JMDS TEACHERS
Jayne Marie Dancing School 
Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead

   

Claire has been dancing since she was 3 years old and trained at the Hammond School in Chester, studying RAD Ballet and ISTD Tap and Modern. She has taken all her exams up to and including Advanced 2 with the ISTD in all three genres. Claire attended Margaret Howard Theatre College in Bushey to acquire her Associate Teaching qualifications in ISTD Ballet, Tap and Modern and a National Diploma in Performing Arts. She then taught for 3 years at the Margaret Howard Theatre Schools in Bushey, Redbourn and Shenley, teaching classes from Baby Ballet right up to Advanced 2.  Claire also completed a 1-year professional engagement at Disneyland Paris where she performed in the parades and took many roles including Maleficent, the Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty.

LISA DONNÉ
Lisa started her dancing career with JMDS, at the age of 3. During her 15 years, she won places at the London finals, choreographed as a student teacher was head girl for her last 2 years.After leaving, Lisa went on to perform in million-dollar production shows on board Americas largest Cruise Liners, Carnival, for 3 years. On her return from seeing the world, she came back to her roots and re joined JMDS as a teacher.Still performing professionally, Lisa’s credits include a West End performance of ‘Thriller Live’, a musical based on the music of Michael Jackson, various pop videos and live TV and concert performances. The highlights of which were dancing for Take That and touring Europe with them to promote ‘Shine’, as well as working with Madonna’s Choreographers to dance on stage with Prince in the South of France. Lisa has been on tour with Boyz Own during 2008. She is a dancer on ITV's X Factor and Lisa continues her training at Pineapple Dance Studios, and hopes to bring inspiration to all the young dancers once like her at Jayne Marie……

Liz’s formal theatre training began in Birmingham back in 1997, at The Birmingham Theatre School.  Gaining a degree in theatre at the University of North London she went on to complete a Masters in Theatre Directing at Royal Holloway University.  Liz’s studies took her travelling across the world as she undertook research into the varying impact and meaning of theatre in different cultures.  These studies spanned from working in Townships in South Africa to the ritualistic structures of theatre in Tokyo.  Whilst researching, Liz also spent time writing and devising theatre with children and young people.  Finding this to be her forte, Liz then went on to complete a Masters in Dramatherapy and works with young people from primary and secondary schools, young offenders, children at risk and those in foster care or children’s homes.  Liz teaches drama and theatre skills to adults, and children alike, runs workshops for teachers and has written, devised and directed plays for her own theatre company with performances across London.  Over the summer of 2008 Liz directed Wind in the Willows for the Dacorum Summer School at Berkhamsted Civic Centre, and is an Associate Director for the Arts Education Team at the Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead.  Liz has her own production company called Flametree Productions. Aside from her professional career, Liz is mummy to her 2 year old twin boys.  

Suzanne started her dance classes as a child at the Joan Ward School of Dance in Lancaster until she was awarded a place at the Royal Ballet School at White Lodge, London.  She graduated from the Royal Ballet Upper School at the age of 18 successfully passing Cecchetti examinations up to Advanced level.  Suzanne then moved to Germany to pursue her professional dance career and danced with the State Theatre in Hagen & also in Hanover where she performed in a wide range of classical and contemporary works.  Suzanne then commenced a 3-year professional make-up artist course ending with an internationally recognised qualification.  Suzanne was awarded contracts with the State Theatre in Hanover.  She became a tutor for Mephisto Make-up Artistry School in Berlin and also worked as a make-up & hair/wig stylist for Theater des Westens in Berlin.  After settling back in England Suzanne commenced to deliver her self-devised Creative dance programme to children in primary schools.  Suzanne joined the teaching staff at the Jeanine Greville Dance Academies and is currently teaching the Royal Academy of Dance ballet syllabus to attending pupils.

AISTD (dip) LLAM

Laura trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in the Barbican, and has been performing ever since.  She worked as a dancer all over Europe with the San Germain Follies, toured the UK with the New Tiller Girls, and lived in Paris for 3 years working on TV and performing the can can at the oldest cabaret theatre in Paris, La Nouvelle Eve.  She also worked in the West End at London’s Cockney Cabaret as a singer/dancer; not to mention various films, adverts and the like.After 10 years treading the boards, Laura turned her hand to radio, and found herself hosting breakfast shows before long.  Most notably she spent 4 years co presenting with radio legend Tony Blackburn on Classic Gold Radio (her name then was Laura Pittson), and more recently you would have heard her presenting the breakfast show on Hertfordshire’s Mercury Radio.  Laura also recently starred on the Channel 4 series Britain’s Top Dog, where she had to compete in dog trials with her pet dog Tinkerbell and won extra points for the doggy dancing section!!Throughout her career Laura has continued to teach (even when living abroad!), and has held many posts.  Qualified in Ballet Modern & Tap and Drama & Public Speaking, Laura is delighted to be joining JMDS and is looking forward to Monday evenings!

Sian , now 29 finished her training in 2001 after gaining a diploma in performing arts, and a degree in musical theatre and Performance. As a qualified Batchelor of Arts she has toured the country extensively as a performer and session vocalist, working with both up and coming and signed artists, such as Liberty x, s club 7, the   fun lovin criminals, Peter Andre, Edwin star and Sophie Ellis Bexter. She has worked on an array of recorded material including vocals for Carlton Television and regularly for the BBC and is currently working on a project with celebrity Fame Academy winner Tara Palmer Tompkinson. Sian began teaching for a Hertfordshire based Stage school  in 2002 taking large classes from ages 8 to 18 coaching them in performance and singing technique. She also regularly took the role of musical director for the school’s musicals and variety performances. She now enjoys teaching on a one to one basis for the Hertfordshire music service and on a group basis for Jayne Marie Dance School.  She continues to write record and perform in studios and live music venues across London and south east.