Staff
Principal - Ms Jessica
Full updated staff bios coming soon!
Ms Charlotte
Charlotte graduated from “Bodywork Dance Company” in Cambridge with a level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. Prior to this she began her vocational training close to her home town at “Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre” in Liverpool where she also obtained her ISTD Modern and Tap Teaching qualifications.
Since then Charlotte took a break from the performing industry as a Professional Dancer and embarked on a new direction, she has worked for various companies within Real Estate and Corporate Business.
Throughout her Teaching career she has had the pleasure to teach across various schools and Academy’s in the UK, where she has taught varying styles of Dance to all ages and abilities.
Charlotte loves to use her passion and the experience she have gained throughout her career to help inspire others.
Mr Chris
MA BA(Hons) QTS
Chris Buckley-Reynolds trained at Dance 10 in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical and Contemporary Dance before studying for a BA (Hons) in Dance at the University of Chichester where he specialised in contemporary dance and choreography. Chris performed professionally with numerous companies including The Typewriters, Lila Dance, Dance United and Dante or Die. In 2005, Chris co-founded Udifydance Company and went on to tour across the UK with two Arts Council Funded Tours, 4 Men:Move and And When We Move… . During his time as Artistic Director, Chris became an Associate Artist at The Point, Eastleigh and University of Winchester. He was mentored by renowned choreographer Hofesh Shechter who called Chris’ work “Harmonious, Skilful and Precise”.
In 2012, Chris began teaching at ArtsEd, where he taught contemporary technique, choreography, and improvisation. During his time at ArtsEd, Chris has taught across the Day School & Sixth Form as well as the Musical Theatre Degree. He has been Head of Key Stage 3 and Director of Community Engagement. Chris has also taught dance technique at the University of Winchester, Godalming College, Stagecoach Havant and Stagecoach East Grinstead, as well as many workshops in schools whilst on tour.
Chris is currently the Deputy Headteacher (Operations) of ArtsEd and has recently completed a Masters in Educational Leadership & Management from the University of Roehampton. He has Qualified Teacher Status and a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching Dance from The Royal Academy of Dance.
Chris is delighted to be joining Just Imagine Dance and looks forward to continuing to develop the students in all areas of dance.
Miss Fleur
BA (Hons) RAD RTS LRAD
Fleur’s love for dance began at the age of 2.5 years old. Studying RAD ballet throughout, achieving everything from Pre-Primary up until Advanced 2. Although ballet is Fleur’s preferred genre of dance she has also trained in Modern, Jazz and Tap.
Fleur is a qualified teacher through the Royal Academy of Dance completing her degree in Ballet Education and finishing with the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance (LRAD).
Fleur is hoping to reflect her passion of dance to others.
Ms Grace
BA (Hons) RAD RTS LRAD
Grace began dancing at Dance Foundation, training in Ballet, Tap, Modern and Jazz where she developed a love for dance and teaching. She studied for three years at the Royal Academy of Dance graduating with BA (Hons) Ballet Education and in addition was awarded the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance (LRAD) with distinction.
Grace currently teaches in various schools in and around London including Regal Ballet, Butterfly Ballet and the Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance delivering; graded and vocational RAD classes, Strength and Conditioning classes, modern and jazz classes and coaching for both competitions and examinations. Grace is also qualified in the Alixa Flexibility Method and currently completing her Progressing Ballet Technique training.
Since 2019 Grace has worked at the Royal Academy of Dance, Dance School as an assistant and cover teacher, and now provides administrative support within the school for examinations.
Alongside her teaching Grace also works for the Language of Dance Trust as an administrator and Memberships coordinator, within the trust Grace assists the delivery of free classes within primary schools in London boroughs, focusing on increasing the accessibility of dance for children of all backgrounds.
Ms Katelyn
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!
Ms Laura
ARAD CBTS RTS
Born in Padova, Italy, Laura started dancing at the age of 8 at the Ballet Center School of Dance.
Between 1991 and 2003 she continued her studies and she received her Diploma (Advanced 2) from the Royal Academy of Dance with Distinction and awarded her ARAD status (associate Royal Academy of Dance). In the same year she has also been awarded a scholarship to study at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in London where she graduated as a professional dancer in 2004.
Laura worked with English National Ballet for the Derek Deane’s production of Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Albert Hall in July 2005 and with Vienna Festival Ballet (Peter Mallek) from 2005 to 2008 performing the Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Rhapsody in blue, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Coppelia and many more.
She’s been guest artist in different gala in Italy, performing with dancers from La Scala of Milan.
Laura received her Certificate in Ballet and Teaching Studies (CBTS) and gained her Register Teaching Status (RTS) in November 2009 from the Royal Academy of Dance and has been teaching ballet since. Between 2011/12 &2016/17 she was also a Mentor for the RAD helping new teachers with observation of practical teaching and lesson plans.
Currently she is a senior teacher and the Head of the RAD programme for Just Imagine Ballet. Laura is also part of the performing art staff (dance) at St. George’s School Windsor Castle and a Barre Fitness Instructor at BBL Ballet Barre Laura.
Ms Maria
PDTD Dip ARAD RTS PBT DDT
Maria Ribo-O’Malley is a fully qualified Ballet Teacher and a former First Artist of English National Ballet. She trained in Spain and thereafter at The Royal Ballet School, graduating in 1996. Maria danced the main role in Diversions at the The Royal Ballet School’s annual performances. Awards include the Dame Margot Fonteyn Bursary (Royal Academy of Dance) and the Markova-Bagrit Award (The Royal Ballet School).
Her repertory with ENB includes Carabosse (The Sleeping Beauty), Tall Stepsister (Cinderella), Lead Swans and Spanish Dance (Swan Lake), Arabian Dance and Mirlitons (The Nutcracker) and significant roles in Romeo & Juliet, Paquita, Etudes and Giselle. Her work as a choreographer includes Enlightenment for ENB‘s Synergy Programme -a collaboration with the Royal College of Music.
Maria retired as a dancer in 2008 and has been teaching ballet, PBT and choreographing for top dance schools and companies worldwide ever since.
Miss Sabrina
BA (Hons)
After early training in RAD, Sabrina Wyllie successfully auditioned for the Royal Ballet Associate programme age 9, which sparked an interest in the industry. Following this she underwent 8 years of vocational school and has since gained performance, film, choreographic and teaching experiences professionally, and a BA hons degree in Professional Dance and Performance. After 6 years as a Royal Ballet Associate, Sabrina has returned as a staff member and is currently working as Associate Assistant at the Royal Ballet School.
Gaining responsibility as head girl in her fifth year at Young Dancers Academy, Sabrina joined the Central School of Ballet's degree course at 16 where she was chosen to teach for the Central School of Ballet Junior School, work at the Central School of Ballet Summer Programme, be a student representative within Central School of Ballet and the representative for Central at meetings for the Conservatoire of Dance and Drama, attempting to provide students with a more useful and accessible experience in training for their industries.
Performing highlights include dancing in the beautiful venues of the Royal Opera House and the Coliseum, being chosen to perform with the Mariinsky Ballet in A Midsummer Night's Dream and later with the Queensland Ballet in La Sylphide. Sabrina's repertoire includes performing works by renowned choreographers George Balanchine and Peter Shaufuss, as well as dancing in Le Corsaire by Marius Petipa and Matthew Bourne's Highland Fling during the Ballet Central tour. After receiving her degree Sabrina joined Ballet Cymru II, where she was entrusted to choreograph a company piece, as well as being chosen to perform in three of the other four pieces created by fellow dancers and in multiple pieces choreographed by Ballet Cymru's resident choreographer. Additionally, she was fortunate to be involved in the creation process of two of the three pieces making up the main company's Triple Bill, learning and gaining more experiences, dancing and performing in professional environments.
Sabrina believes dance to be not only a beautiful art form, but also a beautiful environment that can positively impact a child's development. She enjoyed witnessing the impact when she taught workshops as part of the Ballet Cymru Duets Programme's outreach work, including a week providing dance to schools that typically are unable to offer dance, and volunteer work providing children overcoming varying disabilities and illnesses with the opportunity to learn to dance. Sabrina's goal is to make the most of every opportunity and strive to create a hardworking and positive atmosphere students can grow in as both dancers and individuals. She is looking forward to continuing these experiences as she continues her journey as part of the Just Imagine Dance team!