Regional Representatives

East – Norfolk

Amy Jarrett

eastnorfolk@istd.org

Amy Jarrett has followed the ISTD since the age of three and has been a full teaching member since 1999, when she founded her own dancing school in Fakenham, Norfolk 23 years ago.

Amy holds a Licentiate status in Modern Theatre and is currently training for her Licentiate qualification in Tap and Imperial Ballet.

With a passion to progress with her qualifications, Amy is keen to motivate the Norfolk region, offering help and guidance to fellow ISTD teachers in the area by promoting future CPD courses of each genre.

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North West – Merseyside

Laura Meeson

northwestmsy@istd.org

Laura grew up in Lydiate, Merseyside, and began dancing at the age of 2 and a half where her love of dance, music, and live theatre has developed into a career of performing and teaching, as well as identifying and nurturing talent. 

After training at Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre and attaining her ISTD teaching qualification in Classical Ballet, Tap, and Modern Theatre Laura took up a dancing position with the Italian Cruise line “Costa” travelling throughout Europe and the Middle East. However, her passion for teaching and choreography saw Laura return to Liverpool in 2008 where she now divides her time between teaching at schools and colleges across Liverpool and Chester. Laura continually strives to further her professional development and has secured her Licentiate in Classical Ballet, Tap Dance, Fellowship in Modern Theatre, and is a tutor for the DDE.

Laura’s refreshing and enthusiastic approach to choreography and her love to inspire others in dance brought her to the Liverpool Empire in 2012 where she works with the Youth Ballet and Musical Theatre groups.

She is excited to be a Regional Representative for the ISTD and create a community for teachers where they can socialise, network, and support each other.

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South West and South Wales

Kathy Plaster

southwestandsouthwales@istd.org

As an active member of the ISTD since 1984, Kathy has been involved with the Modern, Tap and Imperial Ballet branches for many years and has seen many changes.  She has also acted as area organiser for the region since taking over the Western Stage Group in the 1980s, and has continued to offer ISTD Courses and an exam centre each term over the years. These are run from her studios - Dance Station in Fishponds, Bristol which has plenty of amenities and good access to motorway links. Kathy runs a busy dance school with 6 local branches and a college offering part-time DDE teacher training courses.

Kathy is very excited about the recent changes in the ISTD and keen to assist members in any way she can by building a ‘buzzing’ dance community.

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South East

Laura Dudman

southeast@istd.org

Laura trained, at the Centre Performing Arts College, where she undertook 3 years professional dance training, completing Advanced Vocational dance exams and Associate teaching qualifications in ISTD Imperial Ballet, Modern and Tap. She graduated from the University of Surrey with an upper-second class honours degree in Dance and Culture the University of Greenwich, with a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education and Training. 

Laura has been teaching dance since 2002 and is a recognised teacher through the Council of Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre and Foundation for Community Dance. As well as running her own business, Laura also freelances as a Community Dance Practitioner in and around Kent. 

In 2008, Laura gained her UKA Diploma in Salsa running Salsa nights under the name Latin Essence and dancing professionally until 2014. She is a qualified gym instructor, exercise to music instructor, exercise referral instructor and personal trainer. Laura also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Dance Cultures, Histories and Practices in at The University of Surrey. 

Laura is a qualified Module 1 and 2 Acrobatic Arts Dance Instructor and was one of the first dance schools in Medway to offer this syllabus. In 2019, Laura completed her MA in Professional Practice Dance Pedagogy at Middlesex University and ISTD Licentiate Tap, through DC College in Whitstable. She completed the Progressing Ballet Technique training course with founder Marie Walton and the Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swans training. Laura is currently studying for ISTD Fellowship Tap and ISTD Licentiate Modern. She is an ISTD approved tutor for the DDE Level 4 Teaching Qualification.

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