Welcome to the Megan Jones School of Performing Arts! Find out more about our incredible teachers below.
Megan Jones RAD RTS CBTS
Principal
Megan trained at the renowned Sylvia Young Theatre School in London and gained her first leading role in the West End when she was just 17. She played lead roles in shows such as Dreamboats & Petticoats and Save the Last Dance.
Having completed all RAD major examinations up to Advanced 2 as a student, Megan went on to qualify as an accredited Royal Academy of Dance teacher with her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies.
She has also worked for many years in TV including shows for the BBC and CBS. Your children may best know Megan for her role (Tia) in CBBC’s The Sparticle Mystery. Alongside this, she has taught for the last ten years at other local dance and drama schools and has access to leading industry professionals. She is Mental Health First Aid trained & offers LAMDA teacher.
See Megan’s professional CV here.
E-mail: megan@mjspa.co.uk
Kristie Pearce
Senior Teacher
Kristie has been teaching Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre for 14 years and in that time has spent many hours in the studio with students of varying abilities.
After graduating from Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts Kristie went on to dance professionally both on land and sea and has achieved various dance teaching qualifications.
Kristie trained following the ISTD syllabus and in recent years has extended her portfolio of qualifications under the IDTA. Over the years Kristie has coached many students through their dance graded examinations and has received outstanding results, many of whom have gone on to dance professionally. Kristie has taught in both the private and public sectors and finished her PGCE in education under the University of Greenwich.
Kristie loves sharing her passion for dance and performing arts and is so excited to be teaching at the Megan Jones Performing Arts School.
Gemma Buckingham
Teacher
Miss Gemma was born and raised in Surrey and began dancing at the age of 2 along with her two older sisters. She trained in many disciplines and followed the ISTD syllabus for Ballet, Tap and Modern. Her passion for dance, singing and acting grew and grew and she then later gained a scholarship to the prestigious Performing Arts college, Laine Theatre Arts in 2012. She graduated with a National Diploma in Dance and couldn’t wait to get out to the big wide world of performing. Since then, she has performed in musicals in the West End, many theatres in the UK and across the world. Some shows include CATS and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
She has also performed in many pantomimes across the UK, playing the lead Princess roles and has also performed in TV shows, such as All Star Musicals Series 4, ITV. Miss Gemma has always been enthusiastic about teaching. After 12 years of performing, she now loves teaching full time spreading the knowledge and skills she has learnt. She has a strong passion teaching Jazz, Musical Theatre and building our dancer to be strong and confident. Miss Gemma recently achieved her certificate in PBT (Progressive ballet technique) and her Acrobatic arts certificates. She loves teaching the students to be versatile, and most importantly, making sure they are having fun with dance and all things performing! After all, that’s why we love it, and that’s why we do it!
Ellie Goddard
Teacher (Addlestone)
Ellie brings over eight years of teaching experience, during which she has won choreography competitions and created numerous performance pieces showcased on West End stages. She recently graduated with a BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre from the prestigious Urdang Academy.
A passionate performer since childhood, Ellie has appeared in a variety of productions including pantomimes, concerts, and acclaimed shows in London’s West End. Her credits include Bring It On: The Musical at the Southwark Playhouse.
Ellie is thrilled to be joining MJSPA and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of performers.
Clare Russell-Pavier
Teacher
Clare studied at the University of Essex before continuing her training at the renowned Guildford School of Acting.
Her acting credits include: Swing (The Beautiful Game), Magdalena/Dance Captain (Bernarda Alba), Cheryl/Dance Captain (Are We All We Are), Beatrice (A View from the Bridge), Julie Jordan (Carousel), Gabriella Montez (High School Musical), Carmen Diaz (Fame!), and Debs (Boogie Nights).
As a choreographer, Clare has worked on a wide range of productions including Hall of Mirrors, A Midwinter Night’s Dream, BBC Flash Mob, The Diary of a Provincial Lady, Christmas Carol 2: Boxing Day, Spend, Spend, Spend, and The Other School.
Clare began her teaching journey at just 13 years old as a dance assistant on Saturdays, and she has remained dedicated to nurturing young performers at local theatre schools ever since.
Natasha Mould
Cover Teacher
Theatre includes: Judy Haynes – White Christmas (The Sheffield Crucible), Emily – 2020 The Musical (UK Tour & Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe), 1st Cover Glinda – The Wizard of Oz (Leicester Curve), Willard Cagney – Top of the World, Spotlight Bar – Workshop (for Karen Bruce), 1st Cover Doralee – 9 to 5 (Savoy Theatre, London), Mrs Worthington – Me and my Girl (Chichester Festival Theatre), Cha cha/ Patty Simcox – Grease (UK Tour), Annie Get Your Gun (Sheffield Crucible), Tammy/ Penny – Hairspray (UK Tour), Martha – Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Jemima/ Rumple Teaser – CATS (London Palladium & UK Tour), Dance Captain – Craig Revel Horwood’s Strictly Confidential (UK Tour)
Emily Henderson
Teaching Assistant
Emily has been training in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, Improv, Acro, Musical Theatre & Drama for eleven years. Alongside MJSPA, she attends Trinity Laban part time on the Centre for Advanced Training associates program. Emily loves teaching and assisting and sharing her passion for the performing arts, as well as her vast knowledge of the RAD syllabus. Emily is always building up those around her and is a fantastic role model to all her fellow students at MJSPA.
Clare Whistlecroft
Head of Operations
Contact – clare@mjspa.co.uk
From the beginning, Clare has been a dedicated supporter of MJSPA, as an adult tap student and a chaperone for all our summer shows. She is now a valued member of our background team, helping to manage and assist with various behind-the-scenes operations. She brings a wealth of experience from previous roles in customer service, office management, account and payroll and is looking forward to being a part of the MJSPA team.
Karen Jones
Head of Wellbeing
Karen supports the running of MJSPA and responsible for the wellbeing of all our students at the school.
Karen has spent her career working in pastoral care and as a Head of Year within local schools.
As a previous “dance mum” she understands the world of the arts all too well and is passionate about ensuring a positive, safe and fun environment for all.
Philip Roser
Co-founder
Phil helped launch MJSPA with Megan in the summer of 2021 and now supports the school with its commercial and marketing operations.
His full time role as head of marketing for Sky Sports means you may not see him as often but he has a big passion for musical theatre and is proud to see the school go from strength to strength.
E-mail: philip.roser@mjspa.co.uk
Location
Strodes College, Egham
Chobham Community Centre
Contact Us
E-mail: megan@mjspa.co.uk