Leigh started child modelling, dancing and performing at the age of 2. She trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School full-time from the age of 11 to 16. While Leigh was there, her experience in television included Eastenders, Anything’s Possible (mini-film for Channel 5) and Hale & Pace.

Other work included various advertisements for ITV and BBC radio plays for children’s schools. Musical theatre work included Annie (the lead role), The Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof all at Greenwich Theatre, The Nutcracker (Ballet), Fairfield Halls, Croydon, variety shows at Orchard Theatre, Dartford, pantomimes and cabaret acts in London.

At the age of 16, Leigh went to the Centre of Performing Arts College in Greenwich to sustain her performing arts and to qualify as a teacher in ballet, modern and tap for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance.

Leigh joined MTA in 2004.

Qualifications: PDTD RAD RTS, ISTD DDI

Clare has been dancing since she was 3, gaining her Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams at her local ballet school in Surrey. She completed her professional ballet training in the Russian and Cecchetti methods with the three year dancers’ course at the London School of Classical Dance, later known as the West Street School of Dance.

Graduating straight into employment, she enjoyed a lengthy and varied career, performing across the genres in theatres, movies and the commercial world of dance and choreography.

Some highlights include playing the Apàche dancer in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (UK tour) and Chee Chee in Doctor Dolittle (UK tour) as well as being a featured dancer in the Phantom of the Opera Movie and a soloist in the Souls in Motion European tour.

She has had the opportunity to work with some well-known choreographers: Luca Tomassini (Gerry Haliwell & Rachael Stevens), Lynne Page and Anthony Van Laast. In later years, she ventured down the choreographic route creating pieces for the Frank Skinner and Richard Blackwood shows among others.

Discovering a love for teaching along the way, Clare chose to re-train and graduated with distinction from the Royal Academy of Dance on their Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma. This brings with it registered RAD teacher status.

Since her graduation from the RAD, she has been teaching their ballet syllabi at all levels from Pre Primary up to Advanced One as well as free virtuoso classes and pointe work.

Clare has furthered her teacher training via the Anna Morgan College in Kent and has recently been awarded the ISTD Diploma in Dance Instruction (DDI) in Modern Theatre.

Sarah trained at the Bird College conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre. Her specialism is dance and movement-based work and her experience spans TV, film, audio drama, and theatre.

She has worked with Steven Spielberg on Ready Player One as a motion capture artist, was a cast regular on the popular BBC comedy Motherland and graced one of the most prestigious stages in the world at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

As a teacher Sarah brings confidence, enthusiasm and encourages her students to find the fun around the disciplines of performing.

Scott trained at Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance on the prestigious BA Actor-Musicianship course. He is a professional Music Director and specialises in acting through song.

Scott has worked across theatre, voiceover and film industries, his crlisten out for his voice as your friendly neighbourhood babybel! As an actor, he has worked across regional theatre, the West End and internationally, including in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe for the West End.

Claire trained at The Hammond School, Bird College and London School of Musical Theatre and teaches Dance, Acting and Musical Theatre across London.

Her professional debut was Our House – The Madness Musical in London, since then she has worked at Universal Studios Japan as a Harry Potter performer and singer and is a regular workshop performer for new musicals in development. Most recently Claire played the character of Jan in Grease alongside her role as Acting Co-Ordinator for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

.

Laura is our specialist London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) teacher. She trained at Marymount Manhattan College where she received her BA in Theatre Performance and holds a master’s degree in Staging Shakespeare from the University of Exeter.

Originally a professional actor and director, she now works across the worlds of theatre and education. She is the founding editor of theatre criticism site, The Play’s the Thing UK, a judge for the Off-West End Awards, dramaturg and a consultant for new plays in development. Laura is also a visiting lecturer for the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama where she is completing a PhD on embedded theatre criticism practice.