MELT DANCE TEACHING SPECIALISTS

GUEST TUTORS

Meet our specialists

ABBIE COUGHLAN

Jazz Dance Specialist

BA/PGCE/MA

A LIPA graduate, Abbie has worked mainly in the Jazz Dance industry, both nationally and internationally. She has performed on cruise ships, in cabaret shows, dinner spectacles and tribute acts, including Vegas Showgirls UK. As dance captain and lead dancer, she has had responsibility for rehearsals, sourcing costumes and communication with technical teams. Abbie’s experience has given her a deep understanding as to the requirements of professional performance, and her continuing activity in the industry provides currency, networks and links for her students, preparing them for future work and auditions.

TALISHA THOMAS LYNDSAY

Hip Hop/Commercial

BA

Talisha is a professional dancer and currently working as a freelance dance and creative artist performing, teaching and choreographing in the North West and around the UK.Some of Talisha's recent work credits include: dancer for Selfridges Rocks Christmas campaign, Snow Patrol, PUMA sports, Singer and dancer on Wannabe Spice girls theatre tour, Red bull music academy events and choreographer for UK grime artist Maxwell D. Talisha choreographs and teaches within the styles of Commercial Hip Hop, Afrobeats, Dancehall, Jazz and Contemporary fusion.

NICOLETTE WHITLEY

Contemporary/Lyrical Jazz specialist.

BA

Nicolette Whitley completed her degree at LIPA.
Nicolette has most recently been working with award winning company Fallen Angels DanceTheatre under the guidance of former Royal Ballet soloist
Paul Bayes Kitcher.
Nicolette has a passion for choreography and was a
founder of the contemporary lyrical dance duo Alleviate.
Alleviate were the runners up on Sky 1’s Got To Dance series 2 and went on to star in the hit dance show Flash Mob at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre in the West End. Alleviate were also invited to perform for the Queen at Buckingham Palace, have starred in their own cruise ship show and appeared at An Evening with Strictly Come Dancing Stars Karen and Kevin.
Her commercial credits include: The In betweeners movie, 8 out of 10 Cats, Hollyoaks, Adidas, Stella McCartney’s new sports range at Topshop, VOGUE Brasil, Guess, Gap, Move Dancewear, Sweaty Betty, and commercials for Argos, Virgin and Oral B featuring Shakira.
Her performance includes; The Royal Opera House, The London Science Gallery,

OLIVIA GALVIN

Jazz Dance/Audition Technique 

specialist

Performing has always been Olivia’s passion since the tender age of 3, where she began to take classes in ballet, tap, modern and musical theatre at Loretta Legge Theatre School. Olivia then went on to further her training at Dolphin Dance Studios in her home town of Liverpool where she trained for 3 years before graduating in 2015. Olivia has worked professionally since a young age with her first professional job being in the original cast of Willy Russell’s musical “Our Day Out” at the Royal Court Theatre. Olivia has performed in various corporate events both singing and dancing around the UK. She then went on to perform in pantomime both at the Royal Court Theatre and also at the Liverpool Empire Theatre for First Family Entertainment. Since graduating Olivia’s credits include; Thomson Cruises as Singer/Dancer, Viva Productions as Singer/Dancer based in Mallorca, touring around the island and Costa Cruises as Production Singer. Olivia is currently touring the UK with girl band “Girl Project” and performing on Carnival Cruises in the USA.

HANNAH BALLARD

Rhythm Tap Specialist

Hannah is a multi disciplinary dance artist experienced in performance, direction and choreography. She completed her training at London Studio Centre gaining a BA (Hons) in dance and theatre art and is currently doing her MA in performance at Liverpool Hope University. She has performed and choreographed throughout the UK with various companies, specialising in contemporary, tap dance, aerial and dance theatre.

Hannah is the Artistic Director of Sole Rebel, a Liverpool based company that combines tap dance, theatre and music. Sole Rebel have toured throughout the UK over the last 9 years and are currently embarking on a new show which will premiere in 2020. https://solerebeltap.co.uk

She has been an aerialist performer with Wired Aerial Theatre, involved in the productions ‘As the world tipped’, ‘Frida’ and ‘Slice’ touring outdoor festivals worldwide including; UK, Australia, South Korea, Spain, Germany, France, Holland and Italy.

As a contemporary dance artist she has worked with; Laila Diallo, Marc Brew, Fiona Millward, Susanne Thomas – Seven Sisters Group, Yael Flexer, Marie-Louise Flexen, Sharon Watson – Pheonix Dance Theatre and Henri Oguike. In 2015 Hannah was identified as a future leader, awarded the Dance UK dancer’s mentoring scheme. Her chosen mentor being Maggie Clarke, Director of Xtrax.

Her own choreographic work has been commissioned and supported by Gaz Coombes (Simulator, music video), Arts Council England, Leap Festival, The Point, Exuberant Fund, The Point, Alpha Associate Award, Swindon Dance, Bath ICIA, Oxford City Council, Pegasus Theatre, Dancin’ Oxford Festival, and Oxford Dance Forum.

Hannah is passionate about education work for all ages and abilities and she teaches throughout the UK for various organisations. www.hannahjballard.com

MIKE LOWRY

Commercial Dance Specialist

BA/PGCE

MICHAEL LOWRY
Dancer, Choreographer and Teacher.

Michael has been dancing since the age of thirteen and continued to professional training, across multiple dance genres, at Shockout Arts, achieving a BA(HONS) in Professional and Commercial Dance.

Michael is agency represented and is currently working professionally in commercial dance, with credits that include; fashion shows, backing dancing, PUMA corporate event, L’Oreal / Urban Decay, Adidas advert, Chanel 4, 8 out of 10 cats does Countdown, amongst more.

Michael has a PGCE at Masters Level in Higher Education (14+) and is a keen teacher and choreographer, currently teaching and choreographing around the UK.

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He is  currently the course leader for the BTEC national Diploma/Foundation Degree at Shockout Arts. 

STEPHEN MORGAN

Musical Theatre Specialist/ Tap Specialist /Choreographer

Theatre: STEPPING OUT, CHICAGO THE MUSICAL, CARTWRIGHT FOLLIES, THE INVISIBLE MAN, CINDERELLA, SNOW WHITE, MAGIC OF THE MUSICALS, SINGING IN THE RAIN, PHIL WINSTON'S THEATREWORKS, PRINCESS CRUISES, MSC CRUISES, GOLDILOCKS AND MOTHER GOOSE WELSH TOUR  and PANTOMIMES FOR UK PRODUCTIONS.

TV/FILM: NICE GUY EDDIE (BBC), O JERUSALEM (Feature Film), ACOSS THE UNIVERSE (Feature Film), BRADFORD BULLS HALF TIME SHOW,  MUSIC VIDEOS- I GO CRAZY (Elysium), SHOT AWAY (Pawn Shop), NOBODY LIKE YOU (Kelly Llorrena), BINGO (Ricky Tomlinson).

FASHION/TRADE: A PLACE IN THE SUN LIVE, MISS ENGLAND HEATS, HOLLYOAKS FASHION SHOW,  LAMBORGHINI GALA, MAIN SHOW CIRCO LIVERPOOL, RADIO CITY ROADSHOW, OAKWOOD THEME PARK, TATTON PARK VENETIAN MASQUERADE, LIVERPOOL SUMMER POPS and MOVE IT 2019.

For the past 2 years, Stephen has been working as a DanceSupervisor for Princess Cruises in Los Angeles. His time has been split travelling between luxury liners installing production shows and teaching/preparing casts in the shows at their studios in Los Angeles.

​Represented by YOU Management for all creative work. Contact: Terence@you-management.com

WEB: www.sjmchoreography.com                   INSTA: @sjmchoroegraphy.                   EMAIL: info@sjmchoreography.com

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HELÉNA FERREIRA

Musical Theatre Dance Specialist/Choreographer

Heléna has trained in dance for 22 years and has worked professionally in the UK and Paris over the last 8 years, teaching and choreographing for various dance schools and companies, as well as performing in numerous musical theatre productions in and around Manchester. 
Most recently Heléna lived and worked in Paris where she was a part of the character/parade and show department at Disneyland Resort Paris. Her work here included daily parades, cavalcades and shows, where she had the privilege of being very good friends with a certain Princess from Agrabah. 
For 2 years Heléna performed in the award winning musical Mickey and the Magician as a dancer and first cover Rafiki. 
Upon her return to the UK Heléna has filmed for the new film adaptation of the musical ‘Everybody’s talking about Jamie’ which is to be released next year. 
In addition to this, Heléna is part of Disney London special events and casting, which is an external performance/entertainment branch of The Walt Disney Company outside of the parks across the world. 
Heléna is now continuing to train and teach dance, whilst also in rehearsal for various shows and pantomimes.

EMMA THOMAS

Commercial Dance Specialist.

With over fifteen years teaching experience, Emma has earned her reputation as a diverse Commercial Teacher and choreographer, delivering workshops and dance intensives to Schools and Colleges throughout the Northwest. Emma’s extensive teaching experience has led to many creative links within the community including choreographing for numerous Art based events and fashion shows to performing at the European M.T.V. music awards. Emma teaches on both the dance Diploma and Degree course at the Hammond school and is the coordinator for both Te Hammond Performing Arts experience and Te Hammond Associate programme. Emma teaches regular open classes in Heels, Commercial and Lyrical in both Liverpool and Chester and is resident guest teacher at Centre Pointe and House of Dance. Since joining Te Hammond, Emma has continued to develop her professional skills and in 2010, gained her certifcate in Education.

CHRISTINA MALLEY

Freelance Singer and Musical Theatre Singing specialist.

BA/MA

TBC

ABBIE GIBBS

Jazz and Tapp specialist. 

DDI/DDE/PGDE

Abi Gibbs is 21 years of age and has recently completed her third contract with Disney Cruise Line as a dancer touring the world. She is currently studying for her PGDE (Postgraduate Diploma of Education) specialising in dance.

Abi trained at the Elizabeth Hill school of dance and drama from a young age and gained distinctions in her RAD ballet, ISTD tap and ISTD modern grades. She has performed in Los Angeles for the opening of the Chinese film festival, on the Universal city walk, Disney Land Paris and in the Royal Albert hall in London along with many pantomimes in the Empire Theatre and in St. Helens Theatre Royal.

She was a Northern ballet associate for 2 years and performed with the English Youth ballet multiple times. She then completed her Level 3 diploma in dance performance alongside her 10 GCSE's before she moved to dance college at the age of 16 living away from home.

Abi trained at Preston College Dance in which she obtained her DDE ISTD qualifications as well as gaining the qualifications to teach Acrobatic Arts and Exercise to Music. Within this time, she had a beautiful baby boy who is now 4 years old. She then completed her BA Honours Degree in Dance Performance, Teaching and Choreography before accepting another contract with Disney Cruise Line.

Abi is excited to work with Melt Dance and is looking forward to the year ahead!

JACK BYRNE

Commercial Dance Specialist

TBC

CAMERON ASHALL

Musical Theatre Singing Specialist

BA/Cert-Ed

Cameron Ashall is a graduate of Musical Theatre from one of the UK’s top drama schools. After graduating, he was taken on as a Vocal Ensemble tutor at The Arden School of Theatre, teaching chorus numbers and one-to-one coaching across three different courses. 

His students have appeared in professional performances across the country ranging from musical theatre productions to pantomimes. Productions include: ‘Gypsy’ at the Royal Exchange Theatre, ‘Aladdin’ at Manchester Opera House and ‘Doctor Dolittle’ the UK tour. 

Cameron enjoys directing theatre productions and creating original musical arrangements across all genres of music. Directing credits include: ’Hotel Mondo: A New Musical' 'St Helens Christmas Lights Switch On’ and ‘Rent: School Edition’. 

‘I hope to bring out passion and confidence in the younger generation. I remember my music teacher inspiring me. His determination has moulded me into the person I am today. I have taken this on board and applied it to my teaching methods. I think it’s amazing to be able to pass on my expertise onto the younger generation and see their progression as they develop into fully-rounded performers.’