Olivia Duggan – Studio Principal
Olivia has danced her way through life and is very excited and proud to have founded ‘Liv2dance’ in September 2015; a school which can inspire and spread the enjoyment and immeasurable benefits of dance and performing arts with many others.
Starting her training at The Hilda Davis School of Dancing, Derbyshire at the tender age of 2, Olivia was hooked! Following years of performances in competitions, shows, festivals and successfully completing exams in Tap, Ballet, Modern and Acrobatics Olivia progressed onto London College of Dance accredited by Middlesex University where she gained a BA (hons) in Dance. Whilst continuing to perform Olivia taught ISTD and RAD syllabus work in schools around Bedfordshire and spent a Summer teaching in the United States before re-locating to Kent. Following the move Olivia continued to develop her teaching skills delivering lessons in primary schools, private dance and theatre schools and establishing a new Dance department in a local Secondary School.
She successfully launched Theatretrain Maidstone in 2007 followed by Theatretrain Ashford in 2013. Both centres provide professional training from 3 – 18 years in Dance, Singing and Acting offering all students performance opportunities in local shows. Alongside this Olivia’s students have performed at Disneyland Paris and in prestigious West End venues including; Sadlers Wells, The London Palladium, The O2 Arena and The Royal Albert Hall.
Continuing to develop her skills in education, Olivia became a performing Arts Lecturer in a FE College delivering courses from Level 1 up to Foundation Degree. She later become Course Leader and then Programme Area Manager for Performing Arts. Olivia completed a PGCE in the Life Long Learning Sector at Canterbury Christ Church University and is an Arts Award Advisor for Trinity College, London.
Olivia’s career has enabled her to work with all ages and abilities and has strengthened her passion to share the magic of dance and performing arts with others.
Alice Waters – Drama & Lamda Teacher
Drama and the arts have been a big part of my life for many years. I started my training as a teenager at Theatretrain, which confirmed my love for Drama! This started my ambition for a career in the Performing Arts and provided me with my first experience of performing on a London stage. Following my time as a student at Theatretrain, I achieved an Extended Diploma in Performing Arts and successfully auditioned for the National Youth Theatre, where I performed in ‘Watch This Space’. I later completed a course in ‘Acting for the Screen’ with MN Academy in London and I am currently studying for my BA HONS in Theatre and Drama at The University of Kent. During my career so far, I have played a variety of roles in both theatre and film. Highlights include; Canterbury Shakespeare Festival, The Marlowe Theatre’s Return of the Unknown (2017 & 2018), Carphone Warehouse Advert, Summer of Rockets and Into the Woods (Film). I have been teaching for 6 years now, not just at a variety of stage schools. I have directed multiple plays including; ‘Romeo & Juliet’ for the Shakespeare Schools Festival and ‘Eclipse’ for the National Theatre’s Connections 500 Festival. Both a great achievement for all involved. I am proud to be part of the Liv2Dance Teaching Team and love seeing the L2D Performing Arts Students performing their exam work on stage each term.
Emma Anderson – Vocal Coach
I trained at Theatretrain as a teenager which encouraged me to pursue a career in the arts. I later gained a diploma in musical theatre and a subsidiary diploma in production arts and stage management. I’ve performed in musicals, panto, short films, interactive children’s theatre, and toured to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival; but now I find that singing has become my favoured discipline. I work professionally as a jazz singer, and a singing teacher. I aim to pass onto the Liv2Dance students the unfailing support that I received when I was a young performer myself, and to transfer my passion, not only for singing, but for all aspects of theatre.
Michaela Cisarikova
Michaela is a slovak dance artist based in the UK. She is the founder & artistic director of MCDC as well as a freelance dancer, performer, choreographer and teacher, working across the UK & internationally.
Michaela’s training includes; a first class BA (HONS) Degree in Dance Education at Canterbury Christ Church University, Street Dance Teacher Training Qualification with Urban Strides – Europe’s leading Street Dance education experts and the Jasmin Vardimon PGCertificate in physical theatre for dancers and actors at The Royal Holloway University, London.
Michaela’s teaching experience includes; Sessional teacher at Canterbury Christ Church University, Studio Wayne McGregor and Pro – classes at Trip Space, The Longfield Hall and Husky studios in London. Her international teaching work includes; The Joffrey Ballet and the trainee programme in Chicago, Tanecno – Dance Festival in Slovakia, Abundance International Dance Festival in Sweden and many others including school settings and youth companies.
Michaela is passionate about embracing individuality and whilst she mainly focuses on Contemporary and Hip-Hop styles she supports creativity and experimentation within all techniques.
Akeem Hyman
Akeem is an experienced performer, dance teacher and fitness instructor. He trained at the prestigious Performers College where he worked incredibly hard to make his dreams a reality. Whilst at college he performed in various shows and musicals including the opening ceremony of NFL league at Wembley stadium and the closing act of BBC Dance Proms at The Royal Albert Hall.
Akeem toured the UK as part of the original UK & Ireland cast of ‘Motown the Musical’ where he performed to packed crowds every night, playing Brian Holland, featured ensemble and first cover Stevie Wonder.
Akeem loves working with the students at Liv2Dance and is delighted to be part of the team.
BETH WOODCOCK
Beth trained at The Centre Performing Arts College, completing a Level Three Diploma in Musical Theatre Performance. She has also achieved a Diploma in Dance Instruction with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and Grade 8 Musical Theatre Singing with Trinity Guildhall.
Beth has gained a fantastic range of performing experience including…
– “Spinotti”, Bat Out Of Hell, International Tour & West End
– “Scaramouche”, We Will Rock You, RCCL
– “Shirlie”, The Best of Wham, U.K. Tour
– Lead Vocalist, Viking Sea, Blackburn International
Alongside her performing work Beth is an experienced teacher with a real passion for sharing her love of performing arts with all ages and loves working with our L2D Studios students.
CHRIS SPARKES
Chris graduated from Bird College in 2018 with a First-Class BA(Hons) in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. Upon graduating Chris was presented with the Most Professional Gentleman Award and the Acting Achievement Award by Bird College patron, Stephen Mear. Chris grew up in a Kent, dancing at MDS and was an associate with Central School of Ballet for 5 years. In 2014 he went to the IDO Tap World Championships and won gold with the Tap Attack England Team Formation Dance. In 2019 Chris joined Avalon Rathgeb’s professional tap company, Old Kent Road. Chris recently performed in the Caribbean with Old Kent Road adding to their previous tours of China and the UK with their show, OSCILLATE.
Chris is on the dance faculty at Masters Performing Arts and Performers College and has experience teaching at a variety of schools and institutions including Bird College, Pineapple Dance Studios, The Centre PAC, Bird Junior School, and MDS.
Chris’s Performance Credits include:
Theatre: Bobby C in Saturday Night Fever (International Tour), OSCILLATE (UK and China Tour), Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Newcastle Theatre Royal), Cinderella (Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage)
Television: Teen Patrick Swayze in The Real Patrick Swayze: In His Own Words (Biopic)
Feature Film: Young Dave in Brighton (Director Stephen Cookson)
EILA MCKENZIE
Eila has always had a passion for the performing arts! She began taking her training seriously as a teenager whilst attending Theatretrain Maidstone, alongside weekly dance classes. During this time she gained many LAMDA qualifications and Dance awards; receiving honours in both singing and jazz dance. Eila completed a Level 3 qualification in Performing Arts whilst at Sixth Form and then went on to successfully audition for Reynolds Performing Arts College where she gained a Diploma in Professional Performance. During her course Eila trained in all elements of the arts whilst working with professional commercial dance and acting companies.
Eila has performed in a number of musicals, plays, short films, voiceovers and workshops over the last few years and is thrilled to now be developing her teaching experience through her work at Liv2Dance.
LIAM MCHUGH
Liam trained in MT at Performers College and is an experienced teacher, choreographer and performer who has worked internationally and is currently performing in Grease the Musical in London’s West End!
His theatre credits include;
Waitress the Musical UK Tour, Ghosted, The Other Palace Theatre, Soho Cinders, Charing Cross Theatre, Tony Monero, Saturday Night Fever, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Ensemble/Cover Britney Spears, We Will Rock You, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Tracey Flye Musical, Melchoir Gabor, Spring Awakening, Performers College, Dancer/Understudy Genie, Aladdin, Dancer/Understudy Prince Charming, Cinderella, Arena, Dancer, NFL International Tour, Arena, Dancer, FA Cup Final.
Liam also successfully auditioned for the hit BBC show, Little Mix The Search! Where he competed with the Mixed Group, ‘Jasper Blue’.
Liam joined the L2D Family in January 2020 and loves sharing his passion for the performing arts with our students!
AMBER BUTLER
Amber started dancing at a young age focusing mainly on Street Dance and Cheerleading. She fell in love with Contemporary and Ballet as a teenager and pushed herself to build her technique and experience through attending regular classes and performing in annual shows and competitions for many years. Amber has performed at some prestigious venues including; The Place and The Royal Albert Hall.
Amber completed a degree in Contemporary dance at the University of Chichester. Through her course she developed her knowledge and practical skills in a range of Contemporary techniques including; Cunningham, Graham, Release and Capoeira. Amber also found a passion for choreography whilst studying.
Following her graduation Amber returned to Kent where she taught Ballet, Contemporary and Street Dance in local dancing schools to children from pre-school age up to teens. She also choreographed numbers for her students who took part in a professional pantomime and local shows.
Amber loves teaching at L2D Studios and has really seen the dancers grow in confidence and ability. She likes to focus on Lyrical / Contemporary and Street Dance where she really pushes the students to bring their own personality and performance quality to the work.