Teaching Faculty

Here you can read about our fantastic team of teachers. We pride ourselves on our teachers being highly qualified, nurturing and passionate about what they do.

  • Miss Aileen Graham established Graham School of Dance & Theatre Arts in 1990 and has dedicated her life to the school ever since. She trained firstly in Manchester, then at The Royal Ballet School before returning to the north-west to complete her training at Northern Ballet School. She has also performed and taught internationally prior to establishing GSDTA.

    Miss Graham is proud to have trained many students across the years, who have gone on to gain scholarships and train at top Vocational colleges, including The Royal Ballet School, Rambert School, Laine Theatre Arts, English National Ballet School, Bird College, Urdang Academy, Wilkes Academy, Performers College, and many more.

    Miss Graham trained the only UK female candidate chosen to take part in the world-renowned 2016 Prix de Lausanne Ballet competition. Her candidate was the first UK pupil training at a non-vocational, part-time school to be chosen since 1973.

    Miss Graham recently choreographed and produced the Characterised Ballet piece ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ which was chosen as one of only 20 schools in the country to perform at the All England Dance Centenary Gala in 2023, at The London Coliseum. This piece involved 35 students from age 8 to 18 and was exceptionally received.

    Across the years, Miss Graham has had many students reach the finals, and win the RAD UK Genee Dance Challenge Competition, with many of her students also representing the school at the Youth America Grand Prix. In 2023, she also had a finalist for the first ever UK Young Classical Dancer competition.

    Miss Graham’s choreography and teaching has also been nationally and internationally recognised at the All England Dance Regional and National Finals, and the Dance World Cup Finals. Over the years Miss Graham’s pieces have brought home gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Finals of these competitions, and pieces been asked to perform in the Galas. These achievements span all age genres. She has also had three dancers through to the prestigious Young Ballet Dancer of The Year at AED Finals.

    Miss Graham is fully registered with the Royal Academy of Dance and has been involved with the RAD Regional Advisory Committee for the Midlands & East of England.

    Miss Graham holds her Advanced 2 Ballet, Modern and National exams with both the ISTD and RAD.

    She is married with three children and a golden retriever.

  • Miss Madeline Tugwell is the Deputy Principal at Graham School of Dance & Theatre Arts, having joined the school in 1992.

    Miss Tugwell trained at Stella Mann College, and has choreographed award winning groups for GSDTA for the All England Dance Competition and most recently in 2023 had a Mini Soloist reach the Dance World Cup Finals.

    Miss Tugwell is married with two Mini Schnauzers, and has passed her love of dance and performing arts down to all three of her children whom all work in the performing arts industry.

    Miss Tugwell teaches Graded and Vocational Tap, Modern and Ballet. You will see Miss Tugwell at our Bishops Stortford Studios, Hertford and Bishops Stortford College venues.

  • Head of Ballet

    Judith Harris trained with Miss Graham at the Graham School of Dance from the age of 11, and was an associate at London Senior Ballet and Central School of Ballet. She also performed with the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain from 1989-1994. At 15, Judith gained a coveted place at The Royal Ballet Upper School, graduating with their Teachers Training Course Diploma in 1997. Judith was awarded the Joan Lawson National Dance Prize upon graduation and was runner up in both the Cecchetti Society Cyril Beaumont Award and Ninette de Valois Choreographic Competition.

    During her time at RBS Judith had many opportunities to perform with the company in ‘walk on’ roles. Judith also assisted and taught at the Royal Ballet Lower School; White Lodge, RB Upper School, RBS Associate Programme, Graham School of Dance and London Junior Ballet.

    As well as Classical Ballet, Judith is qualified to teach Royal Ballet Repertoire, Character, National, Classical Spanish Dance and Contemporary Dance. She holds the Pilates Institute Mat-work Certificate and is a qualified teacher of the Progressing Ballet Technique programme, (PBT.) Whilst training; Judith also gained her Royal Academy of Dance, Cecchetti Ballet and National Dance Advanced exams, and holds Full Registered Teacher status with the RAD.

    Judith also holds her Imperial Society (ISTD) Cecchetti Ballet and National Dance Teaching Associates and Benesh Dance Notation exams.

    Judith joined the staff of The National Youth Ballet in 1997 as Ballet Mistress, Choreographer, Repetiteur, Audition coordinator and adjudicator and company teacher. Many of her student contacts at NYB are now world-renowned dancers and choreographers in top ballet companies and in the musical theatre, film and commercial dance industries. She collated many performance events for NYB including the Diamond Jubilee Coronation celebration at Buckingham Palace, Clarins Par Amour perfume launch at London’s Excel Centre as well as their annual seasons of performances and West End Galas. Judith featured in and choreographed the classwork and fairy dances for the award-winning Dance like the Flower Fairies DVD in collaboration with NYB and taught for their nationwide outreach programme.

    In 1998 Judith returned to Graham School of Dance as a teacher, and has taught students of all age groups throughout the school and in many of the branches. She is delighted to have been involved in the successful preparation and training of Graham School of Dance students for the prestigious international Prix de Lausanne Ballet competition as well as the Youth America Grand Prix, Dance World Cup and RAD competitions. Judith has trained several pupils at Graham School of Dance who have furthered their training at the Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst School for Dance, Rambert School, English National Ballet School, Laine Theatre Arts and other prestigious dance colleges. She has choreographed many Classical group and solo pieces for festivals, which have regularly been taken through and won Gold, Silver & Bronze medals at national level at the prestigious All England Dance Finals.

    Judith is extremely grateful for the excellent preparation the Graham School of Dance gave her for her career.

    Judith is married with three young children, a busy, working farm and two dogs.

  • Head of Tap & Modern Dance

    Miss Hannah Davies is Head of Tap and Modern at Graham School of Dance & Theatre Arts, and has taught at the school for over 18 years, prior to teaching at GSDTA she was a student of Aileen Graham & Madeline Tugwell’s and was one of GSDTA’s first students when it opened its doors.

    Miss Davies continued her training at Stella Mann College, before embarking on to professional contracts performing abroad and aboard cruise ships.

    She has choreographed award winning choreography at GSDTA for the All England Dance Competitions. Had a ISTD junior Janet Cram winner and has trained students that have reached the finals since 2007. In 2022 she had a Junior Jazz reach finals at the Dance World Cup, winning silver, and a Miss Dance finalist at the prestigious IDTA Miss Dance competition in Blackpool with her student going through to the last 13. In 2023 Miss Davies had a student reach the final 50 of the AED UK Young Theatre Dancer.

    Miss Davies is married and has two young boys who are fun, loving, crazy and have a passion for all kinds of sport’s particularly football.

    Miss Davies teaches graded & Vocational Modern, Tap, Jazz and Ballet. You will find Miss Davies at our Bishops Stortford Studios and Church Langley locations.

  • Miss Selina Zammit joined GSDTA in 2010 and has been making us laugh ever since. Miss Zammit trained at the well renowned Laine Theatre Arts College in Epsom. She then performed professionally gaining experience as a dancer and cabaret singer on various contracts around the world.

    Upon returning from her travels, Miss Zammit graduated University after studying for a Certificate in Education in Post Compulsory Education.

    Miss Zammit enjoys working with students for festivals competing all over the country, culminating in the prestigious All England Semi’s biannually.

    Miss Zammit teaches Graded and vocational Modern, Tap, Ballet, Drama and Musical Theatre. Miss Zammit is also one of our approved ISTD Tutors for all Modern units and teaches DDE Teacher Training.

    She lives with her two crazy cats in a sleepy town in Essex!

    You will find Miss Zammit at our Bishops Stortford Studios, Howe Green House School and Felsted School.

  • Head of Drama

    Mr Goodhead trained on the BA Hons in Performance Actor Musician course at Mountview Academy. Mr Goodhead also holds a Grade 8 and Diploma in Vocal Performance (singing and speech), and Grade 8 on Electric and Acoustic Guitar.

    Mr Goodhead joined us in 2020 and alongside teaching for us, he works primarily in acting for camera and has filmed consistently for the last three years on multiple projects ranging from short films to television series.

    Mr Goodhead utilises methods that are being used in the industry right now to help develop the skills and knowledge for the students as the industry is constantly evolving.

    His most proud achievement at GSDTA is the devised project ‘Belonging’ that the senior girls and I put on in Spring 2023. With my guidance and their work ethic I feel we made a real impactful piece of theatre.

    Mr Goodhead’s girlfriend is also an actor and they have a Cavapoo called Leia. He loves to play football and skateboard!

    Mr Goodhead teaches Drama, Voice and Musical Theatre. You will find him at our Bishops Stortford Studios.

  • Miss Emily Lewis trained with GSDTA from the age of 3 into adulthood where she then went on to study at Performers College, graduating with a Level 5 Diploma in Dance. Miss Lewis began teaching for GSDTA in 2016.

    Miss Lewis holds her DDE Modern and Tap and her DDI Ballet qualifications in teaching, and is an Associate of the RAD.

    Whilst training at GSDTA, Miss Lewis was an Associate at the Central School of Ballet for 5 years. Alongside her teaching for GSDTA, Miss Lewis has previously taught for the RAD outreach programme ‘Step In To Dance’ for 4 years, taught for Dance Network Association, teaching free programmes to families from less privilege backgrounds to get their little one in to dance. Miss Lewis has also taught Dancing with Parkinson’s and Regeneration programme for the elderly to keep active through dance, and the Early years Programme in Barking and Dagenham, travelling through lots of primary schools delivering dance and training primary school teachers on how to deliver classes and ideas.

    Before her years of teaching, Miss Lewis performed at the FA Cup Final and with Ed Sheeran on the X Factor. Miss Lewis was also a company member for northbyeast.

    Miss Lewis loves to travel to new countries and loves baking!

    Miss Lewis teaches Graded and Vocational Ballet, Tap and Modern. You will find Miss Lewis at our Bishops Stortford Studios, Saffron Walden, Dame Bradbury and Howe Green School locations.

  • Miss Toni Dimmock joined our team at GSDTA in 2015. Miss Dimmock qualified as a Dance Teacher having studied at Preston Dance College Academy, and formerly trained at Jason Theatre School. Miss Dimmock then went on to dance professionally onboard several cruise lines including Regent Seven Seas, Princess P&O, and Costa cruises, she thoroughly enjoyed travelling the world and being given the opportunity in creating choreography whilst onboard.

    Miss Dimmock has a daughter who is a current student at GSDTA, she also follows her mother’s passion for dance and is part of our Dance Festival team. Miss Dimmock works a second job within a local Primary School within SEND.

    Miss Dimmock teaches Ballet, Tap, Modern, Melody Bear Movement and Street Dance at our Bishops Stortford Studios, Stansted and Hertford branches.

  • Mr Declan Morgan trained at Junior Performers, Performers College and Dance Teachers Inc.

    Mr Morgan began teaching when he was 14 at his local dance school. From there he knew his passion in life was to teach. Since then he has taken any choreography or teaching opportunity which was passed his way. At 16 he went to Performers College on a Scholarship, and was placed on their Level 6 Diploma in Musical Theatre, graduating with a Distinction.

    Initially at college he completed 3 DDI Teacher Training qualifications in the genres of Ballet, Tap and Modern. Upon graduating he received a performing job on a cruise line which took me around the UAE. The day after he finished that contract, he began rehearsals for my next contract with Cunard Cruise Lines. In his performance career, he has also played the role of Eugene in Grease The Musical onboard Royal Carribean’s Harmony of the Seas!

    Since returning from his travels as a performer, Mr Morgan has completed his 3 DDE Teacher Training Qualifications with the ISTD in Ballet, Tap and Modern. He has then furthered his Tap and Modern Teacher Training, gaining a Licentiate (L.I.S.T.D) in both of the genres. Meanwhile also achieving his module 2 in Acrobatic Arts Teaching, passing with 100%.

    In the future, Mr Morgan hopes to progress his training even further and gain Fellowships (FISTD) in the genres of Tap and Modern Dance. Mr Morgan says ‘I love teaching, choreographing and getting to work with students of all ages. It makes my heart full.’

    Mr Morgan teaches Acrobatic Arts, Tap, Modern, Drama and Musical Theatre. You will find him at our Bishops Stortford Studios.

  • Miss Catherine Coulson trained locally during her early years where she had many opportunities to perform both locally and on London stages with the RAD and appeared in the BBC’s Lovejoy. She was an associate of Tring Park School for Performing Arts and Central School of Ballet under the tuition of Carole Gable before joining English National Ballet School. After graduating, she toured the world and UK as a professional dancer with English National Ballet.

    She then completed the Royal Academy of Dance Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma graduating with distinction before joining the ballet staff at Graham School of Dance in 2008. Catherine holds her ARAD and Registered Teachers Status with the RAD.

    Catherine is married with two children and has two rabbits.

    She was born in New Zealand and lived in Holland as a toddler which meant some of her first words were Dutch!

    Miss Coulson teaches Graded and Vocational Ballet, and Adult Ballet at our Bishops Stortford Studios.

  • Miss Imogen Jean Routledge trained at GSDTA in Musical Theatre & Drama, gaining LAMDA Grade 8 Musical Theatre & Acting with High Distinction, before heading to Chichester Conservatoire to train in Music & Musical Theatre, receiving her CertHE in the top 5% of the Conservatoire’s Music department.

    In 2023, Miss Routledge was awarded ALCM in the Upper Division for her Associate Musical Theatre Exam with the London College of Music. She is currently studying for her Licentiate exams in Musical Theatre Teaching & Performance with the LCM.

    Miss Routledge joined GSDTA in 2020 and is excited for many brilliant years to come at the school. Her favourite memory at GSDTA has been working on ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ characterised ballet for the All England Centenary Gala at The London Coliseum with Miss Graham. She loves sharing her passion through teaching and has thoroughly enjoyed devising pieces for our current Festival Cycle.
    Miss Routledge also wears a plethora of other hats at the school which you can read about on ‘Our Team’ page!

    Miss Routledge is part of the Saffron Walden Musical Theatre Company and has a huge love of musicals. She has a golden retriever named Bear and very much welcomes any dogs that would like to visit our Studios!

    Miss Routledge teaches LAMDA, Drama and Musical Theatre, and occasionally a little bit of dance! You will see Miss Routledge at our Bishops Stortford Studios.

  • Miss Michelle Styler started dancing at the age of 2 1/2 years and danced with Sharon Shakespeare until the age of 16. During that time Shelley was an RAD scholar for three years, was awarded an RAD summer school scholarship two years running, and the Anton Dolin scholarship at Gloucester Seminar. She was also a Three Counties Youth Ballet member.

    At 16 she was awarded a place at Bush Davies Education and Theatre Arts School, and during her time there she won the Noreen Bush Award and was chosen to represent the school in the Prix de Lausanne selection process. When Bush Davis closed, Shelley finished her training and graduated from Elmhurst Ballet School. She went on to perform as a soloist with the Wiener Ballet Theatre.

    After her professional dance career and having gained teaching qualifications in RAD ballet and ISTD modern, she started her own school, which she ran as principal for 11 years, before joining GSDTA. She had children who went on to train at White Lodge (Junior Royal Ballet School) and Elmhurst Ballet School. She also added to her portfolio qualifications as a STOTT Certified Pilates Instructor.

    In 2018 after intensive training, Miss Styler was awarded a position as an Examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance.

    Miss Styler is married with two children, she has two cats, and loves F1!

    Miss Styler teaches Graded and Vocational Ballet and Pilates. You will find Miss Styler at our Bishops Stortford Studios.

  • Mrs Hayley Burns was a student of the late Leo Kersley as a child before leaving to study professionally at the Northern Ballet School and London Studio Centre. Her professional dance career has taken her around the globe and included contracts in places such as Portugal, Hong Kong, Norway and Denmark.

    Mrs. Burns gained her qualification as a recognised Dance Teacher with the ISTD and is a registered member of Equity. She is also an existing Arts Award Advisor.

    Mrs. Burns then decided to return back to her roots in Harlow, getting married and had her daughter. For the last 18 years Mrs Burns has taught a diverse range of classes for various dance and stage schools throughout Essex and Hertfordshire.

    Miss Burns enjoys choreographing and has won various competitions and choreographed many professional productions including Classical Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz pieces as well as pantomimes.

    Miss Burns teaches Ballet, Tap and Modern. You will find Miss Burns at our Hertford and Sawbridgeworth branches, and our Bishops Stortford Studios.

  • Miss Edwards trained in her childhood as an Ice Skater, and at the age of 11 was selected to skate in Torvill & Dean’s ice show at Wembley and went on to be a British Champion as part of an Ice Skating team.

    Once she left skating Miss Edwards went onto train at CPA and their she found her passion in Dance, Drama & Musical Theatre. Once Graduating Miss Edwards was a Performer & Dance Captain on an MSC Cruise Line. She then continued on to a number of jobs including touring pantomimes, modelling, commercials and cheerleading for Rugby & Football teams.

    Miss Edwards then started her teaching career as a Cheerleading and Dance Coach at Saracens Rugby Club, running their Dance programme for children & adults, for over 13 years. This role also included Choreographing & Managing the Saracen Sensations which where the match day dancers.

    Miss Edwards got to perform & choreograph dances at a number of stadiums including Wembley, Tottenham Stadium, London Stadium, Twickenham & many more. Miss Edwards also performed with artists such as Tinie Tempah, Mcfly, Pixie Lott and The Saturdays. Since starting at GSDTA she has really enjoyed working with the talented students in all areas of Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre.

    Miss Edwards is also a qualified hairdresser and have a 10 year old daughter who also shares her love of dance!

  • Miss Louise Norman trained at Graham School Of Dance & Theatre Arts from aged 3 - 18, before continuing her studies at the Urdang Academy London where she gained her Level 6 National Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre and Dance.

    Miss Norman also holds her RAD Ballet Intermediate, ISTD Modern Advanced 1, ISTD Tap Advanced 1, ISTD Gold Jazz and MAH Aerialist Lyra Performance. Miss Norman has taught for all ages since the age of 21 in several countries and cities, including Queenstown, New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA and on Regent Seven Seas and Sky Sea Royal Caribbean cruises.

    Miss Norman continues to perform alongside her work at GSDTA and has performed on many world cruise ships for Regent Seven Seas and Sky Sea Royal Caribbean, along with contracts abroad in Turkey, Germany and New Zealand as an aerialist and dancer as well as various contracts in the U.K. Miss Norman has also choreographed for many events, and danced in multiple music videos and has appeared on Television for events such as Children in Need, Stand Up To Cancer & Strictly Come Dancing.

    Outside of performing Miss Norman loves to explore new places and cities and is a Hot Yoga fanatic!

    Miss Norman teaches Ballet, Tap and Modern. You will find Miss Norman at our Bishops Stortford Studios.

  • Miss Makiko Fukuda was born in Kawasaki, Japan. She trained at O-i Seiko Ballet School in Kawasaki. Makiko has danced in many classical ballets with the Japan Ballet Association including Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppelia, Graduation Ball, Le Corsaire grand pas de deux and Tchaikovsky pas de deux.

    After moving to Europe she began dancing in Musical Theatre including the Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Kiss Me Kate, Evita, the King and I, Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, and more. In the West End she performed with the Lion King.

    Makiko teaches classes and workshops in colleges, dance schools and dance companies in the UK, Germany and Japan. She gained RAD PDTD in 2008 and Silver Swans licence (for 55+) in 2021. She also teaches Pilates, Fitness Barre and PBT(Progressing Ballet Technique)

    She is a good knitter and sushi maker.