Meet The Team

ALL of our teachers are part of the Popdance Team – however, here are some faces to the names you may know at Popdance HQ:

 

Sue Wybrow – Chief Legwarmer Wearer

Popdance was created in 2009 by Sue Wybrow. A non-dancer and 38 year old mum of two at the time, Sue wanted to get fit, tone up and learn fun dance routines to pop music from the 80s, 90s and 00s. She was looking for an hour of “me” time, away from busy life, children and mobile phones!

After trawling the internet for hours, Sue couldn’t find the kind of thing she wanted, so, working with amazing dance teachers, Popdance was born. Sue’s background is marketing, media, advertising, market research, tv and banking! You can find Sue attending Popdance classes every week!  Sue is also the author of “101 Marketing Tips For Dance Teachers” which is available via Amazon

Lianne Holt – Creative Director

Lianne started Ballet at the age of three at Castle Street Dance Studios where she was also trained in Tap and Modern. She continued her training at The Margaret Howard Theatre College teaching qualifications under the ISTD in Ballet, Modern and Tap. She also trained in Jazz dance, Musical Theatre and contemporary dance and a diploma in performance.

Whilst at college, Lianne achieved advanced one level in all 3 genres and also had the opportunity to dance on MSC cruise liners, appear on GMTV and perform in charity events such as Race for Life, which gave her tremendous experience.

Lianne has been teaching since the age of 15, starting off as an assistant and has taught at many different dance schools and companies over the past 9 years. She now focuses on teaching for a big ISTD school in St Albans and Popdance, and have completed my degree: BA Professional Practice of Arts (Dance).

Lianne heads up the Dance Team and Choreography at Popdance alongside Rachel Le Moeligou.

Rachel Le M – Creative Director

Rachel is originally from Jersey in the Channel Islands. She has been dancing since the age of two, gaining experience in dance and teaching from Liz Robinson and Emma Jane Cole. She graduated from The Margaret Howard Theatre College with ISTD teaching qualifications and a diploma in musical theatre.

Rachel is now a freelance dance teacher, working all over London and the surrounding areas. She has performed at the London Palladium, on board MSC Cruise Line and in MGA Productions Musical Starnights in a European tour. Rachel has also appeared on ‘Slave To Food’ teaching Claire Richards from Steps a Popdance Steps routine. Rachel’s choreography credits include shows at The Hackney Empire, Watford Palace Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre and The Leicester Square Theatre.

Rachel’s most prestigious credit is Bravo 22 Company’s “The Two Worlds of Charlie F” which toured the UK, including the Edinburgh Fringe and The Royal Haymarket Theatre in London. Rachel heads up the Dance Team and Choreography at Popdance alongside Lianne Cloot-Holt.

Dawn Sands – Chief Bean Counter (aka Financial Director) and Events Manager

An ex-statistician makes Dawn perfect for her role as Finance Director within the company. Dawn not only looks after the pennies, and our teachers, but she works closely with the team in driving the business forward.

Dawn has also taken on the role of Events Manager – working closely with our customers and teachers guaranteeing the best service and seamless organisation of our Popdance parties, workshops and classes.

Kerry Bowler – Creative Director – Popdance Fit

Originally from the Isle of Wight, Kerry started dancing at the age of 3 where she gained ISTD qualifications in ballet, tap and modern. Kerry then went on to achieve a BA Hons Degree in Dance.

This gave Kerry the platform to go on to work as a professional dancer for various touring dance companies, before becoming a dancer/singer for Royal Olympic Cruises on several of their ships. Kerry then set up a dance school in Sheffield, which she successfully ran for 3 years, as well as performing in touring shows before then moving to Cyprus where she spent the next 8 years performing in and choreographing her own shows.

She introduced Zumba to Cyprus and gained Fitness qualifications to teach on British military bases and in local communities.

Kerry teaches various dance and fitness programmes and heads up Popdance Fit with the Popdance Team.

Helen Dixon – Choreographer

Helen graduated from Bird College. Helen has taught at Pineapple and the London Studio Centre. Her skills are in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, singing, pointe work, salsa and trapeze! She is a highly qualified choreographer and when she is not choreographing for Popdance she is working for many TV programmes including “Britains Got Talent”, “X Factor”, and many West End shows, including being heavily involved in the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies!

Helen has danced with the likes of Kylie, Emma Bunton, Will Young, One Direction and Girls Aloud making her a perfect member of the Popdance Team.

Amy Rennie – Choreographer

Amy gained a BA Honors in Dance Studies at Middlesex University and has been working as a freelance dance/drama teacher, performer and choreographer since 2009. Amy’s love lies in community dance and art therapy.

She has been working for various charities encouraging people of all ages and abilities to get involved in the arts. In 2010, Amy joined a street dance crew called “Eclectic” who performed at Glastonbury festival, T-mobile Big Dance Bus and Brighton Fringe Festival. Amy also started her own dance company called “Infinite Dance” in 2010 choreographing and performing work at various venues around London and performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as part of the Dance! Doctor Dance! She has recently finished making a dance film and wanted to continue making Dance for the camera in the future.

Emma Abel – Choreographer

Emma trained in IDTA Ballet, Modern and Tap from age 6. She studied dance at GCSE and A-Level before completing a BA (Hons) Communication and Performing Arts: Dance. After graduation she worked as a dance specialist at an American summer camp in New York. Emma qualified as a dance teacher in 2005.

Originally from Leeds, she moved to South West Scotland in 2006 where she established her own dance school. Emma also works as a freelance dance specialist and teaches dance to children and adults in schools and community groups. In addition to this, Emma leads a local youth dance group and is a member of the community organisation that is working to promote and raise the profile of dance and movement in the region.

Emma joined the Popdance team in 2012 and she loves choreographing for the company. She teaches Popdance Kids classes on a regular basis as well as running successful holiday camps and birthday parties. She had taught Popdance in may of the regions schools as well as delivering Popdance workshops to tots, kids, teens and adults at a variety of different community groups, clubs and organisations in Dumfries and Galloway.