Teachers at the Academy are:

Donna Lee Claffey (Principal) A.I.S.T.D, FDI - Modern, Tap & Jazz

  Donna trained at the Jean Marks School Of Dance & Laine Theatre Arts.

As a pupil of Jean Marks Donna won the All England, Carl Alan Awards, English Championships was junior & Senior Runner up at the Marjorie Davies Tap Awards and 3rd in the Miss Dance of Great Britain. 

Whilst at Laines Donna gained 2 Associates in Tap & Modern, was chosen to perform in the Royal V.E Day Gala at the London Coliseum, Demonstrated the Advanced 2 Tap syllabus for the I.S.T.D, danced a tap solo at the Tap Extravaganza London & was runner up in choreographic awards 2 years in a row. After graduating she did "The Joe Pasquale Show" where she was lead vocalist, danced in C.S.E shows which took her to the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Bosnia & Croatia, danced in "Step Back To Christmas", sung with a number of bands taking her to Holland, Belgium & Japan and recorded 2 singles. After that she worked as a free lance dance teacher working all over the country at different dance & theatre schools. She also currently teaches at the Sally Johnson Academy Of Dance in Southampton.

Teresa Butcher BA (hons), A.I.S.T.D Dip, CDE - Ballet

  Teresa started dancing at the age of 4, performing in numerous dance festivals, amateur operatic shows, youth theatre performances and school productions.

She then studied for a degree in Dance with Drama at Roehampton Institute. Teresa started teaching for Anne Blumlein in 1997, and took over the general administration for the dance school before becoming Principal in 2000. During this time Teresa also worked as a dance administrator at The Point Dance & Arts Centre and ran a creative dance group.

After starting a family, Teresa decided to step down as Principal in September 2004.  

Rosie Nash A.I.S.T.D, FDI - Modern & Tap

  Rosie has been dancing since the age 3. She studied at the Southsea School Of Dance and gained her advanced 2 exams.

She later studied in Brighton, where she then became involved in choreography for both amateur and semi professional theatre, this has continued to be be a passion of hers and one that culminated in her achieving two awards for the choreography of 'Me and My Girl' and 'Cabaret'. She also ran workshops along the South Coast for musical theatre, dance & drama.

Rosie is delighted to be working at the Academy and has enjoyed the last 8 years immensely. she also teaches at Bedales & Dunhurst Schools.

Debra Knights Dip L.C.D, A.I.S.T.D, Dip, CDE - Ballet

  Debra trained at the Maureen Gardner School Of Ballet, and then at the London College Of Dance where she gained a 1st class diploma in dance & dance teaching studies, and associates in ballet & modern.

She later gained her associate diploma & CDE with the I.S.T.D and the RSA exercise to music. After leaving college she taught at the Georgina Cole School Of Dance, Stevenage, taking over the school 2 years later when Georgina Cole retired. Debra was prinipal of the school for 12 years entering pupils for I.S.T.D exams, providing pupils for dance productions & pantomimes at the Gordon Craig Theatre & producing her own school show every 2 years. During this time she was also assistant choreographer for several semi professional productions at the theatre, choreographed a fasion show and directed a dance show involving all local dance groups & schools for the Stevenage arts festival every other year. Debra sold her school in 2002 after getting married, and moved back to Hampshire. Debbie has been at the school since 2003 & also works at 2 other schools in Winchester & Midhurst. She also adjudicated at a choreography competition in 2006 and presented pupils in a Class Examination Demonstration at the I.S.T.D summer school for teachers at Chichester in August 2007. 

Hayley Mayfield (student teacher working on her FDI) - Ballet

 Hayley started dancing at the age of 4 at the Denise School Of Dance. 

When Hayley was 9 she achieved a place at Elmhurst Ballet School in Camberley and trained there for 6 years until the age of 16, at 16 she furthered her training at Laine Theatre Arts on a musical theatre course for 2 years.

After finishing her training at Laines Hayley's first professional job was dancing on board the Royal Carribbean Cruise ship 'Soveveijn Of The Sea' and after that she worked all over the world dancing including Italy, Japan & Portugal.  

Kerry Newell A.I.S.T.D (runs PAD Squad) - Street Jazz

  Kerry Trained at the Arts Educational School Tring & Laine Theatre Arts.

Since graduating she has appeared in West Side Story, Fame & Lion King in london's West End, where she was understudy & played the Lead roles of Carmen & Nala. Her other theatre credits include "Forever After" at wembley Arena &  Nutcracker, with the English National Ballet UK Tour & Royal Festival Hall at the age of 10. Kerry has done numerous commercials & Music videos for Craig David "Artful Dodger", true steppers, morcheeba & the Architects and Vanessa Amorosi, Which gave her the opportunity to perform on Top Of The Pops UK & Germany and various Road Shows around the UK & Europe. Kerry is now one of 5 presenters of the hit series "The Fun Song Factory" where she plays Cal & has presented the links for GMTV's kids "Wakey Wakey".  

Paul Allnutt FDI (runs PAD Squad)

  Paul started dancing at the age of 10 and went on to train at Masters Performing Arts College.

After graduating, Paul had a successful ten years of performing. Working on shows such as West Side Story on a national tour and in the West End, playing the part of Chino, Grease and Fame in the West End, where he covered and played many of the main characters, along with the role of Dance Captain. Other shows include Annie, Oklahoma and the original cast of Santa Claus The Musical. Paul has also spent time working as a singer and dancer on cruise ships and as a dancer in hair shows and at Wembley Arena in the Forever after concert. TV and Film credits inlcude The Power of One (Warner Bros), Lipstick on your collar (Channel 4), Blue Peter and GMTV, amongst others. Paul has also taught workshops and classes across the country for the past 10 years, along with choreography and direction for various shows. He is qualified in anatomy and sports massage, and the co-principal of FunKyds Theatre Arts, a company that teaches dance and performance.

Jessica Murray Hall - Hip Hop

 Jessica Started dancing at the age of 2 in the styles of Ballet, Modern, Jazz & Tap. Her love for street dance & Hip Hop grew from the age of 13 when she started training at Pineapple dance Studios in London. She studied an A Level in drama & Btec in Dance at college & graduated with three distinctions. Later that year she won the UK Street Dance Championships Duo 2007 at the age of 18 and danced at the World Championships the following October. She also has performed in music videos with the Wideboys (DJ's) & UK grime artists. Early this year she was accepted into a professional Hip Hop/Urban Acrobatics company called Nexus Europe & has performed in Korea, Italy, Marcedonia & Glastonbury 2008. She is currently training in all the above styles & has also started Acrobatics.

Sasha Biloshitsky - Break Dancing

Sasha was born in Russia & moved to England in search of new job opportunities & bigger challenges for his advanced skills in Breaking & new style hip hop. 

Through his experience in the dance & entertainment industry, Sasha has a variety of significant credits, such as working with artists like Sean Paul, Big Brovaz & Kylie Minogue. Sasha has developed a unique & exciting style of both choreography & performance; he choreographed the opening ceromony of the 'Ideal Home Show 2008' & performed as part of a headlining act at Glastonbury 2008. In addition to performing as a member of UK champion bboys (break dancers) 'The Floor Crusaders'.

Jodie Owen (teaches at the Artzone workshops) 

Jodie trained at the Jean Marks School of Dance & Performers College.

whilst at college Jodie danced on the TV show talking telephones along side artists such as the Spice Girls & Steps and danced at various corporate events with Sir Cliff Richard. 

After graduating Jodie got the part of the lead Irish girl dancer in Spirit of the Dance, whilst in Spirit Jodie travelled to Dallas & Israel and spent a year in Branson, she then did the UK tour of the show. Jodie has also done various TV and modelling work.