TEACHERS
**************
Helen McNee
Principal of JAM
Hello, I'm Helen. Welcome to The Jam Academy.
I began my dance training at the age of three at Livingston Academy of Dance in the West Midlands. I trained there for thirteen brilliant years being taught by wonderful teachers who I owe lots to.
While I was there I passed all of my exams in Ballet, Tap and Modern (IDTA, ISTD and RAD), competed in many dance competitions around the UK and was West Midlands Ballet and Tap Champion. I also gained all of my Speech and Drama certificates from LAMDA.
At sixteen I moved to London to do the Musical Theatre Course at Arts Educational Schools and since leaving there I have appeared in musicals in the West End and around the UK.
Nowadays, I mainly do television. Lots of tv commercials!
You can find out more about my career at www.helenmcnee.com
I am a Lady Taverner (www.lordstaverners.org) and also support the
Royal Brompton & Harefield Charitable Fund, a charity very close to my "heart" as this hospital treats my daughter with such great care.
Before the birth of The Jam Academy I gained my teaching experience at numerous schools including Livingston Academy - where it all began.
All Cass and I want from JAM is for the children to go home happy.
Happy with the classes of course...
but more importantly, happy with themselves for giving it a go!
We look forward to meeting you x
****************************************************
Cass Hounslow
Principal of JAM
(words from Cass coming soon)
****************************************************
Lucy Peacock
(words and photo coming soon)
*********************************************************
Katie Stopher
It all started when Katie was taken to the West End at the age of 3 to see a pantomime, mesmerised, she had to be put back in her seat as she wanted to stand at the front and gaze at magical world on stage! Then the training began! Laine Theatre Arts was the port of call by the time she was 5 years old and when she left at 17, she had gained ISTD exams in ballet and jazz. And drama and musical theatre certificates. An HND in performing arts then onto her PGCE meant by the age of 23 she was fully qualified to teach post 16 performing arts. A run of 7 years at South Thames College building up the performing arts department followed and Katie left to go on maternity leave with a very well established department which had links to Arts Centres and Theatres across London. Special educational needs through the mediums drama, dance and music were also well identified by Katie and she supported many students, of who gained qualifications they didn't think they'd achieve. The power of the performing arts!!!
Performing was all Katie ever wanted to do, from that very first panto visit(!) and a few jobs were keeping her through college but she decided that, after a complicated injury, teaching was definitely her niche. Although she didn't get the buzz from performing, she felt an equal sense of achievement, if not a stronger one, through helping young people realise their potential.
Today, Katie is a Mummy to 2 beautiful and amazing children. She has always been passionate about performing arts and the impact it has on young people, their growth, development and communication skills. Adding strings to her bow, Katie teaches ballet to toddlers and young children at The Jam Academy, delivers fun, informative workshops for a local charity and after school clubs in Infant, Junior Schools and Sure Start Children's Centres for Pipsqueaks Music across the County. Oh, and at the weekends a children's party may be thrown in - phew - but oh so much fun!
It is all a juggling act, however, she has always wanted to experience the circus!'
******************************
Roz McLeod
Roz is a Performance Coach for people of all ages and stages! Since the age of 3, she started singing, dancing and drama at school and has hardly stopped since. Her singing career has incorporated working and performing with jazz musicians, recording artistes, jazz and swing bands all over the world, and this, armed with her teaching and coaching qualifications informs her work with children and adults now.
She set up Pipsqueaks in 2000 to provide children with a cheerful, informal and relaxed introduction to music through having a good time, and classes have been running successfully ever since all over Surrey. Pipsqueaks parties are also popular for children aged 2 and over and the Pipsqueaks teachers (of which there are now 3!) can be found zipping all over London and Surrey at Christmas running countless parties for children in schools, nurseries, playgroups and so on … they’re almost as busy as Santa himself!
She is also a Vocal Coach working with singers on a 1:1 basis aged 10 and over and adults – the Student Showcase held at the Epsom Playhouse is not to be missed, as all her students (and sometimes Roz herself) have the chance to get up and perform to an audience at the end of every term – it’s a wonderful experience! (For info on this, drop her an e-mail to rozmcleodvocals@btinternet.com).
Roz is also a Life Coach, Teen Coach, Speaker and Trainer and in 2005, she set up her own training and coaching company, Tall Poppy Training & Coaching. She works with individual clients, speaks at national events as requested and also in schools at each end of the social spectrum with teenagers supporting them in building their self-esteem and making wise life choices – this often incorporates some singing, too! (www.tallpoppytrainingandcoaching.com)
And she is also a Sing-Up trainer working with teachers in schools in Surrey to get more singing into schools – it’s all go!
Roz is delighted to be working with the Jam Academy spreading the performing word and working with children in building their positivity and confidence!
******************************
Chloe Buswell
Guest Teacher
Chloe is an accomplished actress, singer, musician & song-writer who graduated from Arts Educational Schools in July 1994 where she was a member of the Arts Educational School’s Chamber Choir which was a winner of the Sainsbury’s CHOIR OF THE YEAR. With them she did a tour of Italy, appeared on FRIDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC NIGHT on BBC Radio 2 and at a concert in Westminster Abbey. She has also appeared in a production of TRIAL BY JURY at the 1993 Covent Garden Festival directed by John Gardyne.
On leaving college Chloe has appeared in numerous theatre and television productions ranging from Steven Sondheim's 'Into The Woods' to Yorkshire Television's 'A Touch of Frost'.
Chloe is also a backing singer for the Elio Pace Band, and has appeared on his 'Come And Get It' & 'A Seat At My Table' albums, a song on the Children In Need 'Bandaged Together' album called 'Confidence' and for Albert Lee’s album 'Like This'.
Chloe will be the backing vocalist, with Elio Pace for the new BBC RADIO 2 live show 'Weekend Wogan' every Sunday from Feb 14th, 2010.
She is also a company director of 'Big Hair', a trio that perform songs from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
www.bighair.biz
****************************************************
Melissa Osborn RAD RTS Teaching Cert
Founder and original Principal of Elite Academy
(now JAM)
Guest Teacher
Melissa trained professionally in all areas of theatre and graduated with Distinction in her teaching Examinations of R.A.D ballet and I.S.T.D. modern. She was fortunate to train with and subsequently work professionally with some of Great Britain’s top choreographers for a number of years, taking on principal dancer and title roles in a variety of shows.
Melissa always had a desire to teach dance and spent a number of years teaching in local dance schools and Infant and Primary schools in Surrey before fulfilling her life-long dream of opening her own school in July 2007.
Melissa now lives in Plymouth but is delighted to remain a guest teacher for the Academy.
****************************************************
Upated on 1ST NOVEMBER 2011© thejamacademy2010