Faculty
Lisa Dakin - Founder & Business Director
Lisa has had a passion for dancing and performing all her life. She began dancing at the age of three and dance along with sports acrobatics became her life. After training at Leeds Dance College gaining teaching qualifications in Ballet, Tap, Modern Jazz, National Dance, Greek Dance and Acrobatics, she went on to perform and teach with various professional dance companies including touring with Peter Andre on his very first tour starting at Leeds very first Party in the Park Concert. Lisa spent 6 months teaching vulnerable children dance education in Germany before returning to UK to open her own school. Lisa Marie Performing Arts opened in March 2000 and has gone from strength to strength since opening. In 2017 Lisa qualified as a Special Educational Needs Teacher and now works with extremely vulnerable children alongside running LMPA.
Laura Souter - Creative Director
Laura trained at Phil Winstons Theatreworks and upon graduating in 2011 she gained her first professional contract as a Dancer and Aerialist in a renowned circus touring Italy. She then took on her first ship contract aboard Japanese Cruise Line's Pacific Venus as a Dancer/Singer travelling along the Pacific Ocean. Other credits include a 6 month tour in Cyprus performing with an International dance troupe and numerous UK corporate events. Laura also took on the role as a Magicians Assistant and Choreographer for the Spectacular Magic and Illusion show High Jinx performing nationally and internationally.
Laura who holds a Fellowship with the IDTA specialising in Contemporary Modern Jazz has taught at Lisa Marie Performing Arts since 2008 and has loved watching the school grow from strength to strength into what it is today.
Evie Salkeld - Teacher
Evie starting dancing when she was 3 years old with the Lisa Marie school training in all genres and taking IDTA exams up to Advanced 1. In 2016 Evie moved to Nottingham to train for 4 years at MADD College on the Professional Musical Theatre diploma course and graduated in June 2020 with a Distinction. Evie has been teaching since 2014 and is excited to be teaching regularly and inspiring the next generation of LMPA performers. Miss Evie will be covering all genres of classes specialising in Commercial and Acro. Evie is Acrobatic Arts qualified and has a great passion and understanding for this discipline.
Denise Roberts - RAD Ballet Teacher
Denise studied ballet with Catherine Blellock (Southend) and Ruth French and Alex Morrow (Chelsea, London) from a young age before moving on to full time professional training at the Bush Davies School. Denise went on to have an incredible career as a professional ballerina before turning her passion to teaching the next generation of aspiring dancers. Denise was part of wonderful Ballet Companies with leading roles as Principal dancer which include Ballet for All, Dublin City Ballet, British Ballet Theatre and the Irish National Ballet. Roles include - Nutcracker Sugar Plum, Flower Festival, Copelia and Giselle.
Denise's TV/Film credits include Eurovision Contest (Dublin), Strauss Gala BBC 2 and Film Excalibur.
Denise has been teaching RAD since 1990 and has achieved amazing results throughout her teaching career. We can't wait to have Denise on board and she is extremely excited to work with our students here at Lisa Marie Performing Arts.
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Jessica Margaret hutchinson - Teacher
Jess is a graduate of The Arden School of Theatre gaining a BA(Hons) Degree in Musical Theatre. Whilst training at The Arden Jess choreographed their Move It Musical Theatre showcase and also landed the role of Dance Captain in her 3rd year play 'Spend Spend Spend'. Jessica gained her first professional contract whilst in 3rd year featuring as 'Mrs Robinson' on the audiobook 'Out of Time' and is currently working for Performance in Education touring parts of the UK.
Jess is thrilled to be part of the teaching faculty, giving her the opportunity to share her great enthusiasm for performing with the current students of LMPA.
Corina Tether - Teacher
Corina runs our Tadcaster branch at the Riley Smith Hall on Wednesday evenings, welcoming many new young faces to the LMPA family.
Corina starting dancing when she was just 3 years old here at Lisa Marie Performing Arts, training in all genres and taking IDTA exams up to Intermediate level.
Upon completing her Extended Diploma Level 3 in Dance at York College, Corina was excited to pursue her passion for teaching and was very excited to get stuck into developing the next generation of young dancers.
Corina looks forward to meeting you all at our Tadcaster Branch and is happy to be continuing with the LMPA Family.
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