Meet the Team
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 / Call: 07703 574322
Kristie Pearce
Senior Teacher (Chobham)
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.
Hannah Varnham
Teacher
Theatre Credits include: Company Manager, Ensemble u/s Scaramouche & Oz in WE WILL ROCK YOU (Royal Caribbean Cruises)Ensemble/Swing u/s Lead Vocalist in TANGO MODERNO (UK Tour) Ensemble u/s Sophie in MAMMA MIA! (UK Tour), Ensemble u/s Meat in WE WILL ROCK YOU (Royal Caribbean Cruises), Lead vocalist SENSATORI (Egypt), JACK & THE BEANSTALK (Octagon Theatre, Yeovil), Lead vocalist SENSATORI (Tenerife), ALADDIN (Grand Opera House, Belfast) and DICK WHITTINGTON (Milton Keynes Theatre).
Ella De Vivo
Teacher
Ella trained at Performers College in Essex, graduating in 2018 with a Diploma in Professional Dance.
She has been working in the Musical Theatre industry for the past 5 years.
Theatre credits include: Ensemble/Linda SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (Royal Caribbean Productions), Ensemble WE WILL ROCK YOU (European Tour), Ensemble u/s Wendy Jo & Urleen FOOTLOOSE (Norwegian Cruise Line), Ensemble u/s Tigerlily PETER PAN (Crossroads Pantomimes), Ensemble HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD (Spirit Productions), Dancer/Aerialist IN THE AIR (Royal Caribbean Productions), Dance Captain/Dancer/Aerialist ELEMENTS (Norwegian Cruise Line).
TV/Film Credits include: Dancer in THE MARVELS (Marvel Studios).
Clare Russell-Pavier
Teacher
Clare studied at both the University of Essex and then onto the Guildford School of Acting.
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!), Debs (Boogie Nights).
Choreography credits include: Hall of Mirrors, A Midwinter Nights Dream, BBC Flash Mob, The Diary of a Provincial Lady, Christmas Carol 2: Boxing Day, Spend, Spend, Spend, The Other School.
Clare’s first Saturday job at the age of 13 was as a dance teaching assistant and she has continued to teach at local theatre schools ever since!
Liam Buckland
Teacher
Training: The Urdang Academy, receiving First Class Honours in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre.
Theatre Credits: ‘Close Up: The Twiggy Musical’ Menier Chocolate Factory (Mr Leonard, 1st Cover Tommy Tune), ‘We Will Rock You’ London Coliseum, Disney’s ‘Beauty And The Beast’ UK Tour & London Palladium (1st Cover Lefou), ‘Cats’
International Tour (1st Cover Mungojerrie), ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Original London Cast, London Palladium (Munchkin), ‘Evita’ UK
Tour, ‘Oliver!’ Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, ‘Scrooge’ UK Tour, ‘Whistle Down The Wind’ UK Tour, ‘Half A Sixpence’ Original UK Tour (Young Kipps), ‘Never Forget: The Musical’ Original London Cast, Savoy, ‘Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ UK Tour, ‘The Who’s Tommy‘ UK Tour (Young Tommy). Credits Whilst Training: The Wedding Singer (Robbie Hart).
Film/Television: This Morning (ITV), Britains Got Talent (ITV), Big Night of Musicals 2023 (BBC), Pudsey The Movie (2014),
Big School (BBC), Diana (2013), Spy: Christmas Special (Sky One), World War Z (2013), Dorian Gray (2009), Blue Peter (BBC), Test Drive Monthly (BBC, Advert), Hardware (ITV).
Karen Jones
Head of Operations & 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