaw

(Teacher of  Tap and Jazz)

Emily began dancing at the age of 11 at her local dance school, at 16 she went on to full time dance training at SLP College, Leeds, where she took a 3year Performing Arts and Teacher Training Course.  During her time at SLP College she gained her teaching qualifications with both the ISTD and the RAD. Upon graduating in 2000, Emily began her teaching career at the college, before moving to London in 2002.  She joined the Natalie Vinson School of Dance and Drama in 2006 and currently teaches all the Saturday Tap and Jazz, in addition to choreographing  routines for the shows at the Camberley Theatre. Emily also teaches at a number of other dance schools in and around London, taking lessons in Ballet, Tap, Modern and Free Jazz.

 

 

 

 

Heather George BTEC, YRT, BSYA Dip, TCA Dip, Dip A&P Level 3 Yoga Teacher – REPs

(Teacher of Yoga & Pilates, Meditation, Life Coaching, Stress Management, Reiki and Nutrition)

Heather teaches extensively throughout Surrey and Berkshire in Top Spas, Health Clubs and Schools including Heathfield in Ascot. She initially studied Yoga in India and has gone on to train in Pilates, Reiki, Nutrition and as a Life Coach. In addition to her class teaching she provides tuition for private and corporate clients and runs Yoga Workshops and Retreats.  She also runs courses on stress management which an be tailor-made for individuals, corporate clients or students preparing for exams. For more information visit www.omtropy.com 

 

 

  

 

Nancy Quinnell LGCI, Cert Ed, FRSA

(Teacher of LAMDA/Drama)

Nancy is an experienced LAMDA teacher who has been entering candidates for examinations for a number of years. She has a passion for the written and spoken word and enjoys passing on this knowledge to her students. She has experience in all aspects of the LAMDA syllabi, from the Introductory Grades to the Gold Medals. Nancy is a full member of the LAMDA Teachers Association and a member of the STSD. She has taught at Heathfield for over 8 years and has also been involved in School Productions during this time.

 

 

 

Sophie Walsh BA Ballet Education

(Teacher of Ballet, Pilates and Conditioning)

Sophie Walsh started dancing at the age of four, taking classes in Ballet, Modern and Irish Dancing.  She decided to concentrate on ballet and trained with The Heidi Rhodes School of Dancing from the age of ten.  During her time there, she achieved many graded examinations as well as vocational examinations of the Royal Academy of Dance.  Sophie had opportunities to perform in dance festivals as well as dance shows at Her Majesty’s Theatre, The London Palladium and Sadlers Wells.  She was also a member of Berkshire Youth Ballet’s first production of ‘Secrets of The Seasons’ and performed the solo role of Sunralia. After A-Levels, Sophie was offered a place at the Royal Academy of Dance to study for her degree in Ballet Education where alongside she received registered teacher status. Upon graduating, Sophie has been working as a freelance ballet teacher around Berkshire.  In addition to teaching she  has also choreographed for school shows and awards presentations as well as teaching masterclasses for Berkshire Youth Ballet and assisting with their auditions and productions. 

 

 

 

Chloë Naalchigar BSc (Hons) CertHE: DT (RAD) RAD: RTS

 (Teacher of Ballet, Pilates and Conditioning)

Chloë has been dancing since the age of two and has achieved Graded Examinations of the Royal Academy of Dance. Chloë gained a first class BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry with Science Communication from Royal Holloway, University of London and subsequently completed the Certificate of Higher Education: Dance Teaching at the Royal Academy of Dance, gaining Registered Teacher Status, whilst teaching at the Natalie Vinson School of Dance and Drama. Chloë is a Lecturer in Dance Studies at the Royal Academy of Dance and lectures on dance science and health across the Faculty of Education’s taught and distance learning programmes. She is currently completing an MSc in Dance Science and is involved in a number of research projects with both student and professional dancers.

 

 

 

Jill O’Hare BA (Theatre Studies), LGSM, LLAM, CertFE, GODA, PGCA, Hons FLAM.
(Teacher of Drama/LAMDA and Musical Theatre)

 Jill is a Teacher, Examiner and Adjudicator of Speech and Drama. She trained at the Guildhall School of Speech and Drama, the Rose Bruford College of Theatre and gained a BA (Theatre Studies) from Manchester University. Jill’s involvement with Speech and Drama has taken her all over the world, as well as nationally and her private practice enables her to teach all elements of the LAMDA syllabus encouraging students to find their own level of creativity. Her professional work as an actress and director in repertory theatre and the West End together with BBC-TV experience, allows her to appreciate both sides of performance skills and stage craft. Jill is the author of two recently published acting anthologies.

 

 

 

   

Richard Furstenheim

(Teacher of Piano and Singing) 

Since graduating from London University with an Honours Degree in Music Richard has travelled widely as singer, pianist and accompanist, giving concerts over much of the UK (everything from the Edinburgh Fringe via the South Bank to a recital with Lady Mary Wilson on the Isles of Scilly) as well as in France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Holland, Greece and America. Recordings include Bach with The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Britten for EMI Eminence, works by American composer Sean McLean and as soloist on the soundtrack of the film Monarch. He has worked as Musical Director with a number of groups on a variety of shows and is currently working as Musical Director and Vocal Coach to the Royal Borough Youth Opera project. Richard teaches Piano and singing and accompanies RAD Ballet examinations. 

 

 

 

“The Assistants”

Kate Poulter, Francesca O’Connor, Zoe Fuller, Georgia Ling, Victoria McGee, Clodagh Leonard and Heather McGee

 

 

Uniform Shop and Admin

Gloria Vinson, Elise Barker, Mandi McGee, Sam Barker and Jonathan Shaw