Teachers

Our teaching faculty is our most important resource at The Arts Garage-LWHS School of Dance.

We have an extremely talented and dedicated team of regular and guest teachers selected on the basis of their expertise and passion in their own particular specialty. They have a wealth of experience from world-renowned ballet companies to the West End.

Lyn Wilson RAD RTS FIDTA

Lyn started dancing at the age of three years old and by 12, she successfully auditioned for a four year full-time scholarship at the renowned ballet school “Bush Davies” in East Grinstead, Sussex.

Highlights of her career include performing at the Genee Theatre and for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee at the Royal Albert Hall. She also performed with the Scottish Ballet in “The Tales of Hoffman” and “La Sylphide”. Lyn danced extensively in Europe continuing into cabaret work on various cruise lines travelling between Florida, the Caribbean and South America.

She returned home and started her teacher training, to qualify in the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), which she passed in the major syllabi with distinction. Continuing in the profession, performing in pantomime and in summer seasons. Lyn also did TV extras work for Yorkshire TV in Leeds.

In June 1985 she opened the Lyn Wilson School of Dancing in Hedon, one day a week with just 23 pupils, and now the LWHS School of Dance (Lyn Wilson and Heather Shepherdson) has over 300 students! Producing, directing and choreographing many successful shows, amateur and professional.

Heather Shepherdson AIDTA

Heather trained locally from the age of 3. At 16 she embarked on her first professional dancing job in the Hull Pantomime. She then went on to dance in Europe, eventually returning home to work in a production of the Pirates of Penzance staring Bonnie Langford and Paul Nicholas.

Heather then went into 42nd Street in the west end of London at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, staring Catherine Zeta-Jones. Dancing in the ensemble and playing the part of Phyllis Dale continuing in the show until the end of it’s run then with the touring company. Heather also did TV extra’s work for Yorkshire and Granada television net works, appeared in 2 Royal Variety performances and worked as professional choreographer.

She returned home joining the Lyn Wilson school of Dancing in 1992. Heather is a qualified I.D.T.A teacher.

Jessica Longhorn (Fisher)

Jessica started dancing at the age of three at the Lyn Wilson School of Dancing in Hedon. Jessica achieved her Grade and Major examinations and enjoyed numerous festival successes including the IDTA Junior Ballet Championship winner for Humberside and Lincolnshire.

At The age of sixteen she went on to further her dance and dance teacher training at The Northern Ballet School in Manchester continuing there until returning home in 2002.

Jessica’s love of dance has now seen her return to LWHS to join the teaching staff and pass on her dance experience to the pupils.

Anna Wilson (BA Hons, PGCE/PCET)

Anna grew up dancing at LWHS until the age of 18. Within this time she was a Yorkshire Ballet scholar and achieved RAD examinations to a high level. In addition to this, Anna worked as a teaching assistant with the younger children, gaining valuable teaching experience.

Anna went on to complete a BA Honours Degree in Contemporary Dance at Newcastle Performance Academy. Where she had the opportunity to work with various choreographers/teachers and to take a number of classes such as Graham and Cunningham Contemporary techniques, Ballet, Improvisation and Choreography. As well as this Anna took professional classes at Dance City and The Barre Workout.

After Completion of her degree, Anna went to Sunderland University to do her teaching qualification (PGCE/PCET) in both Dance and Literacy. In this time Anna had work placements within colleges, allowing her to develop her teaching skills and understanding of both children and adult learners.

Anna returned home and began teaching for LWHS in 2014. She also currently works as an Adult Education Tutor, where she teaches both English and Employability. Anna has completed courses in safeguarding, data protection and first aid and currently holds her safeguarding and first aid certificates. 

Sophie Moncaster AACI

Sophie started dancing at age 3, she became a RBS JA at age 8 and a York scholar age 9 taught by Louise Browne, and performed with Scottish Ballet in Nutcracker at age 9.

At age 11, Sophie successfully auditioned and went on to become a student at the Royal Ballet School, working with teachers such as Patricia Linton, Violet Verdy (Paris opera) and Linda Goss (first British dancer to be trained in Russia as a child).

She performed, Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Peter and the wolf, sharing the stage with names such as Dary Bussell, Viviana Duante and Sylvia Guillem.

After 5 years training at White Lodge, Sophie went on to train at Central Ballet School.

Sophie then went on to work on ships and travelled the world to places such as South Africa, South America and the Caribbean. During this time, she became Dance Captain and Company Manager. After retiring from performing, Sophie was asked to return to the MSC ships to become the Director’s assistant to the shows.

Currently Sophie teaches ballet at LWHS and has also recently become a fully qualified acrobatic arts instructor. AACI

Guest and Visiting Teachers

Joss Arnott
Tracey Baxter
Lynn Blowers
Leanne Chuck
David Danville
James Danville
Rachel English
Anthea Garrett
Mark Jackson
Ben Lancaster
Carla Morrill
Holly Newton
Peter Parker
Shannon Parker
Alice Shepherdson
Frances Shepherdson
Darren Suarez
Catherine Terry
Chloe Turner
Lauren Wilson

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