Teachers
Our school is staffed by highly dedicated and experienced teachers. A brief biography accompanies each photgraph below.
Miss Miranda Beard
As well as training to become a teacher I also enjoyed a successful professional career. My first summer season was based in the Isle of Wight with Jimmy Tarbuck under leading choreographer Phil Winston. The second summer season (also the Isle of Wight) as Head Girl was with Les Dennis, choreographer Jan Lynton. The third summer season on the Isle of Man was as choreographer for stars Jimmy Cricket, Stan Boardman and Sonia. I also danced at Bristol Hippodrome with Max Bygraves. I was also joint owner/choreographer to a dance troupe called ‘Split Level’ whose credits include numerous shows for ITV and the BBC and numerous one night performances with various artists. As Miss Short grew closer to retirement, the school only offered Ballet and Tap. I introduced Modern and Jazz back onto the timetable which has grown with popularity over the years. In 1990 I took over the Stapleton School of Dancing (SSD) from Miss Short. Between 1990 and 2003 I continued my teacher training under Miss J Hockaday, gaining my four Associates in Ballet, Modern, Tap and National. I built upon these foundations by attaining my Associate Diploma, Licentiate and Licentiate Diplomas in Ballet, Modern and Tap. I then went on to achieve my Fellowships in Modern and Tap, which is the highest qualification awarded by the ISTD of which only the very few gain. |
Miss Samantha Axford
Upon completing her three year Performance course, Miss Sam achieved a Level 6 NQF in Professional Musical Theatre. She also worked to continue her ISTD qualifications in preparation for her teaching career and gained her Advanced 2 Tap, Advanced 1 Modern and Intermediate Ballet as well as her F.D.I. teaching qualifications in Modern, Tap and Ballet. Miss Sam then embarked upon her varied and successful performance career by joining the Jean Ann Ryan Production Company, a leading name in cruise ship entertainment. This took Miss Sam all over the world and gave her the chance to work with an extensive range of people, including Liz Imperio (Choreographer to Madonna/Jessica Simpson), Michiko Wilson (an ex-Rockette), one of the lead choreographers and performers of Tap Dogs, and a trained Geisha! It also gave her the opportunity to learn aerial skills, poi work, roller skating, scuba diving, white water rafting and even try bungee jumping! Within the Jean Ann Ryan Production Company Miss Sam worked her way up from original cast member on the Norwegian Pearl to Dance Captain on P&O Arcadia, allowing her to gain managerial and choreographic experience. Miss Sam has also worked for Showstoppers Worldwide, under the direction of Paul Walsh (original Choreographer for Take That), performing in various casinos across Europe as a company member and soloist artist. Shorter contracts include a summer dancing across Turkey and a Christmas contract in Birmingham performing a ‘Swinging Sixties’ show. In her spare time Miss Sam continued teaching and had the privilege of working at Stella Mann Lower School, Bedford; Sylvia Bebb School of Ballet and Theatre Arts, Bedford; Cork Art Studio, Cork, Ireland; Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance (founder of Irish National Ballet) Cork, Ireland and periodically returned home to teach at Stapleton School of Dancing. Miss Sam joined Stapleton School of Dancing full time when she entered into partnership with Miranda Beard in April 2009 and is enjoying developing her managerial and teaching skills. Miss Sam is also currently studying for further professional and teaching qualifications in ISTD Modern, Tap, National and Ballet under the direction of Judith Hockaday, and RAD Ballet through distance learning. |
Miss Rachael Brierley
Rachael has performed as part of a touring company in the North West of England and more recently has appeared on Disney Channel UK’s High School Musical - Make It Happen as a professional dancer. However Rachael’s passion for Classical Ballet lies in teaching this art form. Rachael has also choreographed for a variety of events, in particular for charity gala’s. Rachael’s most recent and exciting adventure is the setting up of the RAD system at a prestigious performing arts school in North Carolina, USA. Rachael is currently teaching in the Bristol area and also delivers festival and examination coaching in London, where she also still takes class - the pointe shoes are not to be hung up just yet! |
Miss Emily Dart
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Miss Julie Henderson
She was dance captain to Stephen Mear and played Lucy the Banjo girl in "Half a Sixpence" at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, directed by Jude Kelly, and "Pickwick" choreographed by Gillian Lynne and starring Harry Secombe. Julie cruised all over the world withThe P&O Cruises Stadium Theatre Company from '91-94', where her credits include "My Fair Lady", "Buddy", Nancy in "The Boyfriend" and Gertie Cummings in "Oklahoma". She has danced in Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Tokyo, and spent much of her early career as a hair and fashion model, touring the UK and Europe for companies such as L'Oreal, Redken, Reebok, Puma, Ballantines Whiskey and car launches for VW Passat and Beetle. She has also appeared in pop videos and TV appearances include The Royal Variety Performance, The Biz, Talking Telephone Numbers, This Morning. Julie has worked as a performer and choreographer for Cheltenham’s Focus theatre for 5 years, working on a variety of musicals, plays and cabarets at Cheltenham’s Playhouse Theatre, and was choreographer for Blue Parrot production’s “The Witches of Eastwick” at The Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham. Julie recently obtained her FDI teaching qualifications in Modern and Tap and is a teacher on the Performing Arts degree course at Gloucestershire University. She has recently taught at Janet Marshall’s summer school and runs her own classes in Chalford, as well as singing a local band. Julie is a very proud mum to Holly and Daisy and is very happy to be part of Miranda’s fantastic school. |
Miss Ruth Lewis
On receipt of her teacher training diploma from the Royal Ballet School, Ruth began an extensive career of teaching and choreography firstly in Hampshire but mostly in Bristol and the South West. Specialising mainly in Classical Ballet and national dance, Ruth now concentrates on the vocational training of local dancers aged 10 years and upwards. The development of artistic as well as technical potential of the individual has always been her main focus. As Artistic Director of Bristol Youth Ballet Company for 10 years, she worked with talented young dancers from all over the South West. Here she created many original works, including the ‘Snowman’ which was performed on children’s television and her famous ‘Cardboard City’ - a day in the life of the homeless, performed to a musical score of songs by The Beatles. Ruth has choreographed for many professional shows and her work is well known at both local and national dance festivals. Ruth has choreographed for many professional shows and her work is well known at both local and national dance festivals. As Artistic Director of Bristol Youth Ballet Company for 10 years, she worked with talented young dancers from all over the South West. Here she created many original works, including ‘The Snowman’ which was performed on Children’s Television and her famous ‘Cardboard City’ - aday in the life of the homeless, which was performed to a musical score of songs by The Beatles. Ruth joined Stapleton School of Dancing in 2009 and teaches within the Senior School. Specialising mainly in Classical Ballet and National Dance, Ruth concentrates on the vocational training (Major examinations) of dancers aged ten years and upwards. Development of the artistic flair, as well as the technical potential of the individual has always been her main focus. |
Miss Kerri O'Mahony
Miss Kerri has danced in many pantomimes and shows including Cinderella with the Bristol Youth Ballet. At 14 Miss Kerri started assisting in dance classes and went on to train at Bristol College of Dancing where she gained F.D.I and C.D.E. teaching qualifications. For the past couple of years Miss Kerri has enjoyed teaching for Stapleton School of Dancing as well as others in Weston, Cheltenham, Cheddar and Downend, providing Miss Kerri the opportunity to develop her choreography skills with competition entrants and college shows. |
Miss Emma Sage
Her dancing career flourished both UK and abroad, working with top choreographers Linda Crockett and Arlene Philips. Emma’s roots brought her back to Bristol, teaching freelance around the Southwest and she became Ballet Mistress of Bristol Youth Ballet under Artistic Director, Ruth Lewis. Emma became owner and principal of the Annette Adams school of Dancing, in 1995. Outside of the day to day teaching Emma also arranged, directed and choreographed Bi annual school productions. Such of the calibre of students taught at the school many have gone onto Vocational dance schools, and professional dancing and teaching careers, UK and abroad. |
Miss Emma Tobitt
Having gained her teaching qualifications, Miss Emma T danced professionally for the Daniel Dean Illusion Show as Head Assistant, also choreographing the dance routines for the large stage show. After 3 years Miss Emma T decided to go back to teaching gradually building up part time work until 2004 when she had sufficient teaching duties to allow her to leave her office job. Miss Emma T now teaches full time, freelance for various dance schools and organisations. Her role in Stapleton School of Dancing is to choreograph and rehearse routines for the many dance festivals and Eisteddfods throughout the year. Stapleton School of Dancing has been very successful in competitions, gaining many medals and providing dancers the opportunity to perform to an audience. Miss Emma T covered Miss Miranda’s maternity leave on Thursdays at Minchinhampton for a period of 18 months, teaching Baby Ballet through to Grade 5. Miss Emma T is also a professional singer, performing in theatres across the country in the Number Ones Show. She also sings with a 14 piece funk and soul party band called ‘Bring Down the House’. Miss Emma T has found this experience vital to aid young people to develop their own performance skills. |
My dance tuition began at Stapleton School of Dancing under Miss Short, who founded the school in 1942. Miss Short had a large dance school producing many successful dancers and teachers. I continued my training at Bristol College of Dancing where I achieved my RAD Teacher Certificate with Distinction. 
Miss Sam started dancing with Stapleton School of Dancing at age 3. Through the school she took part in numerous examinations, shows, demonstrations and festivals which all worked to prepare her for a career in dance. At 18 she left Stapleton to attend full time training at Stella Mann College in Bedford, under the direction of Mary Breen. While at the college Miss Sam was taught by numerous West End performers and choreographers as well as examiners M Shea and E Keunen. 
Rachael began her dance training in Manchester at the age of 15 studying a variety of genres, before focusing her attention to the art of teaching Classical Ballet, at the Royal Academy of Dance, London. Here Rachael trained under many well respected RAD examiners and ex-professional dancers, gaining her BA (Hons) Ballet Education and her RAD RTS. 
Emily has been dancing since the age of three, starting her classes at the Maria Barinowsky School of Ballet in her home town of Caerphilly, South Wales. She began her full time professional training at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in London from 2004-2007. During her time at the Academy Emily completed the BA (Hons) in Ballet Education course as well as the Licentiate course modules. Whilst at the Academy Emily’s work led her to teach students on CandoCo’s Foundation Course in Dance for Disabled Students, the first of its kind in the world. She has gained performing experience in ballet, contemporary, jazz, postmodernism and early dance. Since graduating Emily has taught Graded and Vocational RAD ballet in Ireland, preparing students for exams, shows and National Dance competitions. Emily is keen on continuing her professional development, currently undertaking studies to complete her Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) qualifications. She is also currently teaching GCSE dance in schools and colleges within South Wales. 
Julie has worked as a professional dancer and singer for the past 21 years. She trained at The South East Theatre School. West End and touring theatre credits include, original cast of "Mack & Mabel" at the Picadilly Theatre and at the Leicester Haymarket, "West Side Story" at The Prince of Wales Theatre, "Grease" choreographed by Arlene Philips, playing the part of "Cha Cha" both in the West End (Victoria Palace Theatre) and on the UK tour '96-98', the original cast of the UK tour of "Sunset Boulevard" choreographed by the infamous Peter Darling, where she also met her lighting designer husband Mark.
Ruth trained at the Arts Educational School, Tring Park, and the Royal Ballet Upper School. She became a professional dancer at eighteen, performing with Stuttgart Ballet Company, Ivor Meggido’s Jazz Group and on various television shows including Second Generation. 
Miss Kerri started dancing Ballet at the age of 3, progressing to Tap, Modern, Jazz and Irish by the age of 5. Miss Kerri has entered many competitions around the country and Irish Feis, reaching the England finals at Sadler’s Wells.
Having trained for 3 years at the Hammond Ballet school, Chester. Emma Sage graduated with distinction in 1993, with teaching qualifications from the Royal Academy of Dancing and Imperial Society of Dancing.
Miss Emma T started dancing at the age of 14 with Tina Kelly. She went on to study at Bristol College of Dancing with Denny Wide and was taught by Miss Miranda Beard during this time.