About Our Teachers

Lucy Saunt (RAD RTS) -Principal Ballet Teacher

Lucy trained with the ‘Royal Academy of Dance’ (RAD) and gained Registered Teacher Status (RTS) on successfully completing the ‘Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies’. Lucy also trained in the Major Ballet Syllabi with the ‘Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing’ (ISTD). Lucy is also currently studying for the ISTD Imperial Classical Ballet teacher qualification.

In addition to her dance training Lucy attended Trinity College of Music, London and studied the violin and piano .As well as teaching for ‘Dorchester Ballet and Dance Club’ Lucy runs her own Ballet School in Bridport and teaches ballet and jazz dance at schools in the surrounding areas. She combines her music and dance through ‘Sursum’- residential creative holidays for children and young people- in which she directs the orchestra and ensembles and choreographs for the ‘Musical from Scratch’ along with a team of professional artists and musicians.

Lucy has been charged with taking over the ballet classes which Elizabeth Goodchild has nurtured for so long.

‘Dorchester Ballet and Dance Club’ follows the RAD Syllabi for our ballet classes with the opportunity to take exams. However, exams are by no means compulsory as some students prefer to achieve each level without actually taking an exam, which is a perfectly valid way to work and improve. There are also opportunities for students to perform using dances especially choreographed according to the ability and interests of the group.

The RAD syllabi consists of 3 different components: classical, free movement and character dance. The classical work forms the foundation and represents the majority of the syllabus. Free movement incorporates movements in common with other dance styles such as Natural Movement, Contemporary Dance and Revived Greek and introduces technical aspects of ballet but with emphasis on qualitative aspects. Character dance is a stylised form of folk dance designed to be performed by ballet dancers and incorporates rhythm training in movement and supports and enhances ballet training and is a part of the RAD syllabus from Grade 1 upwards. Character dance is included in ballet repertoire such as Swan Lake . The be-ribboned skirts and heeled shoes worn in character dance adds variety to the syllabus and the chance to achieve a sense of performance.

The ‘Dorchester Ballet and Dance Club’ provides ballet classes for pre-school and then RAD classes from pre-primary and up through the graded syllabi. In addition to this vocational training is available through attending the Intermediate RAD ballet class.

Leanne Singleton (RAD,RTS) – Principal Modern, Tap Teacher

Leanne began her training with Janne Carrington in Poole at the age of 3 and enjoyed many years of great training in Ballet, Tap and Modern Theatre, performing in many productions which included performing in the BIC with touring musical “That’ll Be The Day” for 4 consecutive summer seasons! Leanne’s love of dance and inspiration from her much loved dance teacher Janne always gave her the ambition to teach dance and pass her love of dance on to many more young people.

This then led her into her teacher  training.
Leanne trained with the ‘Royal Academy of Dance’ (RAD) and completed the ‘Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies where she gained Registered Teacher Status (RTS).

Leanne teaches for Janne at the Carrington Hollywood Academy of Dance. Whilst training she has enjoyed many other teaching jobs, these include working for Pure Funk as part of the ’senior dance crew’ performing at many events including the Beaminster Festival, Poole Park Festival and in Bournemouth’s square throughout the summer months entertaining the holiday makers. Leanne also taught street dance workshops for Pure Funk in schools around Dorset.

She was also fortunate enough to be asked to choreograph a fashion show for Clarks Village in Street, Somerset which was the main attraction to The Royal Bath and West’s Show in May last year.

Claire Myers - Primary Modern, Dare 2 Dance, Adult Jazz, also offers Dance Aerobics, Pilates

Pilates Instructor (OCR Level 2 Pilates CYQ Level 3 Pilates)

MSc Health Promotion

Bsc Business Studies

I taught Ballet, Tap, Modern & Jazz for 20 years in North Surrey where I also worked as a Health Promotion Specialist, advising on Healthy Eating and Lifestyle.

After discovering Pilates, I trained to become an Instructor at St Margaret’s College, Twickenham and began to use the technique as to help strengthen the students and adults in my dance classes.   I went on to qualify to Level 3 (the highest qualification attainable).

Since 2005 I have been teaching both Dance & Pilates Matwork classes in and around Dorchester.

I enjoy motivating dance students (young & old!) to express themselves through dance, a creative activity which feeds the mind and the body, much like Pilates!