From tiny toes to star performers

Dip RBS AISTD MA Hons 

Founder & Director, Just Imagine Dance

Jessica Williams is the Founder and Director of Just Imagine Dance, a place where creativity, imagination, and inclusivity help every child flourish.

Jessica began dancing at her local school, Arts Umbrella in Kent, under the guidance of Zoë Uffindell. Inspired by a ballet production of Hansel and Gretel, she started ballet classes at nine — later than most aspiring dancers — and quickly immersed herself in the wider dance world. Dyslexic and highly visual in her learning, she found ballet a form of expression where she could truly thrive. She danced with the National Youth Ballet and London Junior Ballet, and trained through associate programmes at London Studio Centre, Central School of Ballet, and The Royal Ballet School. Prestigious summer schools at White Lodge, Ilkley Ballet Seminar, and Arts Educational further nurtured her love of performance and choreography.

At sixteen, Jessica successfully auditioned for The Royal Ballet School, where she trained for three years and graduated with the Royal Ballet School Diploma. During this time, she earned her ISTD Associate Teaching qualification (Cecchetti branch) and was runner-up in the Ursula Moreton Choreographic Competition.

Jessica was accepted to the University of Cambridge, where she spent four years and graduated with a master’s degree. She broadened her perspective through an exchange at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, focused on initiative, influence, and innovation. She also explored acting, television, and radio, appearing in live TV projects and performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where she choreographed a show.

After university, Jessica worked in television production and live events, including CBBC’s Blue Peter, and later joined PwC’s Thought Leadership team, an experience that culminated in attending the World Economic Forum in Davos. These experiences strengthened her ability to guide projects, inspire collaboration, and communicate ideas effectively — skills she now brings to dance education.

Jessica has over 25 years of experience teaching, mentoring, and coaching young dancers, from early years through to advanced, pre-vocational levels and pointe work. She has taught across London schools, vocational settings, and one-to-one, giving her a broad and grounded perspective on dance education.

She founded Just Imagine Dance to bring her vision of creativity, inclusivity, and child-focused dance education to life. Recognised for her energy and creativity, Jessica’s approach combines strategic insight with care and reflection, and her work has earned multiple awards, including Female Entrepreneur of the Year (twice consecutively) and the People’s Choice Award for Just Imagine Dance.

Jessica continues to steer the vision of the school with warmth and dedication, inspiring the next generation of dancers and shaping an institution where artistry, imagination, and community thrive.

PDTD Dip ARAD RTS PBT DDT

Senior Ballet Teacher, Pre-Vocational Mentor and Coach, Just Imagine Dance

Maria Ribo-O’Malley is a fully qualified ballet teacher and former First Artist with English National Ballet. She trained in Spain and at The Royal Ballet School, graduating in 1996, where she danced the lead role in Diversions at the School’s annual performance. She is the recipient of the Dame Margot Fonteyn Bursary (Royal Academy of Dance) and the Markova-Bagrit Award (The Royal Ballet School).

As a professional dancer, Maria performed major roles with ENB, including Carabosse (The Sleeping Beauty), Tall Stepsister (Cinderella), Lead Swans and Spanish Dance (Swan Lake), Arabian Dance and Mirlitons (The Nutcracker), and featured roles in Romeo & Juliet, Paquita, Etudes, and Giselle. She also choreographed Enlightenment for ENB’s Synergy Programme, in collaboration with the Royal College of Music.

Maria retired from performing in 2008 and has since been teaching ballet, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), and choreographing for leading dance schools and companies worldwide. At Just Imagine Dance, she brings her professional experience and artistic insight to inspire and develop young dancers.

Ballet & Dance Team Coach, Just Imagine Dance

Originally from the Gold Coast, Australia, Tahlia began training at the age of two and made her professional debut at age thirteen in Annie (Gordon Frost). Tahlia is a graduate of ED5 International, where she completed her Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts, under the guidance of William A. Forsythe. Tahlia has also completed her Certificate 3 in Dance Teaching and Choreography at Dance Force. She has worked performed with the QLD Ballet Company, in We Will Rock You and Cats Most recently Tahlia performed in the 10th anniversary tour of Billy Elliot the Musical.

Ballet Teacher, Just Imagine Dance

Charley discovered her love of dance and performing at the age of three. She has completed her ISTD grades in Ballet, Tap, and Modern up to Intermediate and is now working towards her Advanced 1 grades alongside her Teaching Qualification (DDE). She has also trained in commercial, street, contemporary, lyrical, acro, and jazz. At seven, she joined Hillingdon Musical Society and continues to perform and choreograph for them.

Charley recently graduated from Durham University with a degree in Biological Sciences. During her time at university, she was a dancer, choreographer, and captain for Durham’s national dance team, with her choreography winning five national trophies. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of dancers to embrace their love for dance while pursuing every passion, both on and off the stage.

BA BSc (Hons) ARAD PDTD RTS GMBPS 

Katelyn Severn is a registered teacher trained in a wide array of dance disciplines, including ballet, contemporary, jazz and tap. This extensive education began at an early age, and in Katelyn’s last few years of school she received many national and international opportunities, competing in events like the Genee International Ballet Competition, and performing in well-loved shows like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. 

Graduating with a BA Distinction in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance, Katelyn first secured work with a small neo-classical company before being invited to join Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures for his 2014-2015 production of Edward Scissorhands. This then led to Katelyn becoming a workshop leader for the New Adventures charitable arm Re:Bourne, and her training for this included a heavy focus on performance, early years training, and inclusivity. 

Determined to make the most of a new skillset, Katelyn then balanced teaching with a continued demand for her as a dancer in contemporary companies, performing soloist and principal parts and even taking on a separate role as rehearsal director. During this time Katelyn also became a qualified sports massage therapist, and in 2019 she partook in the Royal Academy of Dance’s Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma, graduating with distinction. 

Katelyn Severn has worked with Just Imagine Dance since 2015, teaching ballet from preschool ages upwards, instigating our tap programme, and recently becoming an integral part of our student’s RAD exam training. 

Katelyn also has a BSc in Psychology and a qualification in British Sign Language. She believes that her continued education is a vital part of supporting her students as individuals, and hopes that she can help each of them access their full potential, and have fun along the way!