Teaching Faculty

Jackie Barnes FISTD Cert.Ed. Lead Examiner & ISTD Assessor

Jackie initially trained with Sue Stephens and was proud to be a student in the very first year at Performers College. It was here where she gained her Associate Teaching qualifications in Tap, Modern Theatre & Ballet. Jackie then worked as a professional dancer, for choreographers such as Dougie Squires, Anthony Johns, Brian Rogers and Ray Cornell, for over 10 years.

When Jackie decided to return to teaching, she continued with her own professional development gaining Fellowship status in both Tap & Modern Theatre. Jackie really enjoyed teaching children and vocational students, but relished the opportunity to become an ISTD Approved Tutor, to be able to train dance teachers of the future.  She valued the opportunity to develop the quality of dance teaching in general. Jackie was proud to be asked to train to become an examiner in 2004  and was invited to teach regularly at both ISTD Tap Awards and Janet Cram awards. She was a member of the Modern Theatre Faculty Committee from 2011 until 2022.

Whilst on Committee, she expanded the Janet Cram Awards from three national area heats to five, became a lecturer for both faculties, nationally and internationally, wrote Unit 4b of the ISTD’s DDP (Level 6) teaching qualification, became a DDE & DDP mentor, a DDE Assessor, as well as being asked to lecture on parts of the new revised DDE qualification. Jackie felt privileged to be asked to mentor teachers training to become ISTD Approved Tutors.

Jackie is very proud to have recently qualified as a Licentiate Tap and Modern Theatre Examiner. She is currently the ISTD’s Lead Examiner (grades) for the Tap faculty and Deputy Lead Examiner (vocational levels) for the Modern Theatre faculty.

Jessica Morgan-Beale

Jessica is an established  ISTD Approved Tutor for the DDE qualification, and ISTD Modern lecturer and is also the ISTD’s regional representative for Essex. We are thrilled that Jessica has recently become an ISTD Modern examiner.

She holds Fellowship status in both the Modern Theatre & Tap Dance faculties.

In 2012 Jessica was awarded the Murielle Ashcroft Award at the ISTD Chichester Summer School and has taught at numerous ISTD Janet Cram Awards.

Jessica is pleased to be working alongside Jackie, as a Tutor in both Unit 4 – Dance Practice Courses in Modern Theatre & Tap as well as Unit 2 – Observing, Assisting & Teaching Practice.

Jessica trained with & originally completed her Teaching Practice Unit with Jackie.

Jackie is thrilled to offer tuition with Jessica to some of her Unit 2 and Unit 4 DDE students.

Katie Lawrance

Katie has 20 years experience in the dance education sector, teaching and entering students for ISTD exams both in college settings and in private dance schools. She also ran her own dance school in Bedfordshire for many years. Katie has taught across the wide variety of age groups and genres, and holds Fellowship status in Tap Dance.

Katie is an established approved tutor for the DDE qualification, tutoring across the whole range of units, and is delighted to be working alongside Jackie and her team in providing Unit 2 tuition (Observing, Assisting & Teaching Practice).

Katie is passionate about both dance and education, and endeavours to inspire new dance teachers to develop their zest for learning and teaching, both through the DDE qualification and into their careers beyond.

Helen Steggles FISTD,  Deputy Lead Examiner ICB

Helen trained at The Arts Educational School, London. After graduating Helen taught for a variety of schools whilst furthering her qualifications, becoming a Fellow in 2002. In 1998 Helen joined the staff at Junior Performers and shortly after, became part of the Ballet Faculty at Performers College.

Since becoming an Examiner she has lectured at regional, London and International courses and been invited to teach at both the Junior and Senior Ballet Awards. Helen was a member of the Imperial Classical Ballet Faculty Committee from 2011 until recently and was delighted to be involved in creating the Training Ballet Technique syllabus.

Helen is now a freelance tutor teaching Vocational classes, DDE and Licentiate Ballet and is excited to join Jackie’s team