Teachers
Co. Principal & Teacher
Zoé Burton BA(Hons) Royal Academy of Dance LRAD, RTS, LISTD, ALAM Lamda Speech & Drama, Rambert Contemporary Dance Teacher
Zoé
has been teaching ballet to students of all ages for over 20 years. She started her dance training in Shropshire at the Stretton School of Dance and Drama where she gained Advanced dance examinations in Ballet, Modern, Tap, National, Classical Greek and a LAMDA Acting diploma. She gained places to study at leading London dance colleges and was awarded the Margot Fonteyn scholarship to train at the Royal Academy of Dance in London. She graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in the Art and Teaching of Ballet & Dance with Licentiate teacher qualification which is recognised worldwide. She began a performing and teaching career in 2001 performing in the UK, Europe, Cyprus and teaching in New York City USA. She has trained dancers of all ages in schools, colleges and universities, some of whom have been accepted onto prestigious ballet and dance programs in the UK and America. Zoé
has been teaching dance in the South West to children, teenagers and adults for 20 years. She taught for Bristol School of Dancing and set up Wells Ballet & Dance School (formerly the Susan Coles School of Dance) in 2005. Zoe has extensive experience entering candidates of all ages for Royal Academy of Dance ballet, ISTD Modern & Tap examinations gaining excellent results, preparing choreography for dance competitions and choreographing and producing dance productions for students. She recently gained her Rambert Teaching qualification in Contemporary Dance and is an accredited Musical Theatre teacher with Royal Academy of Dance.
Co Principal and Teacher
Andrea Taylor BA (Hons) Royal Academy of Dance RTS, ARAD, RAD teaching mentor & Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) certified teacher & RAD Musical Theatre
Andrea began her ballet training in Wells at the Susan Coles School of Dance later known as Wells Ballet & Dance School, where she gained her Advanced dance exams as well as performing lead roles in many of the school’s dance productions. She went on to complete a three year Ballet Education degree at the Royal Academy of Dance, graduating in 2012 with a First Class Honours, and more recently gained the Associate of The Royal Academy of Dance (ARAD) Award.
Andrea has taught at a number of prestigious ballet and dance schools around Bristol and Somerset including Bristol School of Dancing, Fitzgraham and Bristol Ballet Centre. She has set up and run Tiny Tutus mummy and baby ballet classes as well as her own dancing school in Bristol. She has choreographed dances for many school productions and spent some time teaching children with disabilities at Flamingo Chicks CIC. Andrea is also a certified PBT teacher and her
students have gained places at leading London dance colleges as well various Ballet Associate programmes. Andrea is also a certified Musical Theatre Teacher with Royal Academy of Dance. Since moving back to Wells and having had her two children, she has taken on the role of Co Principal of Wells Ballet & Dance.
Laurie Elcoate - May BA (Hons) Professional Dance and Musical Theatre Urdang
Laurie graduated from The Urdang Academy in London with a BA (Hons) degree in Professional Dance and Musical theatre. Before that she attended The BRIT school gaining a triple distinction in her National Diploma. She has taught Musical Theatre to children in the UK & Italy alongside professionally performing since 2012. In 2017, Laurie also trained as a yoga teacher taking a break from performing to raise her 3 small children.
Theatre Credits Include:
Rachel in ‘Rainbow Magic Live’ (Leicester Square Theatre, London & UK National Tour), Puffy in ‘CBeebies: Tree Fu Tom Live’ (UK National Tour), Hermione in 'The Little Mermaid' (National tour of China), Princess Performer at ‘Legoland Malaysia’, Ella in ‘Moonbrella’ (Theatre Exchange), Performer in ‘Art of Change: New Directions from China’ (Southbank Centre, London).
Teaching Credits Include:
USUK Crawley (Musical Theatre teacher)
DMT Crawley (Musical Theatre teacher)
Busylizzy Richmond (Mini movers teacher)
Busylizzy Horsham & Crawley (baby music & dance teacher)
Theatre Exchange (school workshops)
Laurie is delighted to be joining the team at Wells Ballet School.