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).

Abbe Bradbury — Artistic Director of Dynamite Studios Australia, Co-Founder of Evolution Management Co., and an industry powerhouse known for nurturing the next generation of performers. With decades of experience across training, talent development, and large-scale production, Abbe’s influence spans from studio to stage, both locally and internationally. Her passion for empowering artists and raising industry standards continues to shape the future of performing arts.

Emma trained at Bird College and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Dance and Musical Theatre. Emma works worldwide as a Director and Choreographer and has had shows headline in London, America, Japan, Australia, Monte Carlo and Canada to name just a few. She has taught at Performers College for over 15 years and choreographed for some of the biggest events all over the UK.

Jamieson Dryburgh (PhD, BA(hons), PGCHE, PFHEA) trained as a dancer (The Laban Centre and The Place) and performed around the world in leading contemporary dance companies including Candoco, Yolande Snaithe Theatre Dance, First Person Dance Company, Physical Recall, Charlerios/Danses (Belgium), Tandem Cie (Belgium), Yelp! (Greece) and many more.

Developing an interest in sharing his passion for dancing, Jamieson taught in Conservatoires for over twenty five years including Bird College, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, The Place and Millenium Performing Arts. And he has joined Bird College after four years as Director of Higher Education at Central School of Ballet.

In 2021, Jamieson completed his PhD in Dance Pedagogy at Middlesex University. Exploring queer, feminist and critical approaches to dance technique training, his research is published in peer-reviewed journals, edited book chapters and podcasts.

He is external examiner for Leeds School of Arts and member of the board for Dance HE and the qualifications committee of People Dancing.

Jennifer Kreichman is a New York City based dance instructor and administrator with over three decades of experience training professional and pre-professional dancers. For the past 17 years she has held the position of Senior Adjunct Professor in the Department of Dance at Adelphi University. In this role she has mentored aspiring dancers, preparing them to pursue a career in the dance profession. Jennifer played a pivotal role in the launch of the Adelphi University BFA program where she collaborated with the department chair and faculty to review and continually enhance the curriculum. She has been instrumental in the staffing and management of the diverse dance department while serving as a liaison between students, faculty, and the administrative team.

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ennifer’s contributions extend beyond academia. She has served as rehearsal director for the Eglevsky Ballet Company and teaches the pre-professional students of the affiliated school. She holds staff teaching positions at Ballet Arts Center for Dance, American Youth Dance Theater, and Absolutely Pilates. She is a frequent guest instructor for the Gibney Dance Company, Booker T. Washington HSPVA and the University of Cape Town, and she is regularly invited to teach at renowned schools in Lima, Vienna, and London. She has taught on the faculty of the Ohman School of Ballet, Berest Dance Center, American Theater Dance Workshop, Classical School of Ballet, and Pilates in Port. Jennifer is an ABT® National Training Curriculum Certified Teacher; Pre-Primary through Level Seven and Partnering, holds a certification to teach Progressing Ballet Technique, and is a classically certified Pilates instructor through the United States Pilates Association. She holds a BA in Political Science and Sociology from Vanderbilt University.

Jennifer’s dance journey began under the guidance of Virginia and Jacques Cesbron. She went on to train on scholarship at the American Ballet Theater School under the tutelage of Leon Danielian and Patricia Wilde, as a Harkness Ballet trainee under David Howard and Maria Vegh, and at Ballet Hispanico under Tina Ramirez. Since retiring from performing with the Israel Ballet, New York Dance Theatre, and the Eglevsky Ballet, Jennifer has devoted herself to a career as a dance educator and administrator. Her impact can be seen in the success of many of her former students who have gone on to careers in dance companies, Broadway productions, and national touring companies, while others have excelled in the field as stage managers, arts administrators, costume designers, teachers and dance therapists.​

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.

BASE Performing Arts' focus is on moulding young talent into ready professionals to work within all fields of the entertainment industry. Our core value, and culture, is to prepare our students with the tools needed for a successful career of longevity. Situated in the heart of London, and contacts to leading professionals within the industry, the students flourish with being taught by those who shall potentially hire them one day, and by being surrounded by the industry itself. Students leave BPA already feeling familiar within he fields they choose to pursue, along with professional relationships potentially built.

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.

Matic Zadravec is a dancer who has truly grown through his travels and experiences he has collected along the way. More visible he became in 2010, when Matic and Maestro Crew won 2nd place on Slovenia Got Talent Show. But he has also seen individual success in many ways. In 2012 he choreographed a live performance for the Eurovision song contest and came back in 2013 as a dancer in the show. However, his resume also stretches to live performances at events such as the Shanghai expo in 2010, Concert Tours with Balkan superstar Severina and Inna in 2014 and most recently his choreographing and teaching for WhoGotSkillz and Starmoves Hip Hop brands.

In addition to all these achievements he has also been recognized as a solo artist by the Olympic committee of Slovenia! From all across Europe to training in the best studios in Los Angeles and London, this Slovenian talent has truly come a long way!

As a second generation dance teacher and studio owner (season 41), Heather has been teaching dance for over four decades and has transformed the lives of countless students bringing her teaching experience to her classes and adjudications.

As Heather began teaching dance she quickly realized her love for passing on her knowledge to others. Her infectiously positive attitude, combined with her expertise, makes her classes fun and dynamic, while still challenging and inspiring her students. Heather began her training in England at the age of three and hasn’t stopped learning since. As she believes we all have something to learn from everyone we come across. Continuing our education with open minds gives us the opportunity to broaden our views on new dance styles, adaptations of genres and the creative process that others visualize.

Heather is educated in Al Gilbert, ADAPT (Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers), RAD (Royal Academy of Dancing), BATD (British Association Teachers of Dance), Alixa Flexibility, IDTS (International Dance Teaching Standards) and AA (Acrobatic Arts/Acro, Baton, Aerial Hoop, Aerial Silks) syllabuses. Over the years she has had the opportunity to train with leading teachers, choreographers and true masters in the art of dance around the world.

She has had the opportunity to travel the globe presenting the Acrobatic Arts Modules One and Two teacher certification courses to fellow dance educators. All the while conducting examinations for students through the 12 grades in the Acrobatic Arts Syllabus.

Ms Thomas is deeply passionate about the art of dance and truly enjoys sharing her knowledge with her students. Many have in turn gone on to have professional careers in the performing arts world. From Cruise Ships to Las Vegas Stages and Music Videos to Standup Comedy! The list is endless.

What really warms Heather’s heart is that so many of her students have gone on to be exceptional dance teachers and studio owners. Nothing could make her more proud than seeing the world of dance continue to grow and prosper with her guidance.

Heather’s effective leadership skills have enabled her to manage her staff and instructors effectively, ensuring that they uphold high-quality standards in teaching. Her keen eye for talent has helped her to recruit the best instructors and ensure that her students receive the best education and training possible.

Her dedication to her passion, expertise, and effective leadership skills have been essential in creating a thriving dance studio business that not only provides high-quality dance education but also fosters a sense of community and belonging.

Included in her busy schedule Heather always finds time to adjudicate at dance festivals and competitions around the world. This gives Heather the opportunity not only to experience and appreciate performances by amazing advanced/pre professional dancers. But also a chance to offer encouragement to up and coming future stars of dance, our “Stars of Tomorrow”.  

Career: World Champion Choreographer, Trained at Alvin Ailey, Got to Dance Series 2

Jessica-Jo Began her training in Essex at the Angela Allport Performing  Arts School before attending The Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst School for Dance and the Ailey School, New York. After training Jessica-Jo continued her studies and now holds a BA in Arts Management.

As a young dancer she was offered a place in Rambert’s junior company, Quicksilver and Tap Attack, where she performed with the company and competed at the World Tap Championships for 3 years (later becoming a coach and choreographer). Jessica-Jo has made many appearances with the Birmingham Royal Ballet and had the chance to perform at the Joan Weill Center, home of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.

More recently Jessica-Jo has had various engagements with Balletto di Milano and regularly teaches across the UK and continues to perform in the UK, the US and across Europe.

Renowned for being one of London’s most diversely experienced creatives, Lauren has an extensive list of credits including One Direction, Kelly Clarkson, Ellie Goulding, The X Factor, Beats by Dre, The Ballet Boys, Britain’s Got Talent, JLS, James Morrison and Olly Murs.

Lauren has also founded and been involved with many successful projects on a creative level and is Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain on Thriller Live!

Her tap career is also vast, being classed 3rd in the world as a female tap dancer, holding position as Producer and Choreographer of the ‘Kings of Tap’ production on a leading cruise line and continuing to lead the way with her all-female tap dance company Bellabeats. You may of also recognised her incredible tap skills as Adam Garcia’s dance partner in a special guest performance on Sky1’s Got To Dance 2012 + 2014, and in 2016 started a new project creating and producing shows all across Europe for the holiday brand Thomson.

Lauren became a resident performer in the West End hit show STOMP! in 2017 as well as touring New Zealand and Australia.

Now continues her West End performing alongside teaching on the Tap faculty at Performers college as well as running her brand new Tap fitness brand TAPPERCISE.

Taylor has been dancing for over 12 years and teaching since the age of 16. He is currently the manager of a world known Tricking Academy - Urbantrix Academy located in the Midlands. Taylor is most known as Taylor Stylez as an up and coming music artist. Credits such as BBC street dance stars, Britain’s Got Talent, Sky Ones Got To Dance and Red Bull Bc One.
Taylor Tours all around the UK with Chance 2 Dance performing on stages like the O2 arena, Birmingham Hippodrome, Blackpool opera house and many more!