Teachers

Sophie Guariglia AISTD

Sophie Guariglia AISTD

Principal, Dance and Musical Theatre Tutor

Sophie Guariglia trained at the Arts Educational School Tring, followed by a three year course on a scholarship at Brian Rogers Performers College. Here, she gained her teaching qualifications and trained in all forms of dance and musical theatre.

Sophie has gone on to work in all areas of the industry and juggles her performing career with the running of the school. Her theatre work includes ‘Crazy for You’ at the London Palladium, ‘B-Supreme’ at The Southbank Centre, ‘IDC’ at the Mermaid Theatre and Shaw Theatre, London, ‘In Time’ at The Drill Hall Theatre, ‘Oliver,’ at The Marlowe Theatre and ‘The Biz’ at The Thameside Theatre. Other dance credits include ‘Credo,’ a new work by Amy Marshall Dance Company, New York City Centre Studios, NYC, ‘Come Together’, in memory of Michael Jackson, at The 02, and ‘World of Dance’ in L.A. She has played the title role in ‘Peter Pan’ at Epsom Playhouse, Newark Palace Theatre and Middlesborough Theatre, totalling over 150 performances as Peter! She also played ‘Tiger Lily’ to Brian Blessed’s Hook at The Marlowe Theatre, and appeared as the ‘Funky Fairy’ in ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Ensemble/Chief Cannibal’ in ‘Robinson Crusoe’ and ‘Fairy Starlight’ in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ with Reach Productions.

She has danced for artists such as Lionel Richie, DJ Idol and for the Hip Hop Company; Masters of Movement and has just finished recording the backing vocals for Laura Bazell’s EP ‘Faces at the Fair’ now available on itunes! She also features as a dancer in the new Sony video ‘We Used To Call It Love’ by French music artist Mayra Andrade.

Philip Spendley

Philip Spendley

Singing Tutor

After successes in a number of music festivals and with considerable experience as an amateur singer, Philip Spendley gave up his job as a bank manager to study music full-time. Studying with professor Robert Dean, Philip received his music degree (Bmus hons) from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he also completed two years on the postgraduate Opera course. His roles there included Michele (Il Tabarro – Puccini), The Earl of Dunmow (A Dinner Engagement – Berkeley), Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro – Mozart) and Olivier (Capriccio – R.Strauss). For British Youth Opera he sang the title role in Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky) and Schaunard (La Boheme – Puccini) in their tour of Italy and France.

He has been a regular guest soloist for a number of choral societies and has worked with such conductors as Sir David Willcocks, Sir Simon Rattle, Gianluca Marciano and Stephen Barlow. His performances have taken him across Europe and he has performed in such venues as The Royal Festival Hall (London), Opera Comique (Paris) and the Bela Bartok Concert Hall (Budapest).

Recent operatic roles have included Publio for English Touring Opera (La Clemenza di Tito – Mozart) and the Sacristano for Grange Park Opera (Tosca – Puccini). His prizes include winner of the Guildhall’s English Song competition, the Wyburd award for German Lieder and the Patrick Libby drama prize.

Philip Quigley ALCM

Philip Quigley ALCM

Modern and Tap

Philip trained under Rosita Yarboy and Paul Mills at Reach Academy before continuing his professional training at D&B School of Performing Arts in Bromley; Graduating as Head Boy in 2011. Whilst training Philip gained his ISTD DDI Tap Teaching Qualification and ALCM Singing Qualification and has taught at different schools across Kent, South-East London and Surrey. He is also a Qualified Aerobic and Zumba instructor.

Theatre Credits include: Samir/Swing and Dance Captain in Scooby-Doo! The Mystery of the Pyramid (UK tour 2014) Understudied and played Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred and Ben Seif. Dandini/Dance Captain in Cinderella (Winter Gardens, Margate); Dance Captain/Ensemble in Robinson Crusoe (Winter Gardens, Margate); Dance Captain/Giant Blunderbore in Jack and the Beanstalk (Theatre Royal, Margate) Music Video Credits include: Camp Rock (Disney). Other Work includes: Dancer in the London Olympic Closing Ceremony in 2012. Philip has been a supporting artist in Dancing on the Edge (BBC2), One Chance, Hummingbird and Diana.

Kristen Harvey BA Hons

Kristen Harvey BA Hons

Singing and Musical Theatre Tutor

Kristen’s professional career began at the the age of 17 when she was awarded a place and full scholarship at one of London’s top Drama schools ‘The Guildford School Of Acting’. During her time at Guildford Kristen was selected to cowrite and star in Sir Richard Stilgoe’s world premiere of ‘Exit Allan’ at the Sherman Theatre as well as taking on many roles, including Sharon in ‘A Slice Of Saturday Night’ and Magicians Assistant in ‘Pippin’. After graduating with a 1st Class Honours Degree Kristen’s professional credits include P. Patty/Swing in ‘Snoopy The Musical’- New Players London, Sally Brown in ‘Snoopy The Musical’ – Criterion Theatre, 1Of 2 in ‘The Ladies Who Lunch’- English Speaking Theatre Of Bruges and Jermyn Street Theatre-London. Soloist in ‘Grease Tribute’ – Jersey and ‘Footprints Of A Giant’- Laudadale House, Nora in ‘A Dolls House’, Miss Julie/Christine in ‘Miss Julie’- Manchester Entrance Theatre, Co Script writer Of ‘The Archers’, Co Presenter ‘Football Site’ –www.beontv.com, VocalistAlbum of ‘Michael Lee Morrisson’.

In addition to Kristen’s performing she has worked for 11 years as an Early Stages teacher for ‘Stagecoach Theatre Arts’ in Blackheath London. Kristen taught at the ‘Deborah Day Theatre School Trust’ for 4 years, where she ran a successful Show Choir winning 1st Place at the ‘British Arts Awards’. Kristen is currently the Musical Director on the Musical Theatre course at Canterbury College, and the Singing and Drama teacher at Chartham Theatre School. Kristen’s Pupils have performed in London’s West End’s – Billy Elliot, The Lion King, Evita, The Wizard of Oz, Into The Hoods (Zoonation), The Snowman (Birmingham Rep). BBC’s – Crimson Petal and the White, Simon Amstells’s – Grandma’s House, Jacqueline Wilson’s Dustbin Baby.

Lemon Otter

Lemon Otter

Lemon has a wealth of experience, both in musical performance and composition. She has worked for many years as a professional singer/ songwriter, performing live and recording in a band (The A31 Girls) with her two sisters. Lemon has worked both in radio and television, including being a regular contributor to ITV’s Late Night Live Series.

Lemon is an experienced singing teacher, specialising in Musical Theatre, Rock, Pop and Harmony work. She has taught at Weymouth College (Music and Performing Arts), Stagecoach Theatre Arts Schools, Youth Music and in schools in Dorset for the past 15 years and written many original musicals for performers of all ages.

Having just completed her MA in Canterbury, Lemon now teaches privately both children and adults in Primary and Secondary schools as well as running community workshops.

Nick Beat BA Hons

Nick Beat BA Hons

Pre-Junior Tutor
Nick’s professional career includes three seasons of pantomime in Margate, and one touring around the Midlands, as well as being part of the Olympic Opening Ceremony in 2012 and appearing in the feature film ‘Suffragette’ as a supporting artist. Nick has been in productions that have taken him to Scandanavia, The Netherlands and Germany and will shortly be embarking on a tour to Oman and the UAE. Last year he starred and produced in a film (‘The Academy) which is due to premiere this summer, and will also be staging an upcoming show in aid of The Alzheimer’s Society. He began his teaching career as an assistant at the Gulbenkian Youth Theatre, and is immensely proud of being able to guide the next generation of PPA students!
Jenny Farrow RAD T. DIP. ARAD, MBBO, NCFE Level 2,

Jenny Farrow RAD T. DIP. ARAD, MBBO, NCFE Level 2,

Jenny won a scholarship to train at the Urdang Academy in Covent Garden, with their three years classical performer’s course. She then went on to dance as a soloist with the London Hite Ballet, Vienna Festival Ballet and the London City Ballet companies and toured for many years. She began further training at the Royal Academy of Dance for three years and gained their Diploma in teaching, which included taking examinations in Anatomy and Technique, History of Ballet, Music in the Dance Studio and Psychology Child Development and Learning. Jenny used run her own Ballet Schools – Petham Ballet School, Canterbury and the Spring Grove School in Wye and is now the Senior and Intermediate R.A.D Ballet Mistress at Phoenix Performing Arts

Melody Montana

Melody Montana

Drama Tutor

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 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 every day in the young individuals she teaches!

Naomi Smith

Naomi Smith

Singing and Drama Tutor

Naomi joined PPA as a student in 2006, enjoying taking part in many of the shows and classes until she left in 2010 to study Musical Theatre at degree level at Guildford School of Acting. During training, Naomi took part in many musicals and plays including The Drowsy Chaperone, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, A Winters Tale, Robert and Elizabeth and Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be.

In 2009 Naomi completed her IDTA Freestyle Associate qualification, enabling her to teach dance. During this time, she was musical director, co-director and choreographer for a production of Godspell in Faversham and this was where her love of teaching blossomed. Whilst at GSA, Naomi spent two years teaching at Theatretrain Camden and since graduating, she has focussed a lot of her time on teaching, choreographing and putting shows together both for children to be involved in and also with friends in order to raise money for charity. Naomi teaches music, singing and dance freelance across Kent, including running her own business, ‘Performance Parties’.

Professionally, Naomi has played Christine in ‘A Night of Phantom of the Opera’ at Como in Guildford with Stuart McBride, danced in ‘The Get Happy Show’ at the Wintergardens in Margate and is involved in ‘One, Two, Three Little Pigs’, a theatre piece for children based on the three little pigs, for which she has done a cast recording.

Abigail Osborne DDI DDE

Abigail Osborne DDI DDE

Ballet, Contemporary and Tap
Abigail Osborne, graduated from Roehampton University with a BA Hons in Dance Studies and has since gone on to complete her DDI & DDE teaching exams and has been teaching Ballet, Tap, Modern and Contemporary for the past five years.
As well as teaching Abigail has performed in many productions including ‘Cinderella’, ‘The Get Happy Show’, ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘La Bayadere’ with Kent Youth Dance Company, The Sugar Plum Fairy from ‘The Nutcracker’, competed as a showgirl in Russia and recently danced as a backing dancer for an act on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ (2014).
Along side this Abigail has worked with a four year scholarship at White Lodge with The Royal Ballet and is always continuing her dance training. Dance is a great passion of Abigail’s and she tries to include this in her lessons and choreography!
Siobhan Kenny- Junior Street Dance

Siobhan Kenny- Junior Street Dance

Siobhan has loved dancing from a very going age.  She attended various theatre schools in London before attending Reynolds Performing Arts college where she completed a 3 year dance diploma. Since then she has performed in various shows around Europe including in Germany, Cyprus and Portugal, but her favourite style has always been commercial /hip-hop and she recently featured in Ironik x Ayo Beatz video- Watch Nuttin!

She has always been inspired by MJ and has been lucky enough to have  performed in MJ shows around the country and is part of the Bollywood troupe- Absolute Bollywood.

She loves to teach kids and adults her knowledge, and loves to help them succeed and watch their confidence grow. She is excited to see how her young street dance students at PPA develop!

Contact

EMAIL: phoenixperformingarts@hotmail.co.uk
TEL: 07968 367397
ADDRESS: 16a Roper Close, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7EP