Sophie Huntley- Principal

(DDE BALLET, TAP, MODERN THEATRE)

Sophie Huntley trained at the highly regarded Deborah Lamb Theatre school from the age of 9, completing her ISTD vocational dance exams in Modern, Tap, Jazz and RAD examinations in Ballet. Whilst training, she had many performance opportunities in Professional Pantomimes in Eastbourne with Jordan Productions and Tunbridge Wells, Performances at West End Theatres with the “Young Performers Production” and “Mardi Gras Challenge”, on board the MSC Armonia cruise ship for five evening performances and many annual shows and festivals.

Following her completion of A Levels she then went on to study at Performers College in Essex on a 1 year foundation course. She studied a range of different dance styles and received training in acting and singing as well. After completing this course Sophie was accepted onto 4 different Musical Theatre courses at professional colleges. 

Choosing to pursue a teaching career Sophie is a full member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and has completed her Diploma in Dance Education for Modern Theatre, Tap and Imperial Ballet under the tuition of Deborah Lamb. Sophie has an enhanced DBS, safeguarding and first aid training.

She has over 14 years of freelance teaching experience, working at many local dance schools in the Sussex area teaching a variety of ages and abilities from 2 years- 18years.  She established SLH Dance Academy in September 2014 and has a passion for sharing her love of dance with the next generation. She strives to create a fun, nurturing and professional environment where pupils can flourish on their own dance journey. “Seeing pupils confidently grow as dancers and children throughout their years at SLH is a real privilege and seeing the joy dance can bring to pupils is what it’s all about for me”- Sophie

Sophie is very proud of all that SLH Dance Academy has achieved so far and the strong reputation it has gained in the Lewes area for providing inspiring and professional dance classes for children and young people. She is very excited to see what the future holds for SLH and to be part of many more children’s childhoods. 

Katie Fletcher

(Ballet and Pre-School Teacher)

Katie Fletcher trained at the Arts Educational School, Tring and Central School of Ballet, London before starting her professional career with the Northern Ballet Theatre. She enjoyed performing with the company under the directorship of Christopher Gable. Some of her favourite productions to perform were Romeo and Juliet, Simple Man, Cinderella and Christmas Carol. Having toured with the company for several years Katie progressed into musical theatre playing lead roles in the West End productions of Phantom of the Opera, Grease plus National Tours and fringe theatre. Katie is also a qualified Montessori Teacher and Child Counsellor. She has taught for various arts organizations within schools and theatre workshops. She currently teaches her own adult ballet classes alongside teaching children dance within dance schools in Brighton and Hove and is delighted to be a part of SLH Dance Academy!

Star Bray

(Musical Theatre teacher)

Star Bray trained at the Chichester Conservatoire, gaining a First BA Hons in Musical Theatre and an extra specialism in Arts Management.

After graduating 5 years ago, she opened her own singing school Starring Vocals, based at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne and resumed her senior teaching position at The Trapdoor Theatre School where she has taught for the last 11 years.

Star has worked on several creative and performance contracts in the south for companies such as Goat & Monkey and By The Sea Productions, whilst simultaneously choreographing and vocal coaching for local groups such as LOSMT, The Rattonians and The Hippodrome Youth Community Theatre.

Over the lockdowns, she achieved new qualifications in Vocal Health First Aid, Music Performance Anxiety and Makaton which have all been proving very useful when guiding children and young adults.

Star feels most at home when teaching and loves the variety and support she can give to the earlier stages of the Performing Arts world.

Having fallen in love with Lewes back in 2012 when she studied Performing Arts at Lewes 6th Form, she made home here at the beginning of 2022 and starting to work within this community is a dream come true.

Holly Bingham

(ISTD Modern and Tap Teacher)

Holly teaches our new Wednesday evening Modern and Tap classes. She first found her love for dance at Deborah Lamb Theatre Arts where she just so happened to be taught by Miss Sophie. She was able to take part in local pantomimes yearly and was given the opportunity to compete in festivals across the county.

After completing her A Levels, Holly then went on to train at London Studio Centre where she went on tour with the Jazz Company in her final year. Graduating with a degree in Theatre Dance she is now working towards her DDE qualification in modern passing on skills she has learnt in the many years of training. Along side this she also continues to per-sue a professional career as a performer.
“I love teaching! To see students gain the same experiences that I did is amazing and it’s great to know I am able to help encourage this!” – Holly

Lucy Allen

Maternity Cover teacher (Monday & Tuesdays)

Lucy found her love for dance at the age of 5, starting in Ballet, Tap and Modern and then progressing through the exams at her local school in Haywards Heath before moving to full time dance boarding school Stonelands at the age of 13.  At 16 she gained a place to study Dance at three prestigious colleges, and moved to Performers College in Essex on a three-year Dance Course.  After a year, she found passion for all things Musical Theatre and so transferred onto the Higher Education Course in MT.  It was during this time that she obtained all her teachers’ qualifications with the highly regarded ISTD.

Upon graduating, she worked professionally in various corporate jobs in London whilst teaching GCSE Dance and Vocational Dance (ballet, tap, modern, jazz) throughout schools and colleges in London and Kent for many years. She now has three children and spends some of her time coaching and preparing her son for West End auditions and jobs. She is also now a registered LAMDA drama teacher, adding another string to her boat!

Lucy is driven to get the very best out of every child and loves to help nurture and grow all her pupils confidence in a fun class environment. She is very much looking forward to joining the SLH team, using her years of experience and working with pupils of all ages!

Lydia Stewart-Parsons

Maternity Cover teacher (Tuesday Pre-School) & Social Media assistant

Lydia has grown up dancing; working her way through the ISTD syllabus to vocational grades in Ballet, Tap, Modern Theatre and Jazz as well as completing her DDE In Modern Theatre. Alongside this, she also trained at The Brit School For Performing Arts and Technology, were she explored other styles such as Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Commercial and Choreography gaining a UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dance before going on to receive a BA Hons in Dance from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). Furthermore, Lydia has worked with many successful choreographers such as Dean Lee, Gary Lloyd and Mark Dow. In addition, Lydia has performed alongside Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Motion House for The Eurovision Opening Ceremony, Cunard Naming of the Ship and danced at the One Young World Ceremony. Since graduating she has taken on various teaching roles across many schools in Sussex, sharing her passion and love for dance with the next generation of dancers of all ages.

Having once been taught by Sophie in her early years of dance training she is really excited to now be part of the SLH team and can’t wait to meet all the pupils! She is also a bit of a social media whizz and is looking forward to helping out with the social media for the school!

Jodie Lawson

ISTD Ballet, Tap & Modern Teacher

Jodie started dancing at the Alexandra Dance Academy in Brighton where she studied ISTD Ballet, Modern Theatre and Tap, taking her grades up to Advanced 1. She went on to study at Performers College, Essex where she gained a First Class degree in Musical Theatre. Alongside this professional training, she chose to take her Advanced 2 modern exam as well as her ISTD DDE teacher training in Ballet, Tap and Modern Theatre in order to aid her progression onto teaching in the future. 

Since graduating she has worked at Disneyland Paris as a parade performer and has spent the last 2 years working at Shanghai Disney Resort as a Face Character and Parade performer. She has also participated in professional classes with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company, learning repertoire from various shows.

Jodie has a real passion for teaching and has a wide range of experience teaching various styles for ages 4-18. She is very excited to be joining the SLH Dance Academy team and cannot wait to pass on her knowledge and passion for dance!

Lauren Woods

Saturday morning Ballet, Modern & Lyrical/Contemporary teacher

Lauren first found her love for dance and theatre throughout her childhood training at the Deborah Lamb Theatre Arts School & The Royal Ballet School. During this time she performed with the Royal Ballet Company in the Tales of Beatrix Potter & also made her west end debut in Billy Elliot The Musical as one of the ballet girls. She grew up training in ISTD Modern, Tap & Jazz and RAD Ballet grades achieving high level results in all genres.

 At 16 she decided to further her dance training and attended The Centre of Performing Arts College for three years graduating with a Diploma in Musical Theatre. Since graduating she has also achieved her ISTD Teaching Diploma in Modern Theatre and now teaches dance locally around Sussex.

She is now enjoying balancing dance teaching and being a Professional Performer. Her most recent work has taken her from Disneyland Paris as a parade performer to a 2 year contract with Universal Studios Japan. 

Having being taught by Sophie many, many years ago herself she is really happy to be back teaching at SLH Dance Academy after her latest performing contract! Her infectious energy and passion is sure to inspire the next generation of dancers! 

Want to be part of our hard working and friendly team that are passionate about all things dance and performing?

If this sounds like you then we would LOVE to chat further! Drop us an email on slhdanceacademy@hotmail.com if you are interested in working for SLH Dance Academy