Welland School of Dancing
Meet The Staff
Maggie is a former pupil of Welland School of Dancing. Under the tutelage of Miss Desbruslais, Maggie gained a place at the Royal Ballet School as a senior associate, and then at Central School of Ballet in 1996. In her final year, Maggie toured the UK with British Gas Ballet Central. In 1999 Maggie joined Vienna Festival Ballet, touring the UK, Austria and Germany with Swan Lake, Coppelia, and The Nutcracker. Maggies Musical Theatre debut came in 2000, when she joined the UK tour of Phantom of the Opera as one of the Corps de Ballet. Her other performance credits include the 2001 World Tour of Rhythm of the Dance, with the National Dance Co. of Ireland, and the World Tour of Phantom of the Opera from 2005-07, touring Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong and Singapore, where she met Mr Skinner.
In 2004 Maggie graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance, Teaching Certificate Programme, with Distinction. Since then she has taught extensively throughout the UK and Australia, as a guest teacher for New York State University, Head of Dance at St. Georges School Windsor Castle, and Ballet teacher for Bodyworks Cambridge.
In 2006 Maggie started up her own childrens dance company in Windsor called Twinkle Tots Dance, specializing in Under 5 movement, dance and creativity. The company now has over 200 pupils in the Surrey, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire areas. Maggie has brought this exciting new Twinkle Tots class to Welland School of Dancing, opening in September. Maggie is so thrilled to be returning home to Stamford, where her training all began, and where she has fond memories of being a Welland pupil herself.
Anne, Miss D attended the Laine Theatre Arts school in Epsom from the age of 7 learning ballet, tap, modern theatre, Greek and national dance then from 16 as a student on the teachers training course. As a student danced on more than one occasion on the BBC show, Come Dancing, appeared at the Albert hall, toured Ireland as a dancer in the Opera, Aida and many other productions both amateur and professional.
At 19 was invited to teach at the prestigious Arts Educational school, Tring(a vocational school). In her 8 years at the school Miss D taught some of the countrys top young dancers. Many would go on to have leading careers in the theatre and television, performing in all the main shows of the day including Cats and others dancing with top ballet companies. During this time Miss D toured with the Festival ballet rehearsing the Tring pupils involved in their productions.
Miss D was also given the task of a ballet assessor for the London School, giving on one occasion to a young Adam Cooper, a maximum A+.
Miss D took over the Welland School in 1985 and has seen the school grow from under 300 to over 800 pupils with many starting at aged 3 and not leaving until 18 when off to University or dance/drama colleges.
Miss D and members of W.S.D staff teach ballet and other dance subjects at Stamford Junior school, Copthill school and Witham hall school. Many of Miss Ds Welland school pupils have taken up careers in theatre both amateur and professional, some now with their own dance schools and 2 with their own dance companies(both currently touring). All the local societies are full of past and present pupils with many shows produced/directed and choreographed by past members. Over the years Miss D has seen thousands of girls and boys through their dance exams with excellent results.
Miss D is also a former lecturer and adjudicator for the Cecchetti ballet society of which she is a fellow. She has given classes for other teachers around the country and was honoured to be invited to give a London Master class for the societys 80th anniversary and was one of only two teachers from the provinces invited to give lectures, others were teachers from the Royal Ballet including Monica Mason.
Miss D gave a class on learning techniques for the young dancer to an all-teacher audience and started by astounding them by introducing by name the 20 demonstrating students as they entered the studio, although she had only meet them briefly 10 minutes before; the point being to emphasize the importance of knowing and calling children by their names.
Miss D is a member of the R.A.D regional committee and as well as our school shows, displays, exam and festival dances, Miss D has choreographed work for nationwide ballet competitions and local productions including West Side Story with the Stamford Boys & Girls High school. Devised and choreographed Peter and the Wolf with the Stamford Chamber Orchestra, and many more.
Miss Ds aim is to give every child the opportunity to enjoy their dance classes whether they dance just for fun or have a more serious approach.
Every year the schools more talented pupils(aged 16 to 18)guided by Miss D, successfully audition for professional schools to train as dancers/teachers and for careers in the theatre.
James (Miss Purr's husband) will be assisting Miss Purr in running the school and also the uniform/dancewear Shop from September 2010. James will more specifically oversee the administration, accounting and invoicing areas of the school.
James graduated with a Business Finance degree from the University of Cape Town(UCT) in 1997. In 2000 he began his formal music studies, graduating with a Performers Diploma in Opera from the UCT Opera School in 2003.
James and Miss Purr met whilst both performing in the World Tour of the Phantom of the Opera, in the ensemble as the Phantom understudy and as a Corps de Ballet dancer respectively. James has 10 years experience as a Fund accountant in financial services in South Africa and London which he has managed to squeeze in between performing professionally on stage in musical theatre over the same period.
James hopes to be able to use this unique experience in both the business and arts worlds to contribute to the successful running of the Welland School of Dancing.
Born in Market Deeping Debbie attended the Deeping Dance Centre learning ballet, tap, modern theatre, acrobatics and national dance. At 18 attended the Merseyside Dance & Drama Centre, Liverpool for 3 years on the teachers training course . On leaving in 1993 she returned to start work for the Welland School teaching tap, modern theatre and ballet. In 1995 Debbie took a years sabbatical to teach and widen her dance experience in Greece (Larissa) teaching Greek children ballet and tap & modern theatre, taking the junior & senior pupils successfully through to exam level. A rewarding challenge especially in overcoming the language barrier. In 1996 she returned to teach at the Welland School, taking over all the tap & modern theatre classes, preparing all levels for examinations (with excellent results) as well as choreographing for the school shows & displays working alongside Miss Desbruslais.
Working for the school, Debbie has taught in many different places & environments including Stamford Junior School, Oakham School, Copthill School, Withham Hall School, and the The Ken Stimpson Community college teaching Key stage 3 Dance, also taking Dance Education classes in tap & jazz.
Miss Debbie, with her 15 years experience has taken pupils to the highest levels in tap & modern theatre. Many of her pupils from the school have appeared in West End shows and have progressed to full time training at dance colleges and have taking up careers in the theatre.
Lesley trained at Bird College of Theatre Dance & Harrison College.
She is an associate member of ISTD in Ballet, Modern, Tap and National branches & a member of RAD.
After dancing professionally she started teaching in 1984 in Italy. She has since taught at schools in Cambridge, Huntingdon, St Neots, Sawtry, Peterborough and Yaxley. In addition to dance school shows and festivals, she has directed and choreographed for Westwood Musical Society, Peterborough for the past 10 years.
Lisa attended the Spalding School of dance, (a school run by former Welland School pupil Claire Cole) learning tap, modern theatre and ballet. As a child she appeared in all the local amateur dramatic societies productions and dance school shows.
At 18 Lisa attended the Merseyside Dance & Drama centre for 3 years on the performers & teachers course.
On leaving college Lisa has appeared in professional shows, TV work and music videos. She has worked for Costa cruise lines as a dancer, taught at the Mersey side centre and toured the country giving workshops in commercial dance and musical theatre
Teaching abilities include Tap, Ballet, Commercial, Disco, Drama, Freestyle, Latin, Ballroom, Jazz, Street and National.
Miss Lisa joined the Welland School teaching staff in Nov 07 teaching tap & modern theatre, combining teaching with her stage career.
Amy started dancing at the age of 3 at The Deepings Dance Centre, taking part in local competitions, pantos and productions in the local area. She also competed at the London Ballet awards.
At the age of 16 Amy went to SLP college in Leeds to study Musical Theatre for 3 years. Alongside this qualification, she took her teaching examinations in Modern Theatre, Ballet and Tap.
After leaving college, Amy performed at venues around the UK and also travelled to Hong Kong to perform in a Fosse and Grease production.
Amy teaches Ballet, Tap, Modern, HipHop, Musical Theatre and Acrobatics. Amy joined the Welland School of Dance in April 2009 teaching Modern, Tap, Ballet and HipHop.
Ruth first joined the Welland school aged 13 learning ballet, tap and modern theatre.
A keen musician she has played in all the local orchestras.
Ruth attended Bristol University reading Psychology in 1992 and is currently studying towards a degree.
Ruth returned to the Welland school in 2006 as pianist playing for junior ballet classes and exams. Ruth has also played piano for ballet exams up to grade 8 all over Lincolnshire.