Woking Dance Space classes are taught by a variety of hard working, talented and energetic teachers.

Charlotte Bateup

Charlotte trained at the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts where she was awarded a National Diploma in Musical Theatre as well as gaining her ISTD teaching qualification in Modern Theatre Dance and Ballet.

After graduating Charlotte was lucky enough to start a career as a professional dancer on some of the largest cruise liners in the world. Since 2009 when she started her career with Princess Cruises she worked her way up and became Company Manager where her duties, as well as performing, included managing the cast of singers and dancers and all the logistics of maintaining a happy and hard working company.

Princess Cruises has some of the most elaborate and high end shows that are available on water and in 2014 Charlotte was asked by the company to assist in teaching and installing their shows on to the ships.

In 2015 Charlotte returned home and started working for Guildford Fringe Theatre Company where she is the General Manager. Charlotte choreographs and directs their pantomimes and in house productions, occasionally still performing! Charlotte is over the moon to have found Woking Dance Space when she finished performing professionally and is blown away by the standard of dancers and teachers that are part of such a wonderful organisation.

Charlotte teaches Open Jazz and is also a Trustee of Woking Dance Space.

Jennifer Dyson

Jennifer began her professional dance training at The Royal Academy of Dancing, where she studied from 1995-1998, gaining a degree in The Art and Teaching of Ballet. Here, under the tuition of many prestigious teachers, including June Mitchell, Karen King and Norman Morrice, Jennifer studied a variety of dance styles, such as, Contemporary, National, Modern and Tap. The course also consisted of a choreography elective, which led to performances of her work at the College. The three-year course also enabled Jennifer to gain her Licenciate, by successfully passing the Advanced R.A.D examination.

Jennifer has performed professionally all over the world, including tours with “Spirit of the Dance” in the USA, South East Asia, Brazil, India, Dubai, Mexico and Australia. She has also performed in numerous pantomimes and TV productions such as “Stars in Their Eyes” for Grenada Television. Look closely and you might spot her in the New Line Cinema movie “The Golden Compass”.

Jennifer joins Woking Dance Space eager to share her experience and wealth of choreographic knowledge.

Jennifer teaches Theatre Jazz, Theatre Tap, Daytime Tap and Daytime Jazz.

Philippa Jarrett

Philippa trained at Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts under Noreen Bush and Bridget Espinosa.

After finishing her training she went to Virginia, USA to join the Bristol Ballet. Following this, she moved to Belgium and joined the Ballet de Flandre, where she undertook teacher training which she completed at the Jarrett School of Dance in Brussels.

Philippa spent many years dancing, teaching and choreographing for ballets at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels and the Gent Opera House.

She now lives in Guildford, and is Co-Artistic Director of Southern Youth Ballet in Sussex.

Philippa teaches Daytime Improvers Ballet and Daytime Intermediate Ballet.

Gretchen Fox Kiefer

Dancing and teaching for over 25 years, Gretchen is a former professional dancer and founder member of Island Moving Company (USA).

She undertook numerous tours, performances and out reach programmes with Island Moving Company, and also performed with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and several Colorado ballet companies. Gretchen also choreographed for Island Moving Company, Little Theater of the Rockies and the University of Northern Colorado.

She has taught dance at the Newport Academy of Ballet, University of Northern Colorado and currently teaches for the Susan Robinson School of Ballet and the British Ballet Organization.

Gretchen teaches Advanced Ballet, is director of our shows and is also a Trustee of Woking Dance Space.

Caroline Lee

Caroline began dancing at the age of 3. At 13 she started training weekly at the Northern Ballet School in Manchester and at 17 moved to London to train vocationally at The Urdang Academy, after being awarded a full scholarship. Whilst there she had the opportunity to work with some of the top choreographers in the industry and to perform at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall. Caroline began to work professionally in the second year after securing an agent who spotted her in a college show.

In 2003 she graduated with a National Diploma in Professional Dance & Musical Theatre, and had a varied professional dance career of over twelve years. During her career she performed in the Commercial, Musical Theatre, Corporate and Cruise industries as both a soloist and ensemble. Examples include: the Rock musical 'Falco meets Amadeus' touring Germany and Austria. ‘Maksim the piano player’ live televised concert for EMI records. Children in Need ‘I'm your man’ music video. Ten years with the company Bond Performance dancing in shows such as: Chicago, Moulin Rouge, The Rat Pack and Latin Fever. A UK tour in Spirit of the Dance. A Costa Cruise contract. Pantomimes ‘Snow White’ & ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. And several other TV appearances including: Children In Need, Everybody Dance Now, Britain's got Talent, Britain’s Got More Talent, Top of the Pops 2, and The Panto Set. Alongside dance Caroline also filmed an ITV commercial and spent two years presenting travel and news for Surrey’s 107.8 Fm Radio Jackie.

In 2012 Caroline studied on the Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma course at the Royal Academy of Dance Headquarters. She graduated with Distinction and became a registered teacher for the RAD. Caroline became an Acrobatic Arts level 2 Instructor in 2016 and in 2020 qualified to teach PBT Progressing Ballet Technique.

Caroline has taught at several schools across the years. She has coached and entered students for exams and choreographed for many shows and competitions. Caroline is excited to be joining Woking Dance Space as a teacher, alongside her other teaching engagements and raising her 4 children.

Caroline teaches Beginners Ballet, Intermediate Ballet and Contemporary.

Helen Ledsome

Helen began ballet at the age of four at a small dance school in East London. When the family moved to Surrey she joined the Susan Robinson School of Ballet, and started tap and modern when she was 10.

Tap quickly became her favourite dance style, but nonetheless, she continued with all disciplines, participating in dance festivals, shows, and even performing with the Bolshoi Ballet at the London Coliseum aged 11.

Helen achieved excellent grades up to advanced levels in RAD Ballet and ISTD Tap and Modern but on leaving school Helen also left dancing. Her love for tap came flooding back when she saw the West End production of 42nd Street in 2017. This prompted her to look for an adult tap class and she came across us here at Woking Dance Space, joining our Theatre Tap class.

Having been a regular at Woking Dance Space ever since, and covering the Theatre Tap class on occasions, Helen is really happy to be able to share her passion for tap dancing.

Helen teaches Improvers Tap.

Emily Little

Emily's love for dance started at the age of 2, watching her older sister in dance class & joining in when ever possible! At 16 after many years of training with Susan Robinson School of Ballet Emily gained a place at Laine Theatre Arts where she studied Dance & Musical Theatre.

In Emily's 2nd year she felt privileged to be chosen for her first professional dance contract; The Royal Variety Performance 2003. Once graduated Emily performed in FAME the Musical which toured Germany & Holland, Spirit of the Dance USA tour, Viva La Diva UK Arena tour Starring Katherine Jenkins & Darcey Bussell, Dancing Queen UK & Monte Carlo, Lead dancer in 2 Pot Noodle Adverts, Dance captain for professional pantomimes & many various music videos. Emily has also danced on stage with Kylie Minogue, Enrique Iglesias, Cheryl Cole & Anastasia.

After many years of professional experience in the industry she had also gained fitness & gym instructor qualifications. Emily finds teaching at WDS a wonderful creative outlet & truly enjoys teaching her classes.

Dance is so good for your soul, escape everyday life for an hour & release yourself into the music- what ever it may be! I look forward to meeting you soon

Emily teaches Contemporary Jazz.

Shani Nash

Shani studied Ballet, Tap and Modern dance at the Susan Robinson School of Ballet, before gaining a grant to attend The Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. At Rambert Shani trained professionally and continued her study of Ballet, as well as Graham and Cunningham contemporary styles.

She was fortunate to be given many performance opportunities whilst with the school and danced as the 'Fortune teller' in National Youth Ballet's "Maid on the marsh “1994”.

Shani joined Woking Dance Space classes in 2010 and started teaching for First Dance Studio soon afterwards. She has previously taught for Dance Woking, Woking Gymnastics club and has covered for Natalie Dodd, teaching children’s classes for the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary dance. Shani teaches pre-school children through to adults, and currently teaches for Surrey adult learning and Surrey Community Dance.

Shani is an ISTD qualified teacher, having passed her Advanced 1 and 2 in Imperial ballet as an adult, she gained her Licentiate higher level teaching qualification in 2020, and in 2021 will start her studies towards Fellowship.

Shani teaches ISTD Grade 5/6 Ballet, ISTD Advanced 1 Ballet, Relaxed Contemporary and Pointe Preparation and Conditioning.

Laura Porter

At the age of 5, Laura started dancing at Julie Sianne Theatre Arts where her passion for dance began. There she gained excellent grades up to advanced levels in RAD ballet, ISTD tap, modern and jazz. She was fortunate enough to compete at a national level and perform in various dance festivals and pantomimes.

Laura taught at Julie Sianne Theatre Arts for several years before heading to university where she also taught ballet and jazz and choreographed routines for yearly dance shows.

Laura joined Woking Dance Space in 2013 and is a regular attendee. Having covered many classes, Laura is very excited about running the 6 week beginners course and starting up a new lyrical jazz class.

Laura teaches Lyrical Jazz, Improvers Lyrical and Daytime Open Jazz.