Our Teachers
Ellen Hillman
Contemporary, Private lessons
Ellen has previously trained at Briar Dance Academy and The Centre for Advanced Training at The Place.
She is currently at Bird College.
She has performed in the West End and several professional pantomimes, but her passion lies with contemporary dance. Ellen has won choreography awards for her contemporary dances. She regularly choreographs for competitions.
Lauren Hillman
Jazz, Conditioning, Musical Theatre
Lauren previously trained at Briar Dance Academy and Italia Conti Arts Centre. She is currently attending Performance Preparation Academy in Guildford. As well as performing in local Professional productions, Lauren has taught for several years, currently she teaches Jazz at Briar Dance Academy and Musical Theatre at Stagecoach. Lauren is also the guest choreographer for several summer schools.
Thomas Alsop
Jazz, Musical Theatre
Thomas Alsop is currently studying BA Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting. He has always had a love for performing and when he isn’t training he loves sharing his knowledge within musical theatre and dance with the next generation of performers, pushing them to the best of there own abilities. Thomas will be teaching over holidays and focusing on fitness/stamina, technique and performance.
Polly King, LTCL, FTCL
Ballet, Tap, Musical Theatre
Polly trained as a Contemporary dance teacher at Roehampton University following her foundation training in Classical Ballet, going on to teach dance for the Guildford School of Acting.
She holds a Fellowship with Trinity College, London and is currently embarking on her LAMDA qualifications in Communication, Language and Speech.
As a professional performer, credits include: Lawrence (Bridewell Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Dream (National Tours 2001 & 2002), A Chorus Line (New Player's Theatre, London) and acting ensemble for a number of Ballet Companies.
Film and television credits include music videos for a variety of artists, a number of docu-dramas for Sky television and the Discovery Channel, location filming for the Crime and Investigation and History Channel and feature artist recordings for corporate functions and training sessions.
Through her own production company, Creative Minds, Polly has presented a number of professional productions and several charity fundraising cabaret events. She continues to direct, choreograph, perform in and produce professional theatre as well as continuing to develop her own professional career.
Amy Astley, GDIP
Contemporary
Amy is originally from Bristol, where she began ballet at the age of 3. She then moved on
to train at Laine Theatre Arts, where she graduated in 2009 with a Trinity Diploma in
Musical theatre, and an additional Diploma in Speech and Drama with distinction.
Amy has been teaching performing arts to children and adults for over 10 years. In that
time, she has taught and choreographed for many different schools, both in Bristol and in
Surrey, including Guildford School of Acting’s full time degree students, The Orpheus
Centre, Dynamic Performing Arts, The Biz and First Dance Studios, as well as running
her own performing arts school, Apollo Performing Arts.
As a performer, she has performed in many styles of theatre, from opera to Shakespeare,
including most recently as the title character in the UK Tour of Carrie’s War. Other credits
include Free As Air, Gay's The Word, Our Town, Blue Remembered Hills, A Little Night
Music, Follies, Hamlet, A Christmas Carol, Sweeney Todd, and the Olivier Award-winning
production of La Boheme. Amy has also completed two UK tours of her original one-
woman show, Keep the Home Fires Burning, about the lives of women during World War
II.
Lottie Worrall DDE
Musical Theatre
Lottie trained at London Studio Centre.
Since graduating Lottie has worked professionally in various tours and productions all over the UK. Credits include the title role in The Rainbow Fish, Maid Marian in Robin Hood and Virtue in The Witches Bogey.Recently Lottie has gained experience directing, creating and choreographing theatre shows, tours and productions for popular UK theme parks such as Chessington World of Adventures and Alton Towers, which included training singers, actors and dancers.
Over the past 7 years Lottie has been lucky enough to pursue her love of teaching and working with children by creating and running the successful children’s parties company, Lulamoon.
Alongside this Lottie currently teaches drama for the Ark Trust and is also proud to be a qualified ISTD Modern tutor.
Lottie now works full time as a singing teacher and vocal coach for students of all ages.
Lottie’s wide and varied experience has enabled her to gain extensive knowledge in all areas of theatre and, after providing tuition, direction and guidance to a variety of students, this makes her the perfect choice as a teacher.