Adele Best

Minis / Juniors / Adults

Adele has a BA Honours Degree in Dance Studies. She has volunteered with Magpie Dance company for over 3 years and is now training to be an assistant facilitator in our adult community classes.

In 2020 Adele took 2 different online training courses, Addressing inclusion and access for face to face teaching with Parable Dance and Inclusive Approaches training with Dance Syndrome.

Adele has undertaken voluntary work with various charities including London Zoo and a dance project working with underprivileged children.

Adele is also a qualified aerobics instructor with a CYQ Level 3 Antenatal and Postnatal Exercise to Music Certificate.

Heather Blee

Youth

Heather moved to London at the age of 18 after being accepted on the BA (Hons) Ballet Education degree at the Royal Academy of Dance, which she completed in 2017. In her second year she completed her community dance-teaching placement with Magpie Dance and joined as a volunteer afterwards. In her third year she completed her sector-specific full year teaching placement with Magpie Dance working with the Senior Youth Group on Saturdays as well as the technique class.

Alongside working with Magpie Dance, Heather also is a freelance ballet teacher, who holds registered teacher status with the Royal Academy of Dance.

Ella Fleetwood

Adults

Ella is an independent dance artist and maker based in East London. Ella graduated from Trinity Laban with a First Class degree in 2016. Since graduating, Ella has enjoyed performing with Casson & Friends, Made by Katie Green, Luminelle, Springs Dance Company and Kimberley Harvey in collaboration with Great Ormond Street Hospital. Ella regularly performs at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital with Eek & Wild, a company she co-founded. Ella creates her own choreographic work through her company, ella&co, connecting people through her socially engaged choreographic practice. Ella teaches in a range of community settings, with inclusivity and play at the heart of her teaching practice. Ella is a lead dance artist for The Place, Sadler’s Wells and Magpie Dance. With her work at Magpie, Ella has led choreographic collaborations with the Royal Opera House and Arts for Disabled Hong Kong.

Katharine le Roux

Minis / Juniors / Adults

Katharine graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2015, with a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Dance. She is a freelance dance artist, teaching and assisting with contemporary and creative classes in a variety of community settings. Alongside this, she is studying for a specialist diploma in Choreological Studies at Laban. Katharine has a particular passion for inclusive practice, having previously assisted with inclusive dance classes in both Newcastle and London and is really excited to be working with Magpie Dance.

Amy Lovelock

Adults

Amy is a professional performer, choreographer, creative director and teacher who graduated from LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts). Since graduating Amy has worked with choreographers and companies such as; Masters of Movement performing and choreographing for the ‘World of Dance Tour’ in LA, Litzer Bixler , EEE-Motion Company on dance theatre projects: ‘The morning after’….. and ‘It’s a love thing’, ‘Bodies in Urban Space’ choreographed by Willi Dorner, Hinged Dance Company, on three productions ‘The Soloist’, ’Rainman’ and ‘Prisoner 466’, for which she helped assist, Motionhouse Dance Theatre in ‘The Voyage’ as part of the Birmingham Olympic Festival , ‘5IVE’ choreographed by Genevieve Say and later Cique Bijou, dancing for the Boxettes, Rosie Whitney-Fish in‘Eric and Electrodes’, ‘Up and Under’ and ‘A vintage Holiday’, Exzeb Dance Company in their award winning ‘Artism II’ (International FITC Best Digital Instillation), Monix Arts in ‘Survival of the Fittest performed at Edinburgh Festival and MOHO Dance for ‘Emerge Dance Festival’. She has recently worked again with choreographer Willi Dorner for Metropolis – Copenhagen International Dance Theatre and on a separate new project ‘Stratford Living’ in association with East London Dance.

Amy is co-founder / choreographer of Co_Motion Dance where they had their first piece debut at Emerge Festival and Resolution! and is currently working on a physical theatre piece ‘Deeds not Words’, Amy is also a guest choreographer/director for University of Cumbria creating original dance theatre pieces such as ‘IMPACT’ and ‘COMING HOME’ for their 2nd year tour. This year, She continues to teach and choreograph for JASSPA as well as being Lead Artist for East London Dance project ‘ON THE MOVE’, teaching for Illuminate Freedom (working with visually impaired/blind students).

Hazel McCarthy

Youths

Hazel moved to London in 2011 after she was awarded a scholarship in the form of a Dance and Drama Award (DaDa) in order to study at Millennium Performing Arts. She graduated from MPA with a HNDiploma in Dance and Musical Theatre and has since worked for various companies as a professional dancer and musical theatre performer. Hazel secured her first job with PHA Pantomimes whilst in her 3rd year at MPA and has since spent her time performing on cruise ships, in hotels, at world famous attractions, at corporate events and on TV. Hazel is very grateful that she has had the opportunity to travel the world whilst performing and has worked with Dreamworks, BBC, ITV, Carnival Corporation, Merlin Entertainment, Sky Sports, and Bourne Leisure. Currently, Hazel is touring the UK with Ultimate Artistes tributes as a backing dancer for “Latina Diva Show” and “Ibiza Vibe” alongside her teaching work.

Hazel has a real passion for teaching dance and drama and teaches for a variety of companies. She teaches weekly parent and baby classes, nursery classes, at stage schools and after school clubs and with Magpie Dance. Hazel has always had an interest in inclusive dance but wanted to ensure she had the correct knowledge, skills and training to enable her to work with children and adults of all abilities. She recently studied with Natasha on Magpies IDPT programme and gained a distinction on completing the course. Hazel is delighted to be assisting Magpie dance classes on a weekly basis in Bromley and Sidcup and volunteers when she can for various shows, camps and events.

Laura Parkinson

Adults

Georgia Poole

Minis / Juniors / Adults

Georgia holds a BA (Hons) in Ballet Education from the Royal Academy of Dance, where she studied to become a dance teacher. She was first introduced to Magpie dance on her dance-teaching placement in her second year at university and is now an assistant facilitator. Georgia has always aspired to educate and make a difference in students lives, and is extremely passionate about doing so through her career in dance teaching. She was nominated last year by Magpie Dance for a One Dance UK award for ‘Rising star teacher 2018’ and felt overwhelmingly proud to represent Magpie Dance at the awards ceremony.

As well as working as a freelance Dance teacher, Georgia is also a founder of her company ‘GPCreatives’ offering bespoke creative dance workshops in schools, she aims to inspire a new generation of students on the opportunities creative dance brings. She says “My aim is to help students realise their creative potential through the art of dance”.

Annie Waller

Youths / Adults

Annie graduated from the University of Surrey in 2009 with a BA Hons Dance and Culture Degree. During her time at university she discovered a strong interest for inclusive dance, and she has been working as a freelance dance practitioner since 2011.

Annie has worked with Magpie Dance since 2006 first as volunteer then a trainee, finally becoming a facilitator in 2012. With Magpie Dance, she has worked with a range of dance groups including the juniors, youth, adult, and community classes as well as in health care settings. She has taught contemporary, Zumba and creative dance classes and delivered sessions for Sainsbury’s Active Kids, as well as working on inclusive dance projects in Kent and Sussex where she lives.

Since 2012, Annie’s main focus has been on teaching in the community and inclusive settings. Annie has delivered on numerous projects across the South East as a freelancer. In 2013 Annie completed a one year internship in Trinity Laban’s Learning and Participation department (Dance). Annie’s professional experience includes assisting, co-leading and leading inclusive dance sessions and CPD sessions as part of the department’s outreach work and classes at the Trinity Laban including children’s creative dance classes for children 4-8, adult and youth contemporary classes. Annie was the Dance School Co-ordinator (Maternity cover) at The Royal Academy of Dance in 2014.

Annie strongly believes in the positive impact dance in the community can have on people’s lives. She believes that the arts should be for everyone and believes that dance at its core is inclusive. Her practice and delivery style is fun and playful, and she strongly believes in people’s ability to push themselves and move to the best of their ability. Annie has received both a Jack Petchy Leader Award (2016) and YEAUK Best Teacher (2019) for her teaching.

Annie is the Founder and Director of Latitude Dance

Nikki Webb

Minis/ Juniors / Adults

Nikki has always had a passion for working alongside people with learning disabilities, volunteering in SEN schools from 2005 – 2007. Whilst studying for her degree in Primary Education (QTS) in 2008, she worked in temporary posts within the disability sector (mainly 1:1 and Teaching Assistant roles), having training in epilepsy, gastrostomy and tracheotomy to fulfill those roles. Around this time, she started volunteering at Magpie Dance and subsequently undertook their Inclusive Dance Practitioner Training (IDPT).

After graduating in 2011, Nikki taught in a primary school in South East London, completing her NQT year and has continued to work with Magpie Dance in assistant and co-leading roles, getting involved in various projects including youth and NHS projects. Magpie Dance has been a place where her passion for teaching and working alongside people with learning disabilities has been able to be realised.

Oliver Wright

Juniors / Youths

Oliver has been volunteering with Magpie Dance since 2019 and is now a trainee facilitator.

He is currently studying towards a Diploma in Dance Teaching and Learning at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. He has also completed dance teacher training with People Dancing, Stopgap Dance Company, and Para Dance UK.

His passion is inclusive social dancing and he’s constantly motivated by the positive effects it has on people. He runs We Dance Pop – facilitating dance classes for beginner adults.

Oliver is a dancer for Swing Time Jivers – an authentic jazz dance company. He performs around the country and abroad with live bands including The Glenn Miller Orchestra UK and Pasadena Roof Orchestra.

Robert Noble

Adults

Annie Walsh

Youths

Annie is a freelance dance artist with a passion for inclusivity. She has been dancing since childhood and practises contemporary and ballet with Trinity Laban and Pineapple Dance. She has completed courses in intuitive dance and believes the joy of movement should be accessible to all. 
Annie has worked as a caregiver and understands the importance of equal opportunities for those with disabilities. Since joining Magpie’s in 2021 she has learnt that when given the right environment, we are all capable of anything. 
Annie works full time as Magpie’s Youth Co-ordinator intern and assists in our Youth sessions on Saturdays.