HOLLY WEBSTER
Holly is professional dancer and dance teacher based in the north west. She attended Jay-Em studios for 13 years before leaving to further her dance studies. She graduated from Preston’s College in 2018 with her ISTD Modern and Tap teaching qualifications. Since then she has performed as a festival backing dancer, worked for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines as part of the onboard show company and appeared in several theatre shows around the UK.
ABBI MOORE
After leaving Jay Em, Abbi (professionally known as Sarah Moore)moved to London to study at The Urdang Academy, where she recently graduated with a first class honours degree. During her training, she was fortunate enough to perform in productions such as Fame, The Children of Eden and Side by Sondheim, as well as performing with the West End Gospel Choir at West End Live 2019. After graduating, she was cast in a new British musical Henrietta, where she originated the lead role of Maria Janssen; the original cast recording will be released across all platforms. She is currently working in the cast of ‘Cats’ the musical on a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship.
TOM FOTHERGILL
After leaving Jay-Em, Tom went on to attend The Royal Ballet School (White Lodge), Elmhurst Ballet School, The Hammond School and Laine Theatre arts- where he obtained his Level 6 Diploma in professional Musical Theatre.
Since graduating Laine he signed with “Orlando Gray Management”. His professional credits include:
The Nutcracker- Royal Ballet (2013)
Snow White- Qdos (2019-2020)
Beauty & The Beast- Regal Entertainment (2021-22)
Royal Caribbean’s ‘Independence of the seas’ performing in the cast of Grease (2022-2023)
Snow White- UK Productions (2023-24)
Royal Caribbean’s ‘Anthem of the seas’ performing in the cast of We Will Rock You
(2024-25)
‘I am so grateful for the training I received from Julia. She has aided and guided me through my journey and supported me as I strived to live up to the professionalism she teaches’.
GEORGINA CARTWRIGHT
Georgina first started her training with Jay-Em Dance Studios at the age of 11.
She studied in every genre of dance there until she left for full time ballet training at the age of 16. She graduated at 19 with a BA Hons degree in Dance.
She went on to complete her professional training with the Northern Ballet company in Leeds on their graduate programme and has been performing with the State Opera Ballet company in Bulgaria since 2018.
Upon leaving Jay-Em, Georgina has been lucky enough to have many exciting opportunities to perform.
Including: Dancer in Sam Smith’s music video ‘One Last Song’, performing at the Royal Albert Hall in ‘Yaldi’, preforming Swan Lake and The Nutcracker with the Northern Ballet company, touring ballet productions of Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and the Nutcracker around Scotland for 3 years under the direction of former principal dancer of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Daniel Job.
Georgina was also a semi finalist in the Genee International Ballet Competition 2016.(Now renamed as the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition) Her ‘Dancer’s Own Solo’ piece for this competition was choreographed by fellow past Jay-Em student, Heather Rodd.
Professional credits include performances in: Giselle, Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, Ballet Galas and contemporary/musical theatre productions such as ‘Hair’ the musical, My Fair Lady, Maria De Buenos Aries, The Jungle Book, Orpheus and Eurydice.
Georgina would like to thank Jay-Em for starting her off on this wonderful journey of dance, giving her the foundations and love of dance that she needed to achieve her professional career. The memories she created at Jay-Em will stay with her forever and she made life long friendships during her years there. She thanks Jay-em from the bottom of her heart.
HEATHER RODD
Heather completed her honours degree at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in London, with a BA (Hons) in Ballet Education. She further studied in Tap and Modern Theatre and completed 4 diplomas under the ISTD, highest award being a Diploma in Dance Education in both styles, exams taken through Jay Em.
After her degree, she began working for Jay Em Dance Studios and Miss Sutcliffe Academy of Dance. Students that I have worked with have been highly successful in their careers, at dance colleges, competitions and examinations. Students have successfully auditioned for top ballet and musical theatre schools including The Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst Ballet School, Urdang Academy, Laine Theatre Arts and many more. Some have gone on to work professionally in ballet companies, musicals, cruises and commercially.
I am now living in British Columbia, Canada working for Alchemy Dance Collective, running the RAD Ballet programme and teaching and choreographing the competitive teams in Ballet, Contemporary, Musical theatre, Acro, HIp hop, Modern, ISTD Modern theatre, Jazz and PBT.
ELLEN DICKINSON
Ellen Dickinson said ‘I was lucky enough to train at Jay Em Studios from the age of 2 to 16, where I went onto gain a full Scholarship into Professional Training with Preston College Dance’. Since then, she has gained both my ISTD DDE’s in Modern and Tap, and Advanced 2 in all genres. She is currently auditioning for Cruise Ships, Agencies and Theatre alongside Teaching, after holding a contract with Stageworks Worldwide Productions. ‘This would not have been possible without my prior training from Julia and Annette, therefore have a lot to thank Jay Em for!’
MOLLY GRIFFITHS
Whilst Molly was a student at Jay Em, she gained many different experiences such as pantomimes, dancing for Rock FM and Britain’s Got Talent Advert Filming. Since leaving the dance school she went on to train at ‘Preston’s Dance College’, and, over the past four years has had some amazing opportunities such as performing at Blackpool pleasure beach’s scare fest and dancing at ‘Move it’ in London.
ALEXANDRA BROWN
Alexandra trained at Jay-Em studios from a young age and continued her studies to become a professional dancer and teacher- achieving two ISTD Diplomas in Dance Education both in tap and modern theatre.
Alexandra has worked professionally as a commercial artist in Bollywood movies & music videos including one of the most viewed videos in India with over a billion hits on YouTube. She has performed at arena concerts including “The biggest 80s&90s disco” dancing for bands such 5ive and The Vengaboys. Her credits also include BBC3’s “Big Proud Party Agency”, ‘The Connecting Arts Tour” of Greece, Norway and Austria as well as performing as a showgirl in “Circus Vegas” and as a dancer/ vocalist at the Christmas markets in Tokyo.
She continues to perform professionally alongside teaching dance in primary and secondary schools for the company “Chorley Schools Sports Partnership”
KIMBERLEY ELLISON
Kim studied dance with Miss Julia from 3 until 18 years of age and dancing is still a huge part of her life and through dance, she learned skills that she still draws on today. ‘I will be forever grateful to Jay-Em for what Miss Julia and Annette taught me’.
‘Miss Julia was generous with her time and energy and a group of us studied for exams that were usually the reserve of dance training college – I completed all my tap and modern exams and Elementary RAD with Jay-Em and at the same time I studied my A-levels at Runshaw College. I danced on Monday and Wednesday afternoons then late into the evenings and most of the day of on Saturdays. I LOVED it and it improved my technique massively. Miss Julia also provided different opportunities as part of Jay-Em and we performed at Blackpool and Preston theatres with funky jazz routines choreographed by Annette. We did a dance to Greece mega mix that was over 10 minutes long – when we first performed it I would run on the stage not knowing what section of the routine we were about to dance (thank goodness the brain would magically click into place when we were all in position). I also studied and passed GCSE and A/S level dance at Jay-Em and really enjoyed learning about the history of dance and studying contemporary dance for the first time’.
‘I admire the happy, stable and creative environment Miss Julia creates through her school. She gave me loads of opportunities including choreographing on senior school pupils for our bi-annual Jay-Em School shows at St Michaels. She taught me skills and coping methods that I still use today. Jay-Em gave me an extra family to be myself and enjoy the freedom that dance gives.’
She went to got Guildford to study Dance and Culture at the University of Surrey,.
‘I have Miss Julia to thank, all those years ago she started a life long love’.
DANIEL LACEY
Daniel started his dance training at Jay-Em with lessons in all genres before going on to train at Performers College in Essex. As a professional performer Daniel has worked at Disney Land Paris, First Choice Holiday Village (Cyprus) & Hoburne Holidays. He is professionally represented by Avenue Management, London and recently played the Prince in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Blackburn King George’s Hall. Daniel is currently touring the world as a professional performer on Silversea Cruises. Daniel thanks Julia and all the teachers at Jay-Em for giving him such a good, strong start to his training and the strength, ability and confidence to be able to work professionally in the industry. He made life long friends while at Jay-Em and is grateful for the school for nurturing his love of performing in a friendly environment.
JAMIE TAYLOR
Jamie came to dance classes at Jay-Em taking part in numerous shows and performances before training in Musical Theatre at the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester and later went on to train as a secondary school performing arts teacher. He now splits his time working as a voiceover artist, singer, teaching singing at his private studio and running his own theatre school.
Jamie is thankful to Jay-Em for the training he received in such a welcoming environment. All the staff encouraged and embraced his love of performing which then aided him to fulfil a career working in the arts.
