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Gillian Calder
Gillian is a former pupil of Dansarena Studios where she trained for 10yrs. Before coming to Dansarena Gillian focused on her competitive gymnastics career as well as a competitive cheerleading career.
In 2008 she was given the opportunity to represent her country in Orlando, Florida as a cheerleader for Team Scotland. She travelled round the uk for cheerleading but then eventually in 2013 decided to let her cheerleading and gymnastics go to focus on her future career as a professional dancer.
In 2015 she made her move to London to train at Bird College UK. Over the 3 year period she worked with some of the best directors, choreographers, and musicians in the industry.
Once she graduated in 2018 she only had to wait a few months before landing her first professional job with QDos Pantomimes, performing in Aladdin down south. Dansarena helped Gillian prepare and take that leap to following her dream as a dancer and not only that, prepared her for her long distance dream of becoming a teacher. |
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Megan Bathgate
Megan is a former pupil of Dansarena Studios where she trained for 15yrs. She left Dansarena Studios in 2013 after successfully auditioning for Bodywork Company International in Cambridge. During her 3yrs at Bodywork Megan worked with many industry professionals, danced at a number of charity events throughout the UK and had the opportunity to go to New York and dance at Broadway Dance Centre.
Over the past 4yrs Megan has danced at the Gaiety Theatre Ayr with Michael Courtney Productions during Pantomime season and in 2016/17 became Junior and Senior Dance Captain. She is returning to Ayr this year as Dance Captain having successfully secured this position.
Following Megan's graduation in July 2016 she was offered her first professional dance contract and moved to Greece. Her success has continued securing further contracts this year touring Paphos in Cyprus and latterly in Greece. Megan is also a qualified Circuit Coach at Curves Gym. Megan is passionate about Dance and Fitness and delighted to have started her career at Dansarena Studios. |
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Jenna Sloan
Jenna’s dancing journey began at Dansarena studios Ltd at the age of 3. Whilst studying at Dansarena Jenna passed all RAD ballet exams and ISTD Modern and Tap exams and attended Scottish Ballet Junior Associates.
At the age of 16 Jenna successfully auditioned for Central School of Ballet and moved to London for 3 years of full-time vocational training. In her second year at Central she received the musicality award and in her third year she took to the road and toured the UK with Ballet Central. Upon graduation from Central in 2002 Jenna was offered a contract with Ballet Ireland and performed in several tours. In June 2005 she travelled to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to represent Ballet Ireland at Halifax Ballet Theatre. Jenna was also part of the educational team at Ballet Ireland and visited schools throughout Ireland to teach and promote dance.
In 2006 Jenna returned to Scotland and began working with The Curve Foundation in Edinburgh and performed works choreographed by Merce Cunningham and Hofesh Shechter. In summer 2007, after performing in the opening production of the Edinburgh International Festival she was sponsored by the Scottish Arts Council to travel to New York and take classes at the Merce Cunningham Studio.
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In 2008 and 2009 Jenna performed with Scottish Opera and Welsh National Opera (WNO) in the world premiere of David McVicar’s production of La Traviata. In 2011 Jenna performed at Glyndebourne Festival Opera in McVicar’s Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg and at the start of 2012 Jenna returned to WNO to reprise her role in La Traviata. In the summer of 2012 Jenna fulfilled her dream and performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden featuring in the world premiere of McVicar’s epic production, Les Troyens. At the start of 2013 Jenna travelled to Geneva and worked with the Opera at Le Grande Theatre De Geneve and in 2014 she returned for a final season with WNO.
Jenna has now retired from dance and is a happy, contented mummy to Lochlin. |
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April Genadieva
After 15 years at Dansarena Studios, April went on to study at Bodywork Performing Arts college in Cambridge, where she gained a National Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre. Since leaving college April has danced all over the UK in a variety of productions, spanning from hotels to theatres and even a short stint in a travelling circus.
In 2012, April then made the move over to Benidorm, Spain where she has been performing on the cabaret circuit ever since, choreographing and performing for tribute shows such as Madonna, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and Kylie Minogue. Now a wife and mother of two, April and her family are looking forward to moving back to Scotland in the near future, and the adventures that follow.
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Niamh Gormley
Niamh began dancing at Dansarena Studios from aged 3 to 14 before continuing her training at the Dance School of Scotland. Niamh is currently in her second year of training at Millennium Performing Arts.
Theatre Credits: Chorus in Jason Robert Brown and Very Special Guests starring Ramin Karimloo in association with National Youth Music Theatre (Apollo Theatre); Dancer in Jock N' Roll (Pavillion Theatre, Glasgow); Performer in The Chris Taylor Show (Gaiety Theatre, Ayr) Ensemble in Glasgow Philharmonia Movies to Musicals (Glasgow City Halls).
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Conor Lee-Bourke
Conor was born and raised in Ayr, Scotland where he began his dance training at Dansarena Studios before further developing his classical ballet technique with the Junior and Senior Associate Program at Scottish Ballet and with the Junior Conservatoire of Scotland.
In 2011 Conor successfully auditioned for and performed in the world premier of Matthew Bourne's 'Lord of the Flies', an experience that would completely change his perspective of the world of dance.
In 2014 he joined the 3-year BA Modern Ballet Program at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, graduating in the summer of 2017. Conor performed in various productions including Jamil Laurence's 'Whit's Fir Ye' at Dumfries House for HRH Prince of Wales. Conor has also been fortunate enough to work with Scottish Ballet during their Summer, Autumn and Winter tours in 2016/17. Conor performed in Crystal Pite's 'Emergence' and Christopher Hampson's 'Hansel and Gretel' as well as learning chorography from Anjelin Preljocaj's 'MC1422' and taking part in the creation process of Sophie Laplane's 'Sibilo'.
In August 2017 Conor began a full-time contract with the Delattre Dance Company in Mainz Germany and recently secured a second cast place playing 'Dorian Gray' in the company's upcoming eponymous production.
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Lucy MacPhail
Born and raised in Scotland, Lucy began her training at Dansarena Studios. During her time here she achieved Distinctions in grades 4 to Advanced 1 Royal Academy of Dance Examinations. Lucy gained a place in Scottish Ballet’s Associate scheme and trained there weekly for three years. Following on from this she was selected into the junior conservatoire run by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
As part of her preparation for full time vocational training throughout the holiday seasons, Lucy attended a number of summer schools such as Elmhurst School for Dance, The Royal Ballet Upper Summer Course and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Gaining a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland BA Modern Ballet has exposed Lucy to rigorous training in a diverse range of dance specialties and the opportunity to collaboration with artists in related fields. Lucy has been fortunate enough to work with a number of talented choreographers such as Matthew Robinson, Diana Loosemore, Sophie Laplane and Christopher Hampson. The summer breaks have afforded the opportunity to expand her knowledge and repertoire through attendance at Prague International Ballet Masterclasses.
Currently Lucy is in the process of completing her graduate year at RCS and is currently auditioning for ballet and contemporary companies.
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Hope McMillan
Hope started dancing at the age of two and a half at Dansarena Studios. Whilst a pupil there, Hope completed her RAD ballet exams, ISTD Modern Theatre and Tap exams.
At the age of seventeen, she continued her studies at Bodywork Dance Company, Cambridge, where she graduated with a National Diploma in Musical Theatre. Hope is currently performing in a variety of shows in Terra Mitica, Benidorm's biggest theme park.
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Lisa McRoberts
Lisa a former pupil of Dansarena Studios has worked for many years as a Pilates instructor, Personal Trainer and Les Mills Group Fitness Instructor, teaching Body Pump and the dance based programs, Sh’bam and Body Jam.
Lisa believes that the talented and experienced teachers, past and present at Dansarena have provided her with the best opportunity to learn the value of flawless technique and performance quality, which she continues to use every day in her career. Lisa feels that any pupil under the care of the Dansarena Teachers, are truly in the best of hands
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Charlotte Mitchell
Charlotte started dancing at Dansarena Studios from age 5 and attended classes regularly till she was 16. While at Dansarena she sat many RAD ballet and ISTD tap and modern exams before leaving in 2014 after gaining a place on the three-year musical theatre course at Performers College in Essex. While training she appeared in the 2016 pantomime 'Beauty and the Beast' at the Palace Theatre and as 'Thea' in 'Spring Awakening' at the Towngate Theatre, Essex. Charlotte graduated from Performers in July this year and is currently in rehearsals for the TUI Discovery 2 where she will join the cast as a Singer/Dancer performing 11 different shows as well as solo cabarets on board the ship as it cruises the Caribbean and the Mediterranean until July next year.
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Lynsey Reid
Lynsey was born in Prestwick and trained at Dansarena Studios from the age of 16. She then moved to London to train
professionally at Bird College where she graduated in 2013 with a BA (hons) Professional Dance and Musical Theatre.
After graduating she performed as Singer/Dancer on P&O Australia for two contracts.
She made her Musical Theatre debut as Ensemble in ‘Hinterm Horizont’ in Berlin, Germany in Potsdamer Platz Theater. She has since continued to work in Germany, performing in ‘Der Medicus’ in Fulda in 2016 and ‘Tanz der Vampire’ in Stuttgart in 2017.
She is thoroughly looking forward to her next musical engagement, ‘Fame’ in Kiel, Germany.
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Sophie Riddoch
Sophie trained at Dansarena Studios from the age of 2, completing her way through the school until advanced level. In 2011 she went to study acting at Reid Kerr College (now UWS) and graduated with her HND in Acting and Performance in 2013.
Since graduating Sophie has appeared in many productions touring around the U.K. Currently she is on tour with Hopscotch Theatre Company in RIGHTS OF THE CHILD which is playing round primary schools in Scotland.
Sophie's other professional credits include: Hope, HOPE (U.K Tour), Georgie/Mum, THIS IS MY LIFE (Scottish Tour), Nikki/Various Roles CYBERBUDDY (Scottish Tour), Fallon McGoven, BOSCHEMIAN MATRIMONY (The Gaiety Theatre, Ayr), Juliet, ROMEO AND JULIET (The Gaiety Theatre, Ayr), Angela LIKE A VIRGIN (The Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock), Elizabeth Proctor THE CRUCIBLE (The Cottiers Theatre, Glasgow), Belle, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (The Gaiety Theatre, Ayr), Gertrude, HAMLET (UWS Theatre), Mary McGinty, ONCE A CATHOLIC (UWS Theatre).
Sophie is currently represented by Victoria Steven at VSCasting and also has an actors page on Facebook that you can use to keep up to date with any new projects she shall be working on.
Sophie also works as a children's entertainer and drama workshop leader.
After Sophie's current tour she will go straight into rehearsals to play Dorothy in THE WIZARD OF OZ for a Scottish Pantomime Tour.
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Vicky Riddoch
Vicky trained at Dansarena Studios from the age of 5, completing her way up the school to advanced level. In 2005 she gained a place at the London Studio Centre where she trained professionally for 3 years gaining a degree in Theatre Dance.
Since graduating Vicky has worked extensively throughout Europe. She is currently based in Berlin where she is in rehearsals for GHOST THE MUSICAL, which will play at the Theater des Westens until October 2018.
Vicky’s other credits are; MARY POPPINS, Swing/Cover Miss Lark (Apollo Theater, Stuttgart/Ronacher Theater, Vienna), A CHORUS LINE, Dance Captain/Cover Val und Connie (Stadttheater Klagenfurt, Austria), SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, Ensemble (Amstetten, Austria), Flashdance, Ensemble (Theater St. Gallen, Switzerland), MAMMA MIA!, Ensemble (Palladium Theater, Stuttgart), TANZ DER VAMPIRE, Ensemble (Theater des Westens, Berlin), WICKED, Mother/Ensemble (Circus Theater Scheveningen, Holland), LUCKY STIFF, Dominique (Greenwich Theatre, London), SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, Ensemble/ Cover Snow White (Kings Theatre, Glasgow) |
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