Lauren Matthews, BA (HONS), LRAD, ARAD, DDE
Lauren was selected to study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance and achieved the BA (Hons) Ballet Education degree, after first falling in love with dance aged three. Lauren graduated, achieving first class honours in all her teaching and choreography modules. She also graduated with the Licentiate Award – the highest teaching accolade and Advance 2 Classical Ballet. Lauren has since, taught ballet and dance to children and young people in a range of settings including the Urdang Academy and the RAD’s community programme Step into Dance, where she successfully led groups of SEN students to audition and perform at Sadler’s Wells for several years.
Lauren has to date, prepared and entered over a thousand pupils for RAD and ISTD exams with 100% pass rate, and is now a lecturer and tutor for the RAD’s Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies, Diploma In Dance Teaching Studies, and Licentiate Award programmes and assesses student-teachers in their ballet teaching qualifications.
Lauren is also a Royal Academy of Dance examiner. Lauren’s past pupils include those who are now studying at full-time vocational dance schools such as Central School of Ballet and London Studio Centre. Others are enjoying their time as Royal Ballet Junior Associates. Lauren is dedicated to her pupils and her professional development, and has recently been taught and selected by Darcey Bussell to teach Darcey’s new fitness programme DDMix. Lauren has completed other teacher training and qualifications, including achieving 95% for the ISTD’s Modern Dance Teaching qualification.
Léa Hamilton, BSc MSc RAD RTS.
Léa is Franco-British and spent her early years in France where she studied ballet and tap from a young age. She moved to London and began studying at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She has studied the RAD ballet syllabus at all levels, both Graded and Vocational, and has also taken up jazz and contemporary dancing as well as cheerleading. After studying for a degree in Psychology at Durham University, she then completed an MSc in Sports Psychology where she specialised in the coaching of classical ballet dancers and the psychology of performance. During this time, she also worked with a company of university ballet dancers, as a choreographer.
Over the last few years Léa has worked in a number of different settings focusing primarily on Early Years development, but has more recently made the transition into teaching dance full-time. Whilst obtaining her RAD teacher status, Léa worked at the RAD Headquarters both within the Dance School and the Step into Dance organisation, gaining experience including the managerial and administrative aspects of the dance school.
Léa is currently working in a number of private dance and local primary schools delivering both RAD syllabus and non-syllabus classes and choreographing for their shows. In addition, she is running her own adult beginners ballet classes in Kew.
Konstantina Chadoulou, BA (Hons)
Konstantina was born in Athens and ballet has always been a big part in her life. Her passion for ballet grew and she travelled to London to study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance. During her studies for the BA (Hons) Ballet Education degree, Konstantina was selected as a dancer to present the official launch of the RAD syllabi Discovering Repertoire. She was also selected to perform for the Duchess of Cornwall.
Konstantina graduated with the Licentiate Award- the highest teaching award – in which she was awarded Distinction. Konstantina is a very expressive dancer and in her final year of study, opted for the performance module. She is keen to instil confidence and expression in all her students work and encourage a love of dance. Konstantina enjoys teaching pupils from Nursery up to RAD Advanced 2 level. Konstantina believes ballet is not just training the dancing body, but it also teaches lessons for life.
Emily Matthews, BA (Hons)
Emily has a passion and talent for creativity and performing arts. She began dancing at the age of three and achieved Distinction at RAD Grade 8 Ballet (the highest RAD graded examination). She studied and achieved all her graded and vocational examinations up to ISTD Advance 1 Modern and Intermediate Tap. Emily has a particular aptitude for the stage and enjoyed performing genres such as musical theatre, and modern, winning many local competitions in her home town. She also studied national dance and singing and enjoyed performing and recording vocals in the music studio.
Emily’s talents extend much further than the performing arts studios, and she is a talented artist with experience in art and graphic design. She achieved and graduated with the BA (Hons) Photography degree from the specialist, University of Creative Arts. Emily has worked in the fashion industry for the prestigious Ralph Lauren firm for several years. Prior to this, she was a children’s footwear specialist.
Emily is a fully trained first aider, has an up to date DBS certificate and experience of mentoring young people. She enjoys assisting our Pre-School dance classes, and supporting our dancers in their preparations for performance and training.
Customer Reviews
“I just wanted to say thank you to you and motion arts for yesterday’s show. I thought the dancers, the costumes and the music was all great!…’
“Thank you so much for the show on Sunday. We loved it!…’
“Lovely Lauren, today was absolutely amazing! Thank you to all the team for all your time and effort. I know all of our girls are growing up with you and your team, giving the girls the most amazing experience and confidence. Couldn’t ask for more! It was a beautiful show to watch!…’
“It was an amazing show! You did an amazing job, so many dances and the children all loved it…’
“Incredible! Incredible! Incredible! What an amazing show! Thank you so much Lauren and team. You did an amazing job and all the dancers clearly had a fantastic time! Such a wonderful performance!…’
“An amazing show – so slick and professional. The costumes were amazing, the dancers were exceptional…what a massive accomplishment by all. I am so proud of my daughter…’
“Thank you for an amazing show on Sunday!…’
“Brilliant Brilliant Show! Was emotional to watch them all knowing how little they are but how amazing they did. How did you get them to do all that??!! ..’
