Jackie joined the school in September1999 to teach mainly Tap and
Modern and brought with her a wealth of experience in both
performance
and teaching.
She trained at the Susan Stephens Theatre Dance School and Performers Dance
College. As a professional dancer, she worked extensively in Europe and America
with many top choreographers; appearing in numerous television productions,
summer seasons, cruise liner shows and pantomimes. Notable
amongst her many performances were the
VE
Day Celebration
Concerts in Hyde Park in the presence of the Queen, working with such stars
as Dame Vera Lynn, Sir Cliff Richard Michael Ball and Elaine Paige.
Jackie has now achieved the highest possible level of teaching
qualification, Fellowship
of the ISTD in Modern and Tap dance.
She felt privileged to be invited to become an examiner for both the Modern
and Tap faculties. Jackie was one of the first teachers in the country to
become an 'Approved Tutor' for the 'The
Foundation In Dance Instruction' and 'Certificate In Dance Education', which
are the new ISTD teaching examinations and she has lectured as a guest teacher
at the ISTD Chichester Summer School for dance teachers in 'Syllabus Modern'
and 'Free Jazz'.
Jackie has taught extensively in the south east area; Bird College, Susan Stevens Theatre School, Tiffany Stage Academy, Footsies Dance School, Italia Conti, and is currently 'Head of Dance' at the Margaret Howard Theatre College and Teaches at Central School of Dance and Drama in Brentwood, as well as being a senior teacher here at Anthony Clifford Studios
Debbie joined Cooks' School of Dancing at the age of 10, when she began
her training in ballroom, Latin American and disco dancing. At the age
of 14 she won the title
of 'ISTD UK disco medallist of the year' and remained a loyal pupil of the
school culminating in her qualifying as AISTD in ballroom in 1987. In
1998 when she
passed her Latin American Associate she was National Winner of the Phyllis
Haylor Award Scholarship for her year.
Since that time she has been involved in the organisation and choreography
for individual children, teams and adults, entering dance competitions in
disco as
well as ballroom and Latin dancing. She also takes a high proportion of private
lessons in these disciplines, for both adults and children at the studio.
In 1994 Debbie became Licentiate of the ISTD and now in 2004 she adds another
Licentiate Exam this time in Latin American and now gives professional training
to new teachers.
Debbie took part in a television programme filmed at Cooks Studio (now Anthony
Clifford), promoting ballroom and Latin American dance for young people.
She has also appeared at the Queens Theatre and regularly in studio cabarets.
Charles has been dancing now for some 22 years, qualifying as a teacher
at Cooks School of Dancing, now Anthony Clifford, in 1995. He currently
holds his Licentiate
of the ISTD and is a Fellow of the IDTA.
In 1998 he was awarded the John Dilworth Scholarship for Latin American and
was also nominated for the Ballroom Scholarship the following year.
Although Charles teaches mainly disco, ballroom and Latin American it is
his expertise in Country and Western that has led to several television and
video
appearances. He is a member of the ISTD Country and Western Committee and
frequently lectures for them.
More recently Charles turned his talents to teaching Salsa and in 1999 he
was a Grand Finalist in the first ever British Salsa Championships with his
partner
Katie Welch.
Joanne has been teaching ballet tap and modern at Anthony Clifford for
over five years now and previously was assistant teacher to Diana. She
finished a three
year course at the North London Dance Studio in 2002 and before that did
a full time performing arts course at Havering Technical College where
she obtained
A level in dance and Btec National Diploma in Performing Arts. She is also
now an Associate of the ISTD.
During her training Joanne has appeared as a dancer in several shows at the
Queen's Theatre including performing with the European Ballet Company. She
has also
appeared at the Mermaid Theatre, Theatre Royal Drury Lane as well as in various
local
theatres, and in the film The Search for John Gissing, choreographed by
Derek Hartley
As well as teaching for us, Joanne is also a teacher at the Italia Conti
Academy and the North London Dance Studio.
Collette trained at London School of Musical Theatre.
Collette holds ISTD Associates in Tap and Modern gained at Anthony Clifford
under Jackie & Diana's tuition.
Collette teaches ISTD syllabus
classes as well as being Head of the Drama and Singing department.
Professional performing credits include: Meg, Little Women the Musical: Theatre
Royal, Drury Lane. Original Cast Recording: Little Women the Musical. The
Little Match Girl in the musical of The Little Match Girl, British Library
Theatre. Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Aylesbury Civic Centre.
Swing & Assistant Choreographer Brenda Bly, Teen Detective: Bridewell
Theatre. Yvonne in Best Men: Hen & Chickens Theatre, Islington. Dancer & Assistant
Choreographer Goldilocks & the Three Bears: Little Theatre, Sherringham.
April, No-One in the World: Cochrane Theatre. Soloist & Chorus, Musical
Revue: The Old Vic Theatre. Singer/ Dancer: The Big Breakfast. Commercial
Dancer: Sony Advertisement.
.
Katie attended Rainsford College, Chelmsford, (Centre of Excellence in
Performing Arts) where she she obtained A level dance and Btec National
Diploma in Performing
Arts and won the dance award for Outstanding Achievement in her year.
She has been an assistant teacher at Anthony Clifford and has now achieved
her Associate and teaches her own classes in disco as well as assisting in
classes
within other dance disciplines whilst continuing her training within the
school.
Katie has appeared as a dancer in numerous shows at all our local theatres,
and in particular was a dancer in Annie Get your Gun at the Civic Theatre
Chelmsford
in 1995 and A Chorus Line at Brentwood Theatre in 1996. She appeared as a
dancer in Dance Generator, a disco video sold nationally, for which she also
modeled
for the follow -up book.
In 1999 Katie was a finalist in the British Salsa Championships with Charles
Richman, and she has also done choreography for amateur shows as well as
appearing in Latin and Salsa cabarets and demonstrations at Broadgate Arena
and other local
venues.
Sarah joined Anthony Clifford as a teacher in January 2000 to take ballet
classes at our former Gallows Corner studios. She now takes some of our
ballet, tap and
modern classes for the younger ones at Century Youth House. Previously she
had been following some of her dance studies, including ISTD Associate
with Diana.
Sarah's particular expertise is with the younger children as she works in several
nurseries teaching dance.
Sarah has her own dance group promoting health and fitness in pre-school children
in conjunction with the "Early Learning Goals" called Music And Movement,
at Creative Kids and Eastwood Day Nursery. Sarah is ballet instructor for Chelmsford
Gymnastics Club, where she choreographs floor and beam routines. She is also
a British Gymnastics Judge and an assistant Coach qualified through BAGA which
is recognised in schools. Additionally she is a qualified RSA aerobics instructor,
and now adjudicates at Gymnastic competitions.
After training locally from the age of 5 Diana trained full time at Laine
Theatre Arts College at Epsom covering ballet, tap, modern, jazz and
national dancing
as well as singing and drama. She left Laines after
three years with AISTD teaching qualifications before deciding to pursue
a professional dance career.
Diana's career has included appearing in TVs Come Dancing' and in the preview
performance of the musical 'Bernadette' . During her four years as a dancer
on cruise ships, Diana performed in Canada, Mexico, Russia, Holland and Scandinavia
as well as throughout the USA. This included the inaugural performance on
board
the 'Crown Princess' with Tony Bennett and Tommy Tune In New York.
When she met fellow dancer Mark Anthony, they decided to marry and give up
their performing careers to try to achieve Diana's lifetime ambition to start
and successfully
build up her own dance school. Anthony Clifford Studios was founded in 1994
and since then Diana has trained and entered pupils in all grades of ISTD
up to Teaching
Associates.
Diana's own training in ballroom and Latin American dance was at Cook's School
of Dancing, now part of ACS, where she took ISTD Associate teaching qualifications
in the ballroom branch and was runner up in the National Phyllis Haylor Scholarship
in 1995 and 1997. She was guest lecturer at the Annual Congress of the Ballroom
branch of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in July 1997.
Diana's ISTD qualifications include Fellowship in Modern, Licentiate diploma
in tap, Associate diploma in Ballet and Associates in National, Ballroom
and
Latin
American
Mark's original dance training was at Walsall Academy of Performing Arts
in his home town in the West Midlands where he obtained his 'major' examinations
in
ballet tap and modern dance. During his training he appeared with the London
City Ballet in 'Carmen' and 'Swan Lake'. After college he worked in show
business as a professional dancer for nearly 10 years. TV appearances
included
'The Bill' and 'The Perfect Hero' and he also toured with productions of
'Oklahoma!' 'Guys and Dolls' and 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' (in
the part of Daniel).
His stage career included many shows, pantomimes and tours as a dancer, both
in Europe and the UK and later when employed on cruise ships he performed
throughout the American Continent. He had many roles during this period including
singing
as Raoul in 'Phantom of the Opera' and the MC in 'Cabaret'.
Since Diana decided in 1993 to turn his talents to teaching, he has qualified
with the ISTD gaining Licenciate Modern and Associates in Tap, Disco Freestyle,
Ballroom and Latin American and RSA in aerobics.
In the year 2000 he
was runner up in the Phyllis Haylor Award Scholarship.
Foremost among his
achievements,
of course, is that he joined his wife Diana Clifford in successfully building
up Anthony Clifford Studios.
