Principal, Sophie Guariglia (Dance Teacher and Production Artistic Director)

Sophie Guariglia trained at the Arts Educational School Tring, followed by a three year course at Brian Rogers Performers College.
Sophie has gone on to work in all areas of the industry and juggles her performing career with the running of the school- Phoenix Performing Arts and Theatre Company- PPA Productions.. As a result, she is constantly bringing back fresh, up to date styles and ideas.

Most recently she danced at The Southbank Centre in B-Supreme and at The London Palladium in ‘Crazy For You’. Other Credits include ‘Come Together’ at The 02 centre- a show in memory of Michael Jackson and ‘International Dance Connection,’ at The Mermaid Theatre, London and ‘World of Dance’ in L.A. She has danced for artists such as Lionel Richie, Atomic Kitten, and DJ Idol and was Dance Captain for the Hip Hop Company; TK Spin Masters of Movement. She also danced with ‘Bollywood Grooves Dance Company’, London, for two years, leading to various Bollywood films including ‘Library Majnu’ (BBC 4). Other film credits include: Jamie in ‘Hunter’ (Black Orchid Productions) ‘Mr. Firecul’ (Channel 4) and recently choreographed for ‘Nouse’ (Kanga Reel Productions.) Her theatre work has taken her all over, playing the title role of Peter in ‘Peter Pan’ (three times!) Tiger Lily opposite Brian Blessed at The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury and the New London showcase of ’In Time’ at The Drill Hall Theatre. Other favourites include Ensemble in ‘Oliver’ featuring Ron Moody and Sally and 1st cover for Bec in ‘The Biz’ at The Thameside Theatre, Grays. As a Producer/Choreographer she is extremely experienced. Her credits include, ’Aladdin’ featuring Ben Mills & Mark Arden at The Winter Gardens, Margate, ‘West Side Story’ at The Marlowe Theatre last August, ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Promenading at Whitstable Castle, and shows such as ‘Godspell’ ‘Annie,’ ‘Les Miserables’ Schools Edition, ‘Oklahoma’, ‘A Chorus Line,’ ‘Fame’, ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’, ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’, ‘Alice’, ‘and many more.
She has danced for artists such as Lionel Richie, Emma Bunton, DJ Idol and Blazing Squad and appeared as a dancer in the films ‘Library Majnu’ Channel 4’s ‘Mr. Firecul’ feature film and ‘Alexander’ as well as 'Places in the Heart' (BBC 1) 'The Laureaus Worls Sports Awards' (Channel 5) and 'Festa De La Sport' in Ibiza. Sophie also dances with the acclaimed TK Spin Masters of Movement, a Hip Hop dance company based in London who perform all over the world, most recently in LA at the ‘World of Dance Tour’ and at London’s ‘Move it! 2008’.

Samantha Robertson – Singing and Vocal Technique

Born in Ilford, her singing career began at the age of 4 when she used to sing Doris Day songs to her classmates at playschool. Sam attended Redbridge Music School until the age of 18, when she went on to study singing at the Royal Academy of Music, gaining her GRSM (Hons). Sam sings and teaches a wide range of styles, to all ages, all abilities and levels of experience, always drawing on her classical training to promote a good grounding for each individual’s vocal development. She has performed lead roles in shows including Kismet, The Marriage of Figaro, Die Fledermaus, La Bohème, The Music Man, Rigoletto and Me and My Girl. For 6 years Sam was a member of the London cast of Phantom of the Opera and on leaving the show she began teaching at the newly opened PPA, where she also now coaches all the Easter and Summer schools as well as all PPA’s big productions.



Charlotte Pateman – Dance

Charlotte trained at Brian Rogers Performers College where she gained a National Diploma in Performing Arts. She specialised in Musical Theatre and began both her modern and tap FDI teaching qualifications.

Her theatre credits include principle dancer and lead vocalist in ‘The Spirit of Christmas’ for Spirit of the Dance Productions in Dusseldorf, Germany, Beth Spencer in ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ at the Mirren Studio Theatre, Basildon, soloist in numerous cabaret performances including the opening ceremony for the Mental Health Awards, lead vocalist/dancer in ‘Live From the Bloomsbury’ at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London, Princess Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’ at The Winter Gardens, Margate and her favourite yet, Lily St Regis in ‘Annie’ for Phoenix Performing Arts!! Her television credits include backing dancer for Inaya Day on Top Of The Pops (BBC1), featured performer for GMTV’s ‘100 Years Of The British Heart Foundation’ celebrations and the opening ceremony of the ‘World Travel Market’ at Excel, London. Other credits include lead vocalist in ‘Chicago’ and ‘We Will Rock You’ style cabarets at various corporate London events, a celebratory performance at The Belfry, Birmingham and  backing dancer for The Richard Hill benefit ‘The Saracens Do Fame Academy’ at Grosvenor House, London. She has taught for Phoenix Performing Arts since it opened in 2005 and has been involved in all their productions either on stage or as part of the creative team. Her choreographic credits include ‘Annie’, ‘Godspell’, ‘Oklahoma’, ‘Footloose’ and ‘A Chorus Line’ to name but a few. She also teaches dance in local schools and most recently has choreographed performances for Canterbury Cathedral and The Archbishop of Canterbury!

 

Melody Montana- Junior and Intermediate Drama                                                  

Melody has always been extremely passionate about the performing arts which has led her to explore various mediums! As an actress, she has appeared in theatre productions from Pantomime to Shakespeare but gaining a degree in Film, Radio and Television specialising in performance, her experience moved from the stage to the microphone and camera!  She enjoyed four years working for BBC local radio; producing, presenting and interviewing which enabled her to develop further skills.  In 2005 she went to Zambia with the BBC to make a film following a charity. She found this a humbling and eye-opening experience, spending time with the children, visiting schools and teaching them games. She returned in 2008 for a follow up.  This was such a rewarding time for her that she decided her future was to work with children, to give them a good head start in life and to pass on her passion for the Arts! She now teaches freelance, ages 4-19, co-ordinating productions and helping students obtain their various drama exams. She loves sharing her enthusiasm with her students, seeing their confidence and passion grow.  She hopes one day to resume her career in the theatre and television, but for now is very excited about the great talent that she sees growing everyday in the young individuals she teaches!

 

 Ellie Jordan-Senior Drama

Ellie has been involved in theatre and performance since a young age. Was a member of the ‘National Youth Theatre’ from the age of fourteen to eighteen taking part in various productions including ‘Blood Wedding’ and ‘Marat Sade’ at the Playhouse and Bloomsbury Theatres, London. Trained at Rose Bruford College gaining a First Class Honours degree in Drama and Performance in 1998. She then worked in the industry for five years, with various Theatre in Education touring companies and Theatre touring companies including ‘Cardboard Citizens’ and PIETA Theatre Company both in England and all over Europe. She worked with Gary Oldman both in workshop and interview for the ‘South Bank Show’ with Melvin Bragg and on his film ‘Nil by Mouth’. She also worked as part of ‘The Globe Theatre Education’ touring company and then onto the ‘RSC Education touring company ‘The Merchant of Venice’ Portia, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Titania,‘ Othello’ Emilia.

            She gained a PGCE in Secondary Drama at Goldsmiths London in 2003, followed by continuous employment as a Drama teacher then Head of Department in various secondary schools across London. Worked for three consecutive years on the ‘Shakespeare for Schools’ project in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Philip Pegler – Intermediate and Senior Ballet

            Philip Pegler is an internationally renowned Classical Ballet Teacher, Grades Examiner and member of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Academy of Dance.

Philip began his professional training at the Bush Davies School in Surrey, the Kirov School in St Petersburg followed by an international scholarship to the Hadrid Conservatory in Florida. He completed his training as a dancer and teacher at the Royal Ballet School in 1992. During his career, he has held the position of Ballet Master and Soloist Dancer with the Columbia City Ballet in South Carolina, Artistic Director and Principal Dancer of the South Carolina Dance Theatre, Co-Director of the Calver-Brodie School of Dance and Principal Guest Artist of the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet in Louisiana.

Since 2003, Philip has worked primarily as a freelance Classical Ballet teacher with pre-professional dancers and student-teachers and has given many lectures and seminars on the anatomical process in Classical Ballet technique. He has taught at the  Los Angeles Ballet Academy, the  American Academy of Ballet, New York, the Royal Academy of Dance , California, the Royal Academy of Dance South Carolina, Escola de Danca Maria Olenewa, Rio de Janeiro, as a Guest Teacher among others. In 2005, Philip was appointed to the Board of Vocational Examiners of the Royal Academy of Dance and has examined students throughout the United States, Canada, Brazil, Italy and the United Kingdom. With 30 years of Classical Ballet experience, Philip now teaches at the Young Dancers Academy in London, the Elmhurst School for Dance in Birmingham, and at Eton College in Berkshire. In April 2010 he was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Royal Academy and is also a member of their finance committee.

Ilona Macdonald – Production Director

Ilona trained in the Michael Armstrong Structured Acting Technique and has been acting for 15 yrs.
Lead roles include:“Nora”, in the acclaimed Custard Factory Theatre’s production of Ibsen’s, “A Doll’s House”; “The Wicked Witch of the West”, in “The Wizard of Oz”; Mabel, in ‘The Pyjama Game,’ “Gyp”, in Footprints Theatre Company’s national tour of “Dog in a Manger”; and “Annie” in the community Tour of “The Tale of the Nail” for Seeds Theatre Company.

TV and Film work includes: presenting, for Heritage Projects; puppeteering,
for the Hungarian, “Spitting Image”and, “D84” in BBC TV’s “Doctor Who”! She has lead acting workshops with Dover Council and Southeast Arts, “Custard Factory Theatre Co.”, “Interaction Starlab”, “Seeds”, “Playtime Theatre”, amongst others. She is currently involved in forming, “The London Repertory Company”, with Michael Armstrong, and teaches technique based acting workshops for PPA and is the resident show director and acting coach.

Anne-Marie Streets – Acting

Anne–Marie has a B.A.Hons Degree in Drama and Humanities, and studied at ‘The Laban Dance Centre'. She has acted in many leading roles such as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’, Banquo in ‘The Farndale Housing Estate’s Townswomen’s Guild Production of Macbeth’, The Stepmother in ‘The Slipper and the Rose’ among many, she also had a ’One Woman Show’ in Woverhampton.

She has a vast experience in directing, credits include, ‘Oklahoma’, ‘Return to The Forbidden Planet’, ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel', ‘Alice, The Musical’ (World Premiere), ‘Annie’ and ‘Extracts from Starlight Express’. Her teaching experience dates back to before settling in Boughton, when she lived in Columbia and taught drama to a mixed race youth group...she has not stopped since, due to her passion for exploring new techniques and pushing dramatic boundries!