The Faculty

Jess, originally from Ipswich, UK, trained in dancing from the age of 2 before graduating from Bird College in 2002 with a First Class Hons Degree. After pursuing a very successful career as a professional dancer, performing in London's West End, touring the world with the famous Irish Dance show Spirit of the Dance, and travelling to all seven continents while performing on luxury cruise ships, she now resides back in her home town to pass on her passion and years of performing experience to her students.

Jess is qualified as BA (Hons) ISTD DDI. Following her successful professional career, she went on to complete her ISTD qualifications with Penny Meekings at The College. She is continuing her personal and professional development by studying for the ISTD level 6 diploma in Dance Pedagogy.

Cheryl made her professional debut at 12 years old after successfully auditioning for a British premier play and she was hooked to a life within the Performing Arts!
Cheryl has worked as a professional performer, choreographer, vocalist, dancer, tutor and Performing Arts teacher throughout her career and is thrilled to be joining us.
Credits include - National musical tours - lead production vocalist and dancer, recording artiste - backing vocalist, Theatre in education tours - actor/performer.
Backing vocalist for artists including The BeeGees, Ronan Keating,  PP Arnold, Joe Longthorne and Ethan Ash.
Cheryl spent many years travelling the world onboard luxury cruise ships as part of the Entertainments team performing to guests in the wonderful theatres onboard. Cheryl was lead vocalist, dancer, vocal coach and show captain.
Cheryl has recently been involved with an Independent film which is due to be released soon.
Cheryl also has a wealth of teaching experience, she has worked at Stagecoach Chelmsford, Bury St Edmunds and Felixstowe as the Singing coach. Cheryl is  also a very experienced LAMDA tutor, teaching acting and Musical Theatre at Stagecoach Bury St Edmunds and The CTC, she has also been a peripatetic LAMDA teacher at various Independent schools in the county and as a private acting and singing tutor.
Cheryl is also a teacher of Performing Arts at St Joseph's College in Ipswich 

Cheryl teaches Musical Theatre on Saturdays. 

Elise studied at Bird College where she got a degree in musical theatre and dance. She recently finished a panto in London where she  played the role of the Scarecrow in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She also performed at Wherstead Park in Ipswich performing in a Moulin Rouge and Gatsby show! She's excited to be joining the team for this term teaching Tuesday evening and she's looking forward to meeting you all! 

Brighid started her dancing locally at the age of 7 years old and quickly found the passion to be more than a hobby moving onto 9 classes a week. Including a range of dance styles; ballet, street, tap, disco, jazz, lyrical etc. Deciding to take her love for performing arts to the next level she went onto train at Bodyworks Company Cambridge straight from school, to graduate at the young age of 19. Whilst at Bodywork, she majored in Musical Theatre and focused on all aspects of the industry. 

Following on from this she has continued to work professionally within the industry and found a love for teaching alongside. Since the beginning of 2019, Brighid, has been living between England and the Middle East expanding her skills and progressing into the fitness industry. During her time back in the Uk she is undertaking her Pilates teaching qualification from the London Pilates Academy and will be joining us to teach a mixture of classes. 

Teri is currently teaching a senior jazz class at a dance school in Bury St Edmund’s and private lessons for JASD. As well as having taught Acro and lyrical/contemporary she has previous experience as a professional dancer working on Marella cruises as well as Sea cruise UK. She trained for 3 years in Edinburgh at MGA academy of performing arts before perusing my professional career. Teri also has a background in elite gymnastics which has come in use for teaching Acro.

David Bridges began his training, aged eight, at the Star Studios of Performing Arts before being accepted, with a scholarship, to attend Tiffany Theatre College. Whilst training, David gained his ISTD Associates (Hons) aged just 17, one of the youngest in the country at the time. He graduated in 2005 as Head Boy. David has performed both on stage and screen, in the West End and on UK and International tours. When not performing or choreographing he teaches at many of the country’s leading professional theatre colleges and schools, including Urdang Academy, Tiffany Theatre College and Emil Dale Academy.
Click here to see David's professional credits.

Suzie trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and has worked professionally in the West End, around the UK and in Europe, in successful shows including Oliver at the London Palladium, Les Miserables, The Rocky Horror Show, Fame and Boogie Nights. She has had the privilege of working with people such as Minnie Driver, Franco Zefferelli, Russ Abbott, Robbie Williams and many more, and has enjoyed excellent opportunities working in both film and television, and on stage. She was the voice of Barbie for many years.

Suzie has been choreographing shows for many years, and now choreographs and teaches for companies in Suffolk, Essex, East Sussex and London. She has spent the past year juggling choreography work and teaching, as well as becoming a mum to her precious bundle of joy, Mila.

Lucy Mellamphy has recently joined the JASD teaching faculty, and will be choreographing for the summer show. Lucy is excited to be returning to teach tap for Jessica Ann School of Dancing, having formerly been a student at Stacey Pepper Dance Academy. She went on to train with Tap Attack as part of the Midlands Team, giving her the opportunity to learn from some great tappers such as Adam Garcia, Avalon Rathgeb and the Syncopated Ladies.

Lucy has recently choreographed for the Co-op Juniors Christmas Spectacular The Nutcracker and is looking forward to getting back to class and hopefully seeing some familiar faces.