Principal
LYNSEY BRITTON (AISTD, MT Hons)
LYNSEY started dance classes at the age of three at the Jason Theatre School in Broxbourne. At sixteen she went on to train professionally for three years at Laine Theatre Arts where she gained her teaching qualifications, Modern and Tap Associates (ISTD) with Distinction and a Musical Theatre Diploma with Honours. In her final year there she was the winner of the Singing, Drama and ‘Student of the Year’ awards.
She has had an extensive professional performing career in both the West End and on major UK tours with credits, including: Adelaide in ‘Guys and Dolls’, (playing opposite Patrick Swayze), Rumpleteaser in ‘Cats’, the role of Belle in ‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’, all in the West End and the title role in ‘Calamity Jane’, Carrie Pipperidge in ‘Carousel’, Kathy Seldon in ‘Singing in the Rain’ and Lola in ‘Copacabana’ on No. 1 UK tours. She has also appeared as ‘Cinderella’ opposite Brian Conley’s ‘Buttons’ for three consecutive years and other leading roles in various pantomimes across the UK. TV credits include The Royal Variety Show, Blue Peter, The Generation Game and This Morning and Lynsey was heard on Radio 3 as Philia with Griff Rhys Jones in the Covent Garden Festival performance of ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’. Lynsey also sings on the original London cast recording of ‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’ and has performed solo in cabaret in various prestigious London nightclubs.
Together with teaching, Lynsey continues to perform in corporate events, both as a singer and dancer and recent gigs have included playing Shirley MacLaine in ‘That’s Amore’ as well as singing solo in charity events alongside Jonathan Pryce, Michael Ball, Imelda Staunton and other high profile celebrities.
Lynsey teaches all styles and disciplines of dance and Musical Theatre and has often led Masterclass workshops for pupils of all ages. She actively choreographs corporate projects as well as local amateur dramatic productions. She is thrilled to be running her own Performing Arts School and hopes that her students will have great fun learning new skills and experiencing many exciting times whilst being part of it.
JENNIFER YHIP (DDI Ballet)
JENNIFER started dancing at the age of five at the Blackheath School of Dance, South East London where at sixteen she continued to teach free Street classes and was involved with shows and events put on by the School. Jennifer continued her training at Lewisham College where she completed a three year Foundation Course in Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz. After graduating from full time training, Jennifer pursued her love of Street Dance by continuing to train in the heart of the Street Dance Scene, Pineapple Dance Studios, Covent Garden and Maryland Studios, Hackney where she was able to work with and train under many high profile Street Dance personalities. Jennifer has continued to teach at various Schools around London such as Crofton Academy, Italia Conti Associates and Holy Cross Primary School, teaching Primary up to Vocational level in Street, Jazz and Ballet. Jennifer has recently gained her DDI teaching qualifications in ballet. The training and experiences Jennifer has received has given her a strong love of the genres she is able to teach in, and it is this passion that drives her to be a great and influential teacher for the young dancers of today.
KATIE RALLISON (FDI, CDE Tap, Modern Theatre, National)
KATIE has worked with children and students teaching drama and dance for many years and co-runs the Big Spirit Youth theatre based in Hitchin where she has choreographed, directed and assisted students in over fifty shows. She passed her teaching qualifications in Tap, National and Modern at the Dance College in Royston with flying colours. She has taught ISTD tap, modern and national to children within several dance schools and colleges around Hertfordshire for more than four years as well as giving classes in contemporary, hip hop, jazz and adult classes. Her students have achieved outstanding exam results. Many of the students she has worked with now attend drama schools in London and appear at the Edinburgh Fringe festival yearly under her direction. She choreographs many theatrical and corporate events and has appeared herself in over forty theatre shows in London, Edinburgh and Hitchin. Katie has an affinity with dealing with students and children to help them achieve their full potential within dance, drama and life and is excited to be teaching at The Britton School of Performing Arts.
Hannah Sharman DDE Modern, DDE Tap & DDE National Dance
Hannah started dancing when she was just three years old taking up RAD ballet and ISTD modern with a local school in Cambridgeshire. She then went on to perform in many shows including Disneyland Paris and Port Aventura, festivals and charity galas in local theatres, whilst also starting drama and tap. She found her love for teaching while helping in classes and after taking her A Levels she went on to study and become a fully qualified teacher at 'The Dance College'.
Since completing her training Hannah has taught in various different schools in the country, (including 'The Dance College'), coaching students for exams, and auditions and running Musical Theatre weekend and summer schools. She is very excited to be joining The Britton School of Performing Arts.
Kelly Mansfield AISTD Ballet, AISTD Tap & AISTD Modern
Kelly started to dance at the age of three at the Barrett Smiths Dance School. At the age of eleven she performed in the Stevenage Pantomime at the Gordon Craig Theatre. At twelve Kelly went to train at a Performing Arts School in Suffolk and as a teenager performed in several music videos. Kelly furthered her training at the age of sixteen with a three-year professional course at Laine Theatre Arts, gaining Associate Teaching Qualifications with Honours in Ballet, Tap and Modern and a diploma in Dance. She went on to dance professionally and has been performing for fifteen years.
After college she went on to work in many European countries and performed in the largest Casino in Europe. In London Kelly had the privilege of Performing ‘A Chorus Line’ for Marvin Hamlisch. She has been a Dance Captain and Dancer Supervisor for Carnival Cruise Lines, gaining knowledge of all technical aspects of theatre and being responsible for the installation of production shows. In 2012 she performed in the Planet Hollywood Casino Las Vegas in a review show. Recently Kelly has had the opportunity to be part of workshops taken by Broadway choreographers and producers, and has worked with Paul Roberts, a top UK choreographer and just recently she was Production Manager and Company Manager for a touring show called ‘West End Experience’ working with West End choreographers.
Kelly is pleased to be teaching for The Britton School of Performing Arts and hopes to give the pupils a joy for performing like she has, learning new skills and progressing, with enjoyment being the number one element.
NATASHA FRENCH (DDE Ballet, Modern Theatre, Tap. DDI Ballet)
NATASHA found her love of dance at just three years old when she began classes in Ballet, Tap and Modern. She then went on to compete in various dance festivals around Suffolk and Essex and perform in renowned theatres with local dance and drama organisations. After studying dance and media production Natasha joined ‘The Dance College’ to fulfill her passion in teaching. Over the past two years she has taught in various dance schools and organisations around different parts of the country and has been involved in their summer schools, exam coaching and private tuition classes. She has coached and prepared many students for audition dances at major colleges around the UK, such as Performers, Laine Theatre Arts and Doreen Bird, with very successful results. She hopes to reflect her own love of dance in the students she teaches.