Proprietor & Contemporary Teacher: Lucy Thynne

Lucy Thynne
BA (Hons) Dance, ISTD Contemporary Affiliate

Lucy is a freelance dance artist. She holds an honours degree in Dance and her training and technical background are in classical ballet and contemporary modern technique. Lucy has been dancing since she was tiny and teaching full time since 2008.

She taught secondary dance – KS3, GCSE and A Level for 9 years. And still offers satellite sessions in schools to support education in choreographic methods, contemporary technique, and physical theatre training.

As a choreographer and performer, Lucy was a founder member of Third Stage Dance Company, based in The South West.
Her company, Elm Dance focuses on Dance in Education for children & adults of all ages, abilities and special educational needs. Her work develops students to be unique performers & choreographers.

Lucy is also a Partner Dance instructor, and enjoys delivering styles such as Charleston, Lindy Hop and Salsa at events and fundraisers.

She is continually expanding her experience in other world dances and movement styles to develop her work. Most recently studying Chinese Martial Arts, Yoga and touring the UK with a Middle-Eastern Dance Company in 2016 and 2018.

Lucy was thrilled to become Principal Teacher and Proprietor of PBS Dance in 2020.

Patron & Ballet Teacher: Sally-Ann Hill

Sally-Ann Hill
RAD Teaching Cert, ISTD Associate Diploma – Modern Theatre, AIDTA, RSA – Exercise to
music

Sally was the Founder and is now Patron of PBS Dance/Pound Ballet Studio.
Sally firstly studied dance full-time at the Hammond School in Chester and then Rambert at the
Place in London. Rambert split into the Central School of Ballet and The Rambert Contemporary
Dance School and Sally chose to stay at Central where she was taught by some experienced
teachers including Brigitte Kelly, Carole & Christopher Gable and Morwenna Bowen.

Sally danced commercially with a small Paris based company that enabled her to travel to some
European countries, the Middle East, and Far East. After 5 years of dancing and travelling she
settled in Japan to study Japanese and taught English as a foreign language, aerobics, and ballet
in Tokyo and then on the island of Ishigaki in Okinawa, Japan.

In 2000, after having settled in Corsham with her partner and two children Sally created Pound
Ballet Studio with 1 class of 11 enthusiastic young students. Since the refurbishment of the Arts
Centre, the School has gone from strength to strength with up to 400 students learning and taking
exams in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary & Tap, performing in Shows, in Choreography competitions
and attending the very popular Summer Schools.

Sally retired from being the proprietor of Pound Ballet
Studio in December 2019 and took a break from teaching ballet but restarted in September 2021 where
she continues to work for Lucy Thynne at PBS Dance.
Sally loves many dance genres, reading, cooking and socialising.

Ballet & Tap Teacher: Nikki Purkess

Nikki Purkess
RAD RTS, ISTD Associate Diploma, AIDTA

Nikki is a fully qualified dance teacher of ISTD Ballet, Tap & Modern. She has been teaching since 1985 and successfully ran her own dancing school in Hertfordshire before moving to Wiltshire.

For many years, Nikki danced professionally as part of a dance group. She went on to become director and choreographer of the group whilst continuing to enjoy performing with them. She has taught in several schools including 14 years at the Malmesbury School of Dance and also at The Royal Masonic School, Rickmansworth.

As well as teaching at the Pound Arts Centre in Corsham, Nikki currently runs a Dance Club at St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Malmesbury and has two teenage boys, which also keeps her on her toes!

Ballet Teacher: Emma Macdonald

Emma Macdonald. ARAD CBTS BSc/MSc

Emma started ballet at her local ballet school (Sylvia Bebb’s School of Ballet) in Bedfordshire. Age 16 she made the difficult decision between her love of science and love of dance to pursue a career in dancing. She trained at Ballet Rambert, meeting wonderful teachers such as Clover Roope, Therese Cantine and Hazel Merry.

Aged 18 she entered into a professional dancing career, dancing with the small ballet companies Vienna Ballet Theatre (playing Clara in the Nutcracker) and Alexander Roy Ballet (dancing numerous roles).
In 1989 she was fortunate to join Scottish Ballet under the directorship of Nannete Glushak; here her love of Balanchine began where she had wonderful opportunities of dancing principle and soloist roles such as Scots girl in Scotch symphony, Red girl in ‘Who cares’ and soloist in Concerto Barocco. The diversity of the company also enabled her to undertake roles in other dance genres such as red couple in Forgotten land (Juri Kilian), Pas de trois and cygnets in Swan Lake (Peter Darol), Raymonda solo (staged by Galina Samsova).

In 1994 she moved with her husband to the English National Ballet company under the directorship of Derek Deane. Here she was again lucky to encounter several genres of dancing, such as Makarova’s staging of Swan Lake (dancing cygnets and the Neopolitan duet), Graduation Ball (David Lichine, dancing lead girl) and Symphonic dances (Mauro Bigonzetti).

Retiring from Dancing in 1996, Emma felt it was time to pursue her love of science she was fortunate to be able to study and gain a first class honours degree in Human Biochemistry, Biomedical Diploma and Msc in Clinical Chemistry. Emma currently works part time as a senior biomedical scientist at the RUH Bath.

For the past nine years Emma has choreographed and taught dances to pupils of Shoscombe C of E Primary School for numerous school productions and the annual Dance Umbrella in Bath. For the past year Emma has been teaching and coaching RAD ballet in Andover, something she said was, ‘like coming home’. Emma has been part of the PBS Team since 2018.

Ballet Teacher: John Macdonald

John started ballet at the age of 5 as it was more fun joining in than waiting for his sisters to finish their lessons. At the age of 12 John began training at the Hammond school in Chester where, alongside ballet he learned tap, modern, and supported adage (early partnering work). At the age of 16 John earned a place at the Royal Ballet School. During his third year, he performed with The Royal Ballet, The Kirov Ballet and The Australian Ballet.
Upon graduation, John successfully auditioned for the Scottish Ballet (1989). Whilst with the company John performed many roles including the Bluebird (Sleeping Beauty), Pas de Trois (Swan Lake), The Lover (Lilac Garden), King Fool (Romeo and Juliet) and The Birds (Cinderella).
In 1994 John moved with his wife to London joining the English National Ballet under the directorship of Derek Deane. Here he had the chance to work with various choreographers including: Derek Deane (Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, The Nutcracker), Michael Corder (Cinderella), Christopher Hampson (Irish Tune) and Christopher Deane the ice skater, who created his first ballet (Encounters) for the company. English National Ballet has a large and ever changing repertoire of ballets incorporating many different styles of dance. The number of performances that the company makes, particularly over the Christmas season, means that dancers have to learn many different roles leaving their dancers with a wealth of experience. John gave his last performance as a professional dancer in 2002.
After retiring John was lucky enough to be a stay at home dad to his two wonderful children. In 2011 John gained a degree in Biology and Education followed by a PGCE and now works in a small primary school, where he is enjoying his 5th year as the Key Stage 2 teacher. John’s interest in teaching dance began at his children’s primary school where he helped to coach pupils for various dance performances. John regularly assists a former English National Ballet dancer at her school in Hampshire and was delighted to join the Pound Ballet Team in Summer 2019.

Teaching Assistants

Isobel has completed all of her Tap Grades and continues her training in Contemporary dance. She is currently studying for her Psychology degree. She is a Teaching Assistant in a local Primary school and has special skills and passion for helping SEND students.

Milly is a graduate of Advanced 1 & Grade 8 Ballet and continues to train in Ballet for fun, alongside building her experience assisting our young dancers who are so inspired by her experience.

Molly is working on Grade 6 Tap, Intermediate Contemporary and Grade 7 Ballet, as well as her A-Level Studies.

Amelia is working on Grade 6 Tap, Intermediate Contemporary and Grade 7 Ballet, as well as her A-Level Studies.

Molly is trains at Advanced standard having achieved Grade 8 in Ballet. She is studying Intermediate Contemporary Dance whilst working on her Art Foundation qualification.

Harriet has completed all of her Tap & Ballet Grades and trains at Advanced standard in Ballet and Intermediate Contemporary whilst studying for her Music degree.

Lisa is an experienced theatrical performer and is expanding her training with us in Ballet (having completed Grade 8 with us) and trains in Contemporary Dance. She is very experienced with youngsters and sends her daughter to us for training in all genres too!

Regular Guest & Cover Teacher: Sarah Gilmartin

Sarah Gilmartin BA(Hons) Art and Teaching of Ballet, LRAD, AISTD Modern, PG Cert Choreography and Contemporary Dance, PG Dip Dance Movement Psychotherapy.

Sarah left Ireland at 16 to train at the Dorothy Stevens School of Ballet before attending the Royal Academy of Dance in London and then London Contemporary Dance School achieving all RAD and ISTD Advanced examinations in Ballet, National and Modern Dance as well as studying Royal Courts, Contemporary and Choreography.

Sarah taught Ballet and Modern Dance in schools across London and Surrey including at the RAD headquarters in Battersea. Touring life took over first as a dancer and later a lighting designer and technical manager, which took her all over the world.

Sarah moved into dance management after getting married and settling in Surrey. Passionate about enabling people to participate in dance, she continued working as a teacher, artist, local authority arts officer and producer. Sarah managed and delivered sessions, courses, festivals and projects in a range of settings as well as training and mentoring programmes for artists. She founded iID and Surrey Dance Collective who receive Arts Council England funding for training, commissioning and festival work.

Sarah relocated to Wiltshire in 2016 and has most recently been focusing on developing dance and other arts for health opportunities particularly for older people and people with dementia. Sarah currently works: in Bath hospitals as a DMP (completing her MA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy); in care homes and day-centres with her Creative Lunch project; as a producer for Anjali Dance Company on their 2018 International tour; and with artists across the South West to form the Open Arms Artists Collective.

Sarah is delighted to be returning to her teaching roots by becoming part of the Pound Ballet Studio team.

Regular Guest & Cover Teachers: Emma Drewett & Harriet Symon

Emma Drewett RAD RTS is an experienced, enthusiastic teacher who is dedicated to passing on her passion and skills to others. Emma has a good understanding of dance as she has loved dancing since aged three, studying Ballet, Jazz and Modern dance at advanced levels.

Emma auditioned for several dance schools and accepted an offer into the Northern Ballet School. Emma started their three year performer’s course. After realising that she truly wanted to pass on her passion and skills to others by teaching dance, she enrolled on the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies Course at the Royal Academy of Dance in London and graduated in November 2010.

In 2012 Emma founded and ran her own dance school, Dance4Life which specialised in offering tuition in ballet (to children and adults) and modern. In the same year Emma became a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor and in 2015 achieved her Diploma in Dance Teaching Instruction in Modern Theatre Dance. Moving to the Southwest in 2017, Emma is continuing to teach and is passionate about supporting the arts in the local community.

Harriet began dancing at the age of 3, working her way up through her ballet, modern, and tap exams. Harriet went on to study at London studio centre, from 1998- 2001. There, she gained more experience in all dance genres, acting and musical theatre as well as gaining a BA Hons in theatre dance.

After leaving college, and sustaining an ankle injury, Harriet pursued a career in theatre and television in London, with her credits including theatre productions, voice over work, presenting and a more long term contract on the channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.
To supplement her income, Harriet also worked at a local dance school, teaching, ballet, jazz and street dance to children of all ages. Around this time she sparked an interest in yoga as a discipline that would help support her body and mind.

After deciding that the world of performance was no longer for her, and in a bid to tend to her physical and mental well-being, Harriet moved away from life in London, and went to live in an Ashram, to train as a Yoga teacher. 20 years later, Harriet is still teaching Yoga, with a particular interest and specialism in the world of pregnancy and birth. She also runs antenatal courses, and works as a Doula supporting families during the birth of their
babies. Harriet also has a love of cold water swimming and regularly runs yoga and wild swimming retreats in the local area.

Harriet is delighted that after a break from the world of dance, she has been able to reignite her love and passion for it, whilst attending contemporary classes with Lucy at PBS. This, along with her extensive knowledge and understanding of the body through her practice of Yoga, means that she is phenomenally excited to be part of the team!

Regular Guest & Cover Teacher: Becky Neale

Becky is a freelance dancer and teacher. She joined PBS in 2022 to instruct in Tap and Commercial styles as well as a cover teacher.

Becky started dancing from a young age and trained initially in Ballet, Tap and Modern.

She went on to train full time at the age of 17 at Swindon dance, followed by The Judith Hockaday school of Dance and Drama passing all ISTD exams in Classical Ballet, Tap, Modern and National Dance finishing at Advanced 2 level.
Here, Becky also gained her foundation in Dance Instruction in Ballet, Tap and Modern coinciding in Health and Safety in the workplace and Child lifespan.

Becky spent the next few years performing Caberets throughout the UK, alongside teaching ISTD Ballet and Tap at local dance schools in Wiltshire.

Becky wanted to study and train in new genres of dance. After having spent some time in Cuba, she found a passion through Latin dance.
Here she trained in the genres of Cuban Salsa, Cross Body Salsa, Bachata , Kizomba and Bachatango.
Becky went on to perform and choreograph at Latin events across the UK and was lucky enough to take this further working in Dubai, Spain and Germany.

Becky enjoys spending time with her family and friends and is kept very busy with her 4 young children!

Becky still enjoys performing and is also part of a Dance and burlesque troupe in Bristol.

Dancers in Residence: Dan Baines & Ellie McDonald

Dan joined the team in 2021 and will be working with our dancers to offer them variety in dance styles and insight into the professional world of Dance.

Dan Baines began dancing at the age of 7 at Minety Dance Theatre School where he found a passion for Breaking. He continued training in HipHop whilst attending Malmesbury School and the CAT Scheme at Swindon Dance before moving to London in 2017.

He graduated from Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance with a First Class BA Hons in 2020. During his time at Rambert School he worked with numerous world renowned choreographers such as Matthew Bourne, Christopher Bruce and Akram Khan. In his third year of training he joined BalletBoyz as the apprentice dancer. He has returned to Ballet Boyz for recent works.

Dan describes himself as a verstile, athletic and technical artist who has a strong energy and presence. He has a unique movement language and enjoys dancing to complex musical scores. He also finds endless enjoyment in creating movement through improvisation, especially with floor work.

=

Ellie is an ex-pupil of PBS dance and first class graduate of The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA)

Ellie’s trained in a variety of genres of dancing including Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Commercial styles including Voguing and Hip-Hop as well as Musical Theatre skills such as singing and acting.
During her time at LIPA, Ellie has had the opportunity to learn from many leading industry professionals including casts of Cabaret, Hamilton, Bring it On, West Side Story, Fame, Cats and Mamma Mia as well as companies such as Mathew Bourne’s New Adventures and leading Hip-Hop Company Boy Blue Entertainment among many more.
Ellie is currently an apprentice at Ballet Cymru.

Ellie has always been a fabulous inspiration to younger students and we were pleased to welcome her back, as part of the team in 2021.

Admin Support, Cover Teaching, Accompaniment: Claire Tryner & Julia Andrews

Claire started dancing as a young girl taking exams in Ballet, Tap and Modern along side studying contemporary dance as part of GCSE and A Level. She has an honours degree in Dance and a PGCE in Secondary Dance. Claire taught dance at Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level in three secondary schools between 2001 and 2019.

Claire’s connection with PBS started when she attended the adult contemporary class from 2009, finding at this point that PBS was run by Sally who had taught her as a teenager! This developed into her becoming part of the teaching team from the first summer school in 2011 and performing in many PBS shows.

Claire is also a keen seamstress so has happily helped with costumes for shows and summer schools over the years. Claire is delighted to continue to be part of the PBS team.

Julia joined the PBS team in January 2020 to provide some support behind the scenes. She is also a hugely experienced piano teacher and accompanist; you may well see her smiling face peeking out from behind the piano at exam sessions and rehearsals.

Teaching Consultant & Special Guest: Gillian Money-Kyrle

Gillian Money-Kyrle
Dip RBS TTC, ARAD, RTS, RAD Examiner, Benesh Teaching Certificate