Summertime

	Clara Bajado Hip Hop Dance Artist Paddington Academy Born in December 1980 in Paris, France, of Philippino parents, Clara Bajado discovered dance through her father, a renowned Ballroom dancer in the Philippines. Music and dance have always played a major part in her childhood and at the age of eight she started taking Modern Jazz classes, which she did for six years. Aged 16 Clara discovered Hip Hop and fell in love with its culture. As a devoted Hip Hop dancer she took an endless number of classes and workshops where she learned and quickly became skilled in Old School (Lock, Pop, Bboy) and New School (Hip Hop) styles. As a dancer thirsty for enrichment Clara discovered House Dance just a year later, which proved to be a defining moment in her career. Clara and friends created ‘Septieme SenS’, a dance collective that rapidly became recognised in Paris and throughout France for its originality and versatility. Clara has appeared in many productions and videos and has danced alongside many famous dancers and choreographers such as Brian Green, Jazzy Jay (NYC), Storm (Germany), Nasty, Karl and Hugson (France). Back to top
	Annette Brandanger Capoeira Dance Artist Gable Hall School Annette graduated from Laban with a Diploma in Dance Theatre (Dist) in 2000. After graduating she continued her training at Laban as a member of Transitions Dance Company. She is now a freelance Dance Artist based in London. She is involved in a number of projects including Dance Challenge, Roar!, and Step into Dance with the RAD. Annette is also the founder and creator of her own dance activity company based in Norway called ‘breakaleg’, where she gives hundreds of children the opportunity to take part in dance and drama every summer. As a performer she has danced in shows such as The Fairy Queen, A Cabaret and Yesterday and she has also held permanent residence in Transitions Dance Company and Influx Dance Company. Annette is currently focusing on merging her two passions, Capoeira and Contemporary Dance. She wishes to create dynamic, challenging and thrilling choreography by using these two beautiful art forms in one. Back to top
	Heather Gladding Argentine Tango Dance Artist Gateway Academy Heather has worked extensively as a dance professional for 29 years as performer, choreographer, lecturer, teacher and coach. She trained and qualified at The Bill & Bobbie Irvine Dance Studio. She opened her first studio in West London in 1984. Her performances have taken her to venues such as Royal Festival Hall, Duke of York Theatre West End, Waldorf Hotel with Zoots and Spangles, Savoy Hotel with The Really Useful Company, Ballroom Blitz at South Bank Centre and Argentine Tango performer at The World Professional Ballroom & Latin Dance Show at the Grand Theatre in Hong Kong. Whilst a member of Baroque and Roll Dance Group she performed historical dance at Sadlers Wells, Hampton Court, Victoria & Albert Museum, Imperial War Museum, on tour in Japan and also lectured throughout London within the education programme. She was five times winner of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing All Ladies Rumba Competition. She has performed on BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4, Children’s BBC, The Big Breakfast Show, Hong Kong TV and in advertisements and pop videos. She has coached TV and film actors and choreographed top British ice dancers. Back to top
	Suzanne Hammond Lindy Hop Dance Artist Brampton Manor Secondary School Suzanne is a Fellow and Examiner of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. She began dancing at the age of seven. Having left school she went on to train professionally before embarking on a career on the stage, which took her around the world. Retiring from the stage she decided to make teaching her new career. Suzanne taught in many schools, colleges and theatre groups throughout the UK before opening her own school in Merseyside. After a few years she relocated to the south of England where she set up Hammond Academy of Performing Arts. Suzanne currently does a lot of work outside the Academy training other professionals in many dance genres. She works on both the Club Dance Faculty and also the Disco, Freestyle and Rock ‘n’ Roll Faculty of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. Back to top
	Alex Ivanets Latin American Dance Artist Holland Park School Alex Ivanets and his dance partner and wife, Lisa Bellinger, are current UK Professional Latin American Champions. They travel all over the world representing England at Dance Sport championships. Alex was born in the Ukraine and started dancing at the age of six. He first studied Ballet for six years and later on at the age of 12 became interested in Ballroom and Latin-American. During his youth career Alex became Ukrainian Latin Champion and represented Ukraine at the World and European Championships. In 2001 Alex moved to the UK and started dancing for Great Britain at competitions. Alex and Lisa were three times UK Amateur Champions and in 2005 turned professional. Apart from their competitive career Alex and Lisa are also doing a lot of choreography and shows. Just recently they choreographed the Juvenile Jive number for the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and they also featured in George Michael’s video clip Round Here. Back to top
	Nigel Kirk Street Dance Artist Bishopsford Community School Nigel is a member of the Disco, Freestyle and Rock ‘n’ Roll Faculty Committee of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. He is currently involved in writing the syllabus for the grades and professional examinations for the Freestyle Faculty. In 1994 he won the prestigious Phyllis Haylor Scholarship, and has been nominated for a Carl Alan Award for Disco Freestyle. In 2005 he became an Examiner for the Disco, Freestyle and Rock ‘n’ Roll Faculty. He is also a Championship Adjudicator with the ADFP (Association of Dance and Freestyle Professionals). He teaches Ballroom, Latin American, all aspects of Disco, Freestyle and Rock ‘n’ Roll to students within his busy school in the North West of England. His students perform regularly at the Opera House in Blackpool and have danced at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London. His most recent achievements have included selected students performing on board MSC cruise ships for the last two years.
	Richard Marcel Salsa Dance Artist Phoenix High School Richard Marcel has worked with Madonna, Kylie Minogue, George Michael, Vanessa Mae, The Beautiful South, Diana Ross, Sonique and Roll Deep to name but a few. His choreography credits include Strictly Come Dancing (BBC), Happy Birthday Brucie! (BBC), The Wedding Show (ITV), Strictly Come Dancing (Live Tour), Burn The Floor (International Tour), Bounce (Sadler’s Wells), Grease (Swedish Tour), Copacabana (Athens, Greece), Salsa On The Street (London), Havana Club (European Tour), Bond (Royal Albert Hall, London) and cabaret shows on board QE2 (Cunard) and Oriana (P&O). His teaching credits include master classes at Bird Theatre College, Performers College, The Centre Performing Arts College, London School of Musical Theatre, Tiffany Theatre College and various dance schools in the UK and abroad. He is Vice Chairman of the Club Dance Faculty at the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and also sits on the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing Council. In 2005 Richard was presented with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing Imperial Dance Sport Award. Back to top
	Sheba Montserrat African Caribbean Dance Artist Hackney Free and Parochial School Sheba Montserrat is a multi-faceted entertainer. As a dancer, teacher and choreographer her specialism and passion lies with Caribbean dance. She trained under Jackie Guy, one of Jamaica’s foremost dance specialists, when, in 1999, she was amongst the first graduates to complete Europe’s first ever accredited course in Caribbean and African dance, pioneered and run by the acclaimed IRIE! Dance Theatre. She is presently a freelance dance practitioner working in both education and the community. In combining her talents as a comedian and poet she also works as a stand-up poet, where from her unique standpoint, she juggles humour, rhymes and social commentary with dexterity and style. Sheba performs with dynamic energy and flair. Her performance in any genre is as much an experience as it is a piece of creative art. Back to top
	Rachel Newby Contemporary Dance Artist Southfields Community College Rachel began her career as a Dance Animateur at Cheshire Dance after graduating with a BA Honours degree in Creative Arts from the Manchester Metropolitan University. Rachel is the London Dance Officer for English National Ballet and is a highly experienced Dance Artist and Choreographer. Before joining English National Ballet in 2005 she worked freelance across schools and college in the Birmingham and Warwickshire area after being one of the first Dance Artists in Residence (DAiR) in a highly successful performance and education project run by DanceXchange, the dance agency for Birmingham and the West Midlands. Highlights of her career are performing works by Luca Silvestrini and Banksy as well as choreographing work for a mass schools’ choir performance of 600 children at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham. Back to top
	Joan Pires e Pereira Bollywood Dance Artist Forest Hill School Joan Pires is a Laban Graduate and a Dance therapist from Roehampton University. She has been dancing since she was four years old, in Kenya where she was brought up. Her migration to a small village in Goa, where there was no dance school, forced her to become a self taught dancer, watching and learning from videos and reading Dame Margot Fonteyn’s Ballet books. At age 16 she started her own dance company performing all over India at National and International events. At 18 years old she opened her first dance school teaching everything from Bollywood to Ballroom. At 21 she finally commenced attaining a formalised training in the UK at Laban and Roehampton University. She resurrected another dance company called ‘Pulse Dance’ that performs South Asian Contemporary Dance. At the moment she is giving seminars to teachers on ways of introducing Bollywood into the GCSE syllabus alongside Keynote Education. Her project at the moment is sharing dance with people with dementia who she hopes to get performing a routine at the end of the year. One of her mottos is: “Dance is the best cure medicine can’t buy!” Back to top
	Paul Streatfield Disco/Freestyle Dance Artist St Saviour’s and St Olave’s School Paul is a Disco, Freestyle and Rock ‘n’ Roll Examiner, Area Medallist Competition Organiser and Co-Organiser of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing Imperial Freestyle Championships. As Vice Chairman of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing’s Disco, Freestyle and Rock ‘n’ Roll Faculty, he has been actively involved in creating the new Disco Freestyle Grade Examinations and the Professional Qualifications. Paul enjoys all aspects of the profession, whether it be teaching social dancers and medallists, coaching competitions or training professionals. As Co-Principal of a large successful school of dance, his dancers represented the Disco, Freestyle and Rock ’n’ Roll Faculty at the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing centenary celebrations held at Sadler’s Wells. They have also appeared at the London Palladium and the Peacock Theatre in Woking. An experienced Choreographer, Lecturer and Championship Adjudicator, Paul has lectured many times throughout the UK, Europe and the USA. Amongst his many achievements and recognitions in dance, he has won the prestigious Carl Alan Teachers’ Award for Freestyle Dance. Back to top
	Amy Williamson Artistic Director of Summertime Ballet Dance Artist Marshalls Park School Amy has a BA in Performing Arts from Middlesex University and since graduating has spent several years performing with numerous dance and theatre companies. She has choreographed many plays and musical productions for The Young Shakespeare Company, The Principal Theatre Company and The Millfield Theatre. A career highlight was being invited to create a dance theatre production of All’s Well That Ends Well for the Connecticut Festival Theatre, USA in 2003. After several years of working in a freelance capacity for English National Ballet, Amy joined the Company in 2007 as Touring Dance Officer, devising and leading creative workshops, residencies and large scale projects nationwide. Back to top