We warmly welcome our members, non-members and trainee teachers to take part in an ISTD Congress day celebrating our theatre genres and 120 years of the society with us.

Whether actively teaching, currently studying an initial teaching qualification or just proud to be part of the society, we invite you to join us in person for a day of workshops, lectures and discussion. 

We have an exciting day planned for both students and teachers and led by a wonderful group of industry experts and specialists. During the day you will have opportunities to observe, dance, discuss, analyze, and catch up with friends and colleagues.

This is a great opportunity to come together as an ISTD community, to celebrate all theatre genres, to network and share good practice.

Lunch, refreshments and ISTD goodies are included. So, don't miss out. 

We are delighted to have Dansez joining us at this event.

Alison Forrester

Alison enjoys the many facets of her dance career, as a Lecturer, Examiner, Adjudicator, Committee member and Tap Syllabus creator. She teaches tap at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom enjoys teaching teachers, but also loves to teach children. 

Her professional dance career culminated in Las Vegas, where she studied with many of the great American tap dancers for 9 years, teachers and performers at Tap Festivals in Los Angeles, St Louis and Chicago. Gregory Hines, Brenda Bufalino, Sam Weber, Diane Walker and Jason Samuels Smith, to name a few. Being in the USA from 1997-2006 was a great time to be in the USA as a tap dancer. It was a time before we lost some of our most inspirational talents. She was very honoured to have met and talked to Peg Leg Bates, Cholly Atkins, Jimmy Slyde, Maceo Anderson and Prince Spencer. Whilst in Las Vegas she studied with Henry Le Tang for 2 years, assisting him on classes at St Louis Tap Festival. She taught his classes whilst he was filming the DVD Bojangles, starring Gregory Hines and Savion Glover. 

Returning to the UK, she became involved in updating and re-choreographing the ISTD Tap Syllabi, a chance to share with the UK what she had learnt. She became a Fellow of the ISTD in 2007 and was a member of the Tap Committee for 12 years. 

She has lectured many times for the ISTD and Tap Attack. Teaching teachers is a big passion of hers. To improve tap in this country, hoping to inspire teachers to expand their tap knowledge. She enjoys lecturing courses around the UK and Europe. 

Her passion has always been Tap dance, to improve and inspire whoever she could in the UK, to help bring our standards more in line with the Europeans and Americans. 

 Alison Jenner-FISTD (CB,MB), Dip LCDD

Following training at London College of Dance and Drama, Alison joined the Dance Department of Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. She furthered her Cecchetti Ballet studies with Cara Drower and Eve Pettinger and currently teaches in Buckinghamshire, UK. 

Alison is the Lead Examiner for the Cecchetti Classical Ballet Faculty of the ISTD (Portfolio A) and an experienced senior qualifying Cecchetti Ballet Examiner and a DDE unit 4 and DDP 4a lecturer, holding Fellowship status in both the Cecchetti Classical Ballet and ISTD Modern Faculties. 

Currently Alison is a member of the Cecchetti Classical Ballet Faculty Committee, the ISTD's Cross Faculty Committee and was recently involved in ISTD's Dancewear initiative working group. Recently Alison led two Cecchetti Ballet Faculty working groups reviewing and rewriting the Cecchetti Ballet Syllabi. Over the years, she has been a member of several Sub-committees responsible for syllabus creations and revisions and in 2018 was involved with the re-recording of the official current Grade Syllabus music. Most recently in her capacity as Lead Examiner for Children's work up to and including Intermediate, she was heavily involved with the Exam Review in 2023 and subsequent publication of the Cecchetti Ballet Mark schemes in 2024.  

For 25 years Alison was the Organiser of the Cecchetti Society’s International Residential Summer School for Young Dancers, held in Tring, Herts, UK. She continues to teach regularly as well as lecturing, and guest lecture widely for the Cecchetti Faculty. Earlier this year was honoured to deliver an ISTD weekend CPD course in Malta.  

Alison is looking forward to meeting and working with many of you at Summer School. 

 Anaya Bolar- LISTD

Anaya has trained in Bharatanatyam since the age of 5 under her mother, Guru Chitraleka Bolar MBE, a highly acclaimed Bharatanatyam exponent, teacher, and choreographer. Over the past few years, Anaya has been training, performing, and also teaching at the Chitraleka Dance Academy, and is a recent Sports Therapy degree graduate from Coventry University. Anaya has come through the ISTD exam programme and earlier this year was one of the first Bharatanatyam teachers to complete the ISTD's new Bharatanatyam Licentiate teaching qualification.

Anaya was a finalist in the South Asian category of BBC Young Dancer in 2015 and 2022 and went on to receive an ISTD bursary award, which enabled her to continue her training with dance professionals in the UK and abroad to further her dance technique and broaden her repertoire in Bharatanatyam.

Since graduation Anaya has been collaborating with various South Asian artists and companies, creating a diverse portfolio of work.

Belinda Hatley

Belinda Hatley trained at The Doris Isaacs school of Dancing in Shoreham by -Sea, through the ISTD syllabus under Elizabeth Hodgshon.  She then studied at White Lodge and The Royal Ballet Upper School before joining The Royal Ballet. Belinda enjoyed a successful career with the company spanning 19 years, her extensive repertoire included roles such as Aurora, Giselle, The Sugar Plum Fairy, Swanilda, Cinderella and Lise.

She attained The Royal Ballet School PDTC teachers’ Diploma with Distinction before joining the staff of the School. Belinda became the Artistic Manager of the Development Programme in 2021.

Charlotte Deakin-Jones-

Fiona Sheehan-MA BA(Hons) LRAD FISTD

Following an undergraduate degree at the Royal Academy of Dance where she was awarded the Jerwood Foundation Prize for Outstanding Student, Fiona completed postgraduate study in dance at Trinity Laban.

Fiona has taught widely in a number of schools and colleges in both the public and private sector, and is principal of a large school in Northamptonshire. Her pupils have been accepted into many dance schools & colleges and can be found in dance companies across the UK and Europe. 

Fiona has examined worldwide for the Royal Academy of Dance since 2003, and has taught on  the RAD International Summer School. She is also a member of the RAD Educational Sub-Committee. She was part of the creative team for the ISTD Classical Greek Graded syllabus, and has devised and delivered CPD courses for both the RAD & ISTD. 

Kim Rodgers

I am Kim Rogers, the founder of The Butterfly Mind - A dancers mindset coach.

Having faced numerous personal challenges as a professional dancer and dance teacher, I draw on both my studies and my own deeply personal experiences to help guide dancers and educators through their ever-changing world with self-acceptance, empowerment, and a profound understanding of the importance of self-belief and strength.

I am passionate about teaching the significance of mindset and the deep connection between mind and body to overcome challenges such as perfectionism, comparison, and rejection.

My mission is to educate on creating safe spaces, using positive language skills, and employing mindful teaching methods to the ever-evolving world of dance.

Lucy Jane Adcock

Lucy Jane Adcock is an experienced West End performer and has appeared in a multitude of West End productions. Her theatre credits include: Sylvia in An Evening of Dirty Dancing (UK Tour), Carmen, u/s Charity in Sweet Charity at The Royal Exchange, Manchester, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (Tel Aviv),  Mimi and u/s Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (Phoenix Theatre, West End and UK Tour), u/s Mrs Wormwood and Mrs Phelps in Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre, West End), Pinkette, u/s Pinky and Mrs Cunningham in Happy Days: The Musical (UK tour), Judy Turner u/s Cassie in A Chorus Line (London Palladium, West End), Featured dancer and u/s Madge in Top Hat (UK tour and Aldwych Theatre,West End), featured vocalist in Ruthie Henshall’s Sounds of Hollywood (UK tour), Hunyak in Chicago (Cambridge Theatre, West End), ensemble and u/s Ali in Mamma Mia (Prince of Wales, West End), Dinah in Starlight Express (UK and Scandinavian tours) u/s Serena and Miss Bell in Fame (Aldwych Theatre, West End) Original cast of Tonight's the Night (Victoria Palace Theatre, West End) and Silly Girl in Disney's Beauty and the Beast (international tour).

Other work includes: Carabosse in SLEEPING BEAUTY, Roses Theatre, Tewekesbury, Choreographed Dick Whittington Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Bridget Jones - The Musical (workshop) The Devil's Advocate (workshop) assistant choreographer for Legends of Hollywood (Grosvenor House for Private Drama) Assistant to Alan Burkitt on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and original cast recordings of Top Hat and Tonight's the Night.  

She also teaches and choreographs at various colleges and performing arts schools across the UK and can be seen as a guest tutor at many of the venues of the ‘Can You Dance?’ tours and she holds open Musical Theatre Jazz and tap classes at Base Studios for graduates and professionals.

Nathan Gardner

Nathan is a highly accomplished UK-based Pilates teacher and teacher trainer, specialising in performance enhancement, injury prevention and recovery for dancers.

With a master’s degree in dance science and over 35 years of multidisciplinary experience in physical and mental conditioning, Nathan has gained a reputation for his innovative and pragmatic approach to movement training, emphasising functional movement tailored to specific performance demands.

As the founder of the KineticNRG Movement Teaching Academy, Nathan provides comprehensive training, continuing professional development (CPD), and peer support for movement professionals. He also developed and continues to lead the Level 4 Pilates and Performance programs at Body Control Pilates, one of the most respected institutions in the field. In addition to his teaching and training roles, Nathan is a key member of the treatment and performance enhancement department and teaching faculty at The Urdang, City St. Georges, University of London’s Department of Performing Arts, where he teaches and mentors the next generation of performers.

Shyam Dattani-

Shyam Dattani (he/him) is a London-based mover and maker whose practice is grounded by strong technique, training, and choreographic thinking within Kathak.

He has been training with Urja Desai Thakore at Pagrav Dance Company (PDC) from 2016 and was the South Asian Dance category winner of BBC Young Dancer 2017, performing as a grand finalist at Sadler’s Wells. Since then, he has worked extensively with leading South Asian dance choreographers and companies in the UK & beyond, including PDC, Akademi, Amina Khayyam Dance Co, Beeja and SRISHTI, touring both nationally and internationally.  

As an emerging choreographer, Dattani combines his unique perspective as a queer diasporically trained dancer and love for costuming in his work, and has received commissions to present work by Sampad Arts & Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa, Without Walls - Blueprint 2023, Akademi & Camden Council and The Place - Choreodrome 2024.

Picture to be updated shortly

Siân Hopkins

Siân Hopkins holds a First-Class Honours degree in Dance and an MA with Distinction in Dance Performance with Specialisation in Ritual from Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. Since graduating, she has had the pleasure of working with a variety of companies, independent artists and projects both near and far. 
 
The most inspirational time she spent dancing was in cathedrals and sacred sites with Moving Visions Dance Theatre, seeking the numinous and exploring meaning in the arts. This work led to pursuing a career in dance education and becoming Research Assistant to Dr Ross McKim as well as Principal Artist and Rehearsal Director for the company. 
 
Siân has been a dance lecturer at Rambert School and a guest teacher at dance institutions around the UK as well as in Japan, Singapore, Vietnam and Canada. Currently a Lecturer at Middlesex University, she has restaged iconic works and choreographed for graduation showcases. Choreographic commissions include various site-specific and cathedral-based projects, Cantata Dramatica's choral dramatisations and collaborative screendance productions. 
 
Siân co-founded Kamavera Dance Theatre with musician and composer Tom Kirkpatrick in 2019, to engage in collaborative creativity and expression through screendance and live performance. The themes explored through the company’s work aims to inspire curiosity and reflection, going hand in hand with the belief that dance enables us to become more empathetic, open and generous human beings. Siân is currently Lead Lecturer for Contemporary with the ISTD, training teachers and examiners in the contemporary syllabi. 

Val Jones

Val Jones trained at the Merseyside Dance Centre and went on to dance professionally for several years before making a second career in both choreography and teaching. Val examines for the Modern Theatre, Tap and Imperial Ballet Branches of the ISTD and is a tutor for the DDE teaching qualifications. She is also a member of the Modern Theatre Committee and Teaching Team. Val has an MA in Dance Studies from Liverpool John Moores University and is a  fully qualified Body Control Pilates Teacher in both mat work and various aspects of the Pilates studio equipment including the Reformer, Cadillac and Chair. 

Teaching credits both abroad and in the UK include The McDonald College Sydney, Australia, as well as many vocational schools in the North of England. Val has also taught in the educational sector helping to establish a Performing Arts Course at the John Masefield School in Herefordshire, and lecturing at Liverpool John Moores University.  

Val is delighted to be invited  back to teach at the ISTD residential summer course at Chichester University and looks forward to working with the dedicated cohort of teachers she knows she will meet there. 

Vicki Stavrinos

Vicki Stavrinos has been a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer and businesswoman for over 25 years and has been sharing her knowledge and experiences with students through both dance and classroom workshops.  Bam Bam Boogies is her performing dance company, specialising in the preservation of Hip Hop Culture and how it has become as popular as it is today.  She has been running the company since 2004 and has been fortunate enough to perform and work alongside the biggest names, including MTV, O2, ITV2, Sky 1 and many UK Festivals / Club venues, as well as winning a mentoring Business award & crowned Nations Best Dance Crew in 2012 after extensive mentoring via the Pioneers and innovators of Street Dance. 

Vicki now focuses on choreographic, teaching & mentoring work as well as work alongside School Boards, Charities, Health Clubs & Private Social Groups not only to promote the Street/Hip-Hop dance elements and offer motivational speaking, but also to encourage dance as a physical activity as well as a performing art.  Most recently she has contributed to the re-development of the ISTD Street Dance specification by providing updated contextual information about the history of Street Dance and the styles that fall under this umbrella. 

Teachers workshops

Butterfly minds: Creating safe spaces 

In this session, Kim will explore the importance of a dance teacher's mental wellbeing and its crucial role in fostering an environment where dancers feel secure, supported, and valued. By addressing common mental health challenges faced by dancers and providing tools for self-care and stress management, we can cultivate a nurturing environment that enhances both their dance training and overall mental wellbeing. Join Kim as we discuss how creating a safe space can lead to more resilient, confident, and joyful dancers.

Pilates and body conditioning

A warm up for all to start our day with some thoughts and teaching tips to take away.

Modern Theatre class

Learn a piece of Musical Theatre Rep with West End Industry expert Lucy Jane Adcock. 

Classical Indian demonstration 

A lecture demonstration showing our talented industry and faculty artists in our Classical Indian genres of Bharatanatyam and Kathak.

Cecchetti Classical Ballet demonstration 

A choreographed demonstration of a selected elements of the syllabus by the Cecchetti Scholars, to promote and highlight the unique qualities of the beautiful Cecchetti classical ballet style. Followed by the opportunity to join in and experience some of the exquisite Cecchetti work including the famous port de bras described by Sir Frederick Ashton as giving a dancer a ‘wonderful feeling for line and correct positioning and the use of head movement and épaulement’.

National demonstration

Demonstration of National dances from Grandison Clark award winners and All England Finalists from Dance Consortium, Elizabeth Hill School of Dance and Kilburn school of Dance. The demonstration will be followed by audience participation in Balkan dances to create a lively community spirit.

Contemporary class

A practical session taking an area of movement and seeing the development through the vocational contemporary work. 

Street dance class

Learn an excerpt of our newly choreographed Street Set Dances and take away examination ideas for your school.

Classical Greek lecture

Learn how to use Greek as a creative tool for developing artistry and musicality. This session will be a progressive look at how Classical Greek vocabulary can be used to develop aspects of musicality and expression for graded candidates. 

Imperial Classical Ballet class

Learn a solo from a piece of traditional classical repertoire to adapt and use with students or learn for your own pleasure and enjoyment. 

Tap dance class 

A focus on the vocational area of Advanced 1 Tap. 

Ticket information

Trainee teachers (DDE and Associate): £50

ISTD Members: £65

Lecturers

In the instance of a change to availability, we may need to find an alternative lecturer (than the one originally scheduled) to lead a course. This will not affect the content covered in the course.

CPD hours

All hours stated next to each course refer to the earned CPD hours. This will be reflected on each certificate of attendance that you will receive.

Further questions

If you have any further questions, please contact coursebookings@istd.org and a member of the team will get back to you.

Booking Conditions and cancellations

All fees must be paid in full, with cleared funds, before bookings close for the event. Delegates may only attend once payment has been made.

The ISTD reserves the right to cancel or amend any session within this event and these terms and conditions without notice. Any changes to the event will be notified to participants as soon as possible by the organiser.

No refunds are payable once a ticket has been purchased and payment received.

This event relies on a certain number of entries being received. If insufficient entries are received the event may not be viable and in this case entry fees will be returned. Delegates are advised to book refundable travel and/or accommodation, as the ISTD will not refund any incurred costs if the event does not take place.

This does not affect your statutory rights.

Further Information

Certificates of attendance will be sent to each delegate via email as a PDF document, after the event has taken place. The CPD hours on the certificate will reflect the time attended by the participant with time deducted for late arrival or early departure from the session.

The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing has the right to refuse bookings on the grounds of health and safety.

Course delegates are responsible for their own personal property and safety. 

The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing reserves the right to record any CPD for the purpose of further training. The ISTD is committed to the principle that the interests and welfare of participants taking part in dance activities is paramount. To comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, ISTD needs your permission before we take any photography or video of you. By acknowledging and agreeing to these terms I consent to ISTD photographing or videoing me at this event. 

Filming /photography / recording of any content displayed or discussed during the class is not permitted by any delegate.

All work displayed is the intellectual property of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and appointed lecturers.

Behaviour and Conduct

Should any delegate display behaviour or conduct that is not deemed appropriate or respectful during or after the event then they may be asked to leave for the benefit of the other attendees.

How we use your information

Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing will process your personal information in accordance with our privacy policy. Please refer to our privacy policy which can be found in full on our website, www.istd.org

Any concerns should be emailed to ballroom@istd.org