2026 FINALS
PERFORMER JUDGES

Matt is the 2023 winner of the Gillian Lynn Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography, the What’sOnStage Award and the Broadway World Award for his work on Newsies, London. Matt was previously nominated for a Best Theatre Choreography Olivier Award for his work on Fiddler On The Roof, London. Matt has also won the Off West End Award for Best Theatre Choreography for his work on Police Cops.

Upcoming shows include Here and Now (The Steps Musical), The Baker’s Wife (Menier Chocolate Factory) and A Knight’s Tale (West End).

Matt is an alumnus of Laine Theatre Arts. After graduating he enjoyed a prominent career as a performer in the West End, Tour and Internationally. He has lectured in many of the top performing arts institutions as both a teacher, examiner, director, and Choreographer.

Performing credits include: Saturday Night Fever, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, CATS, Chicago, Guys and Dolls, The Rocky Horror Show, Zorro, Candide and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

As a director and choreographer his recent credits include; JERRY’S GIRLS (Menier Chocolate Factory); POLICE COPS (Edinburgh Fringe Festival); ROMAN HOLIDAY (Bath Theatre Royal); NEWSIES (Director and Choreographer); IDENTICAL (The Parent Trap musical Directed by  Sir Trevor Nunn) and FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS (UK Tour); WARHOL (Workshop Directed by Sir Trevor Nunn);TABOO (In concert at the Palladium Theatre London); FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS (World Premiere 2021); BERLIN BERLIN (Germany); LOVESICK (Theatre J Washington DC); PARADE (NYMT); OKLAHOMA (Chichester Festival Theatre); AMOUR (The Charing Cross Theatre); FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (The Menier Chocolate Factory and the Playhouse Theatre West End); FLASHDANCE (UK and international Tour); FOOTLOOSE (UK and International Tour); LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (UK and International Tour);THE BEAUTIFUL GAME (NYMT); THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (The Royal Academy of Music); THE NIGHT PIRATES (UK Tour); THE PRODUCERS (China and Asian Tour).

Directing credits include: Associate Director on CARMEN LA CUBANA, (Sadlers Wells); Resident Director on The Railway Children (King’s Cross Theatre); Resident Director on West Side Story (UK Tour).

Stéphen Delattre is an international choreographer and artistic director of the Delattre Dance Company and the Evolution Dance Platform. Known for blending classical and contemporary vocabularies into a dynamic and emotionally authentic style, he has created works for leading ensembles and institutions worldwide, including Balletto di Milano, Split National Ballet, Staatsoper Ballett Hanover, Elmhurst Ballet (UK), the National Dance Academy Beijing, and the Conservatoires of Lyon, Cannes, and Marseille.

In 2012, he founded the Delattre Dance Company in Mainz, which has since presented over 20 productions and celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Mainz State Theatre. He has also choreographed for international stars of the Paris Opéra Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Berlin State Ballet, English National Ballet, Vienna State Ballet, and more.

Delattre has received numerous awards, including the Critics’ Prize at the Hanover International Choreographers’ Competition, Sweden’s ilDance Choreography Prize, and Italy’s Premio delle Eccellenze della Danza. In 2021, he was named Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. Through the Evolution Dance Platform, launched in 2022, he also supports the next generation of professional dancers in Germany and Europe.

Betty is a New York City-based dancer, actor, singer, choreographer, and teaching artist. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Betty’s earliest dance training was heavily influenced by contemporary and modern styles. She received a Bachelor of Science in Entertainment Business from Oklahoma City University, studying stage management, producing, lighting design, directing, development and fundraising, and more; all in addition to dancing and performing with the Ann Lacy School of Dance and Arts Management.

As a dancer and performer, Betty is signed with CESD Talent. She has performed at regional theaters (Maltz Jupiter Theater, Fireside Theatre), on national tours (ELF: The Musical), and in tv/film (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Law and Order). Some special career highlights are performing in Freddie Falls in Loveat the Joyce Theatre, and inside the MET Gala with Leslie Odom Jr- directed by Baz Luhrman and choreographed by Andy Blankenbeuhler. She regularly participates in fundraising performances for various causes (BCEFA, Arts for Alz, Leg Up On Life), as well as industry showcases (DanceBreak, Kiss My Face).

In addition to performing, Betty collaborates with numerous choreographers on productions, events, and tv shows. Some of these include Al Blackstone, Billy Griffin, Andy Blankenbeuhler, Karla Puno-Garcia, Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, Jen Jencuska, Michael Mindlin, Marcos Santana, and more. She is currently an associate choreographer on the Broadway musical SiX, and is trusted by many as a creative partner. In addition, she has choreographed her own works for music videos, industrials, short films, and stage. She continues to create and collaborate on projects in addition to her career as a performer.

Betty is deeply passionate about dance and its ability to create connection. She is frequently seen at Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, or Peridance, sharing space with other dancers and supporting the community at large. She is invested in creating work that inspires, empowers, or simply entertains. She loves yoga, hiking, and writing essays. She is an open, curious, and ambitious artist.

James trained at LCPA, After completing his training James danced for artists including Jessie J, The Spice Girls, The Pussycat Dolls, Leona Lewis, The Saturdays, Pixie Lott, and The Wanted. His television credits include; ‘London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony’, ‘The BIg Reunion’, ‘Dancing On Ice’, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, ‘Tonight’s The Night’, ‘The X Factor’, ‘Stars in their Eyes’, ‘Simply Musicals’, ‘Making Your Mind Up’, ‘An Audience with Coronation Street’, ‘Eurovision’, ‘Celebrity X-Factor’, ‘Russian Pop Idol’, ‘Bustamove’, ‘Children in Need’, ‘Soapstar Superstars’, ‘The Eurovision Song Contest’ , ‘The Royal Variety Performance’ and many more. He has completed World and UK Tours for ‘The X-Factor’, ‘Spirit of the Dance’, ‘Disco Fever’ and ‘The Full Monty’ and his corporate and catwalk experience extends to working for Adidas, Clarks and O2 to name a few. James has also had the pleasure of working with top choreographers including Paul Roberts, Mikey Mindon, Brian Rogers, Paul Domaine, David Wood, Gary Lloyd, Alan Harding and Michelle Thorne. His experience as a choreographer in TV, fashion and the arena stage is ensuring that he is one of the most sought after commercial choreographers in the UK.

April Cook (she/her) is an NYC-based teacher, choreographer, and dancer from Charlotte, NC, who has been on BDC's faculty since 2004. She received her formative training under Gene Medler of the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble, Barbara Morgan Eaves, of Rhythm Dance Studio, and Miss Donna's School of Dance.

April currently teaches throughout the country, and is a judge/teacher for several competitions and conventions including NYCDA, Mainstage Productions, Dance Theater USA, The PTC Productions Annual Teacher Workshop/The PULSE on Tour, and The Big Apple Tap Festival. She has had the pleasure of leading and/or creating several projects throughout her years at Broadway Dance Center, including the annual Student Showcase and BDC's Rhythm Arts Project.

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She has been a guest speaker at Dance Teacher Magazine’s Summer Conference, a tap instructor for Rosie O’Donnell’s Rosie’s Theater Kids, an arts scholarship program in Manhattan, a guest teacher at the Osaka School of Music in Osaka, Japan, and had the incredible privilege of performing nationally with Savion Glover. April is also the current liaison between Good Morning America and BDC for dance segments, and has been a movement coach for several episodes.

Performance credits include: The Colbert Report; tap dancer at Usher Raymond’s birthday celebration at the Rainbow Room in NYC; Up Front for Cartoon Network; Neil Young and Crazy Horse Greendale Tour NYC dates; two seasons with the WNBA Charlotte Sting dance team; Mable Lee’s Dancing Ladies, Good Housekeeping’s Shine On at Radio City Music Hall; A Shared Evening: Michelle Dorrance and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, as part of the Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church; Gypsy of the Year, a Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS event; Nylon Magazine online editorial content; For: a Sonia Montez music video; Mannheim Steamroller, and Avi Miller & Ofer Ben's Tap Tel Aviv.

Choreography credits include: ABC World News Now, Good Morning America, BDC's Professional Semester, BDC's Rhythm Arts Project, American Tap Dance Foundation's (ATDF) youth summer intensive, Britney Spears' Elizabeth Arden fragrance launch party, CUNY Arts TV, and Hairroin Salon NYC Opening Party.

osh Slater is Deputy Director of Taught Courses at London Contemporary Dance School, London, as well as a contemporary dance artist, theatre maker and performer. He is a part-time Ph.D. student at the Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE) at Coventry University. He has created and toured dance and theatre works, both nationally and internationally, funded by the Arts Council England. Josh’s research interests are focused on choreographic practices, risk taking, Dance Theatre, improvisation and collaborative practices. He is an assistant editor for the Intellect Choreographic Practices Journal and has been working in a variety of teaching and leadership roles in Higher Education for the last 10 years.

Lorraine trained at Doreen Bird College where she gained her teaching qualifications
and danced professionally for many years in the UK and abroad until joining Tring
Park in 1990. In 2006 she was appointed Head of Modern Dance, then the Deputy Director of Dance in 2017. Lorraine is currently Director of the Dance Course and Head of Dance and is also part of the team of Senior Assessors in lesson observations.

As well-known choreographer and innovative teacher, Lorraine has workedalongside many other professional choreographers throughout her career and is in
much demand by the industry; having worked on many productions including Moby Dick, Chicago, Half a Sixpence and Sweet Charity.

Anthony Trahearn is currently the Head of Dance at one of the most exciting conservatories in Europe, The Institute of the Arts Barcelona. Anthony was based in London for 20 years where he worked as a dancer and assistant choreographer specialising in dance and movement for film, television and music video. Dance credits include international performances with artists– The Pussy Cat Dolls, Girls Aloud, Little Mix, Cheryl Cole, JLS, Liberty X, The Saturdays, Sade, Duffy, Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Cliff Richard, Atomic Kitten, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Leona Lewis and Take That. In 2023, he published “Commercial Dance: An Essential Guide” with Routledge. It is the first internationally published textbook to examine Commercial Dance in an academic context.

Alex Jessop performed professionally for 10 years in London's West End, appearing in many musicals such as Chicago, We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia! and Wicked. He then transitioned into dance education and choreography, initially as a Jazz teacher and choreographer at Laine Theatre Arts, and then moving to become Head of Dance at Italia Conti. Alex is now the Programme Leader for Dance at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, the first institution to bring professional dance training to the MENA region.

Nicholas Espinosa, Bridget and Geoffrey Espinosa’s son, joined London Studio Centre as a director in 1981.

Currently, he is Chairman of BBO Dance (formerly the British Ballet Organisation) and a Trustee for Yorke Dance Project. He is also a former member of the SOLT Dance Panel for the Olivier Awards and is married to Nikki, having two children – Jean-Paul and Stephanie.

Shannon Atkins relocated to New York City from Australia nine years ago, embarking on a remarkable journey that has solidified her reputation as a seasoned professional in the world of dance. Her exceptional talent and unwavering passion for teaching has led her to traverse the globe, gracing stages across the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, and her native Australia. Notably, she is frequently sought after as a distinguished judge, renowned choreographer, and esteemed contributor to prestigious dance conventions worldwide, including “Move It” and “Can You Dance” in the UK, as well as the esteemed “Australian Dance Festival”.

Shannon is an integral part of the esteemed faculty at the world-renowned Broadway Dance Center and The Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. Additionally, she imparts her vast knowledge and expertise at Millennium Dance Complex, The Institute of American Musical Theatre and has held the esteemed position of resident choreographer for Manhattanville College.

Shannon’s diverse and accomplished background includes notable appearances on Lifetime TV’s “Dance Moms” further solidifying her standing as a respected figure in the industry. Recently, she choreographed the opening for New York Fashion Week Spring 2023, demonstrating her ability to captivate audiences in the realm of high-profile events. Prior to her illustrious global career, Shannon excelled as a proprietor of a highly successful dance school, as well as a faculty member at the prestigious Queensland Conservatorium, where she directed and choreographed musical theatre productions. Shannon has performed in musicals such as “42nd Street” and “Oklahoma” while also showcasing her talent as a broadway-style choreographer, notably for productions like “High School Musical 2.”

Shannon’s achievements extend beyond the realm of dance, as she possesses a law/psychology degree—a testament to her multifaceted capabilities.

With an unwavering dedication to her craft and an extensive portfolio of accomplishments, Shannon Atkins stands as an esteemed figure in the dance industry, embodying professionalism, expertise, and an undeniable passion for her art.

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