Holly Kent B.A. (Hons), LRAD, RTS, ARAD
I have danced all my life, beginning at the age of 3 and can’t imagine life without dance.
As a child I studied ballet gaining my Primary-Grade 6 RAD exams and went on to gain my Intermediate Foundation-Advanced 2 which is one of the highest vocational qualifications available for ballet dancers. I took exams in IDTA and ISTD modern and also studied Jazz and Contemporary dance styles.
In 2006 I fulfilled my lifelong ambition to go to the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in London, where I acquired a First Class Honours Degree Ballet Education. Whilst at the Royal Academy I was awarded the status of Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance (ARAD), my Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance (LRAD) and RAD Registered Teaching Status (RAD RTS). These qualifications permit me to teach the RAD syllabus and to enter dancers for their exams.
Every year I undertake further training through the RAD and other organisations, keeping my teaching and syllabus knowledge up-to-date.
In addition to my passion for dancing, I am an enthusiastic choreographer and have experience of choreographing festivals, musical productions and concerts.
In 2009 I founded Riverside Ballet, which has grown in size each year and is now over 200 dancers strong!!! My mission is to provide all my students with dance tuition of the highest quality and share my love of dance, so that classes are fun and memorable.
Beth Andrews B.A (Hons)
I started dancing at a young age at Barbara Evans School of Dance; training in Ballet, Modern and Jazz. It was through Studying A-level Dance at Worcester Sixth Form College that I was introduced to Contemporary. My love for the style grew as I developed my Contemporary Dance Training at Winchester University, where I completed a Degree in Choreography and Performance. Graduating in 2006 I then began working as a freelance dance practitioner for Dancefest, a Community Dance Organisation, whom I still work for today.
Throughout my years teaching I’ve had the privilege to work with a wide range of ages within a variety of settings including; Dance in Education (teaching in primary and secondary schools and leading on Btech, GCSE and A-Level Dance Courses), Community Dance (from youth groups to care homes) and in Dance Schools.
Over the years I’ve also enjoyed working on and performing in various small and large scale dance projects including; Cultural Olympiad projects for the 2012 games, Champions League Final opening ceremony and a Disability Dance project for Mencap and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Alongside teaching at Riverside Ballet School and for Dancefest I also run my own adult Dance Fitness Classes.
Jody Clee AISTD
Hi, I’m Jody. I did all my dance training in Reading, which is where I am originally from. My love of dancing started when I was 4 when I first attended RAD Ballet lessons, and within a couple of years included ISTD Tap and Modern lessons as well. By the age of 10 I attended a stage school to include drama and singing lessons.
My first experience of teaching came when I was 15 where I was made assistant teacher for Ballet, Tap and Modern. I became a full-time dance teacher when I was 18 teaching all ages (3 year-olds through to adults), and also taught drama and singing at stage school.
As well as teaching, I choreographed local pantomimes, where a particular highlight was choreographing a dance troupe of 22 for a show at the London Palladium.
I first met Holly in 2016 when I joined one of her adult ballet classes as a student and was fortunate enough to begin teaching for her in 2019.
Maisie Cattanach
I’m Maisie and I’ve been dancing at every opportunity since I was 5 years old!
Jazz, Ballet, Street, Tap, Contemporary I love them all, whether performing in class, on stage or at larger organised events.
I’ve been a volunteer dance teacher with Riverside Ballet since 2015 specialising in Jazz classes for children aged under 12 years and recently assisting in Street classes.
In 2022 I passed my Grade 6 RADA ballet exam and in 2023 I undertook a Diploma in Dance Teaching with the British Ballet Organisation. Upon passing I achieved a Distinction in “Safe Dance Teaching Practices” and a Merit in “Applying Teaching and Learning Strategies”.
I am also a Level 2 Qualified Nursery Practitioner working with children age 6 months – 4 years since 2021.