Meet our dance teachers
We believe that everyone can dance - but not everyone can teach dance. Unqualified teachers devalue the whole art form because a bad experience can put people off dance for life, not to mention potentially causing injuries. Conversely, a great experience with an experienced and knowledgeable teacher, can be life changing.
All of our teachers, across our centres in Maidenhead and Beaconsfield, hold teaching qualifications with either the RAD, ISTD, NATD, PBT at the minimum and most of us have more than one.
Candy Cox - Principal
Pat’s daughter Candy danced as soon as she could walk and clearly displayed a talent. She won a scholarship to train at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance in Battersea aged 11, becoming an RAD Scholar, whilst also training alongside mum, Pat Steel.
Having graduated with a degree in Performing Arts from De Montfort University, Candy went on to pass her teaching qualifications with the RAD, the NATD and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). She is also a qualified Silver Swans teacher, Pilates instructor and was awarded a Life Membership to the Royal Academy of Dance in recognition of ongoing commitment and dedication to the RAD. More recently Candy has become a mentor for teachers embarking on the Certificate in Teaching Studies, a 2-year programme resulting in qualified teacher status, and to date, has successfully mentored 4 teachers through their teaching qualifications. Candy enjoys using her wealth of experience to guide and support new teachers, in the same way that Pat Steel did for her.
As Pat’s health began to deteriorate, it was inevitable that Candy would take over the running of the dance school. In 2007, Candy was made Principal and has since directed the school into the success it has become today. The move was made to the wonderful BCA for the Saturday school, new studios were hired in the state-of-the-art Braywick Leisure Centre, contemporary and acrobatic classes were added to the timetables, and new teachers brought in to offer a wealth of new talent and energy.
Candy is incredibly proud of the school’s ethos and family atmosphere, which she has achieved without compromising the high standards set by Pat Steel nearly 70 years ago.
Karen Stuart - Head of Modern
Qualifications:
AISTD, DDI, DDE – Modern Theatre, Tap dance and Imperial Classical Ballet, NATD Member.
ID Contemporary Dance, Progressive Ballet Technique, ISTD Contemporary Teacher.
Karen danced at Jeannine Greville Dance Academies until she was 18, and then trained full time for 3 years at The North London Dance Studio. She later attended the Linda Sweetzer Teacher Training College, and The DNA Performing Arts College for further teacher training. Karen was an assistant teacher from the age of 12 and was managing ISTD exam coaching from the age of 13! 28 years later, and she still loves passing on her passion to the younger generation. As well as teaching, Karen has danced and choreographed for many companies. Some of which are listed below; Assistant choreographer for Thomson Rep shows in Greece, Cabaret dancer/singer for Mondiale Entertainment in Fuerteventura; Princess Jasmine in Pantomime, MIB Tribute UK Tour for Howlin Entertainment ; ballroom dancer in the movie ‘Vera Drake’ by Mike Lee; and numerous backing dancer and extra roles, both on stage and on TV.
Karen joined the Pat Steel School of Dance in 2004, starting her journey at White Waltham School after school club, the Loudwater branch, and the Seer Green branch. Karen has, at some point, taught at all of the branches of the Bucks School of Dance, and the Pat Steel School of Dance. She is currently teaching our senior classes on Tuesdays in Bourne End, our junior ballet, modern and tap classes at our Tyler’s Green branch, our Thursday Penn Street classes, assisting with Drama at TGFS Thursdays and at BCA on Saturdays. She is also Co- choreographer for “The Performance Group” competition team, who train on Wednesdays.
When she’s not dancing, thinking about dancing, or costume hunting, she is fulfilling her other major role as mummy to Amelia and Alex.
Victoria Dance - Head of Tap
Qualifications:
DDI DDE ISTD Modern Theatre and Tap Dance
Victoria has been dancing since the age of 2 1/2 and it has always been the main focus and passion in her life. Her love of dance lead her to study Dance and Performance Art at school, where she achieved A*s and distinctions in her Performing Arts National Diploma, with a view to making it her future career.
Victoria has performed in and choreographed for various shows and competitions all over the country, including the National Finals at Global Rock Challenge, Guys and Dolls and Little Shop of Horrors. She has played lead roles such as ‘Golda’ in Fiddler on the Roof and has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and Sheffield Arena.
Victoria always knew that she wanted to teach and work with children and attended the Linda Sweetzer Teacher Training College in September 2011. Here she gained her ISTD DDI teaching qualifications in Modern Theatre and Tap Dance at the age of 19 and her ISTD DDE qualifications by the age of 21.
Victoria is mummy to Theodore and Dora who keep the whole family entertained and hopefully will be new recruits to Pat Steel when they are old enough.
Jeanette Talbot - Dance Teacher
Qualifications:
BA (Hons) Performing Arts, ANATD
Jeanette started dancing with the Pat Steel School of Dance at the age of 3, attending classes in Maidenhead town centre. Pat quickly took her under her wing, and she attended classes 4 days a week from 10 years old. When she turned 11, Pat recommended her for lessons at the Royal Academy of Dance. By 15, Jeanette had embarked on teaching exams and was qualified as a teacher before she was 18. She studied for a Performing Arts degree at Middlesex University, where she could also indulge her love of drama and singing too. To this day, it is hard to get her away from a stage!
She currently teaches Ballet at BCA & Braywick Leisure Centre, both for the tiniest First Steps dancers, through all our age groups and has been with us long enough to see many generations of dancers through their entire time at the school! She also runs Teddies Music Club sessions locally inspiring teeny tots to develop their musical talents!
Sophie Baxter - Dance Teacher
Qualifications:
ISTD Level 3 DDI in Imperial Classical Ballet, Fellowship of Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
Sophie started dancing at the age of 3 at Jeannine Greville Academies and then moved on to Bucks School of Dance at the age of 7. The principal at the time, Leanne Watson, put her forward to audition for The Royal Ballet School Associate programme. She was accepted and went on to complete the Junior Associate, Mid Associate and Senior Associate programmes with them and then at the age of 16, gained a vocational place at The English National Ballet School. During her last year at the school, she was asked to go on tour with English National Ballet company, performing Angelina Ballerina around the country. Unfortunately, when she returned from the tour she had suffered an injury, which prevented her from pursuing a professional career in classical ballet. She left in 2008, having gained a National Diploma in Professional Classical Ballet.
In 2012 she completed a DDI teacher qualification in Imperial Classical Ballet at Linda Sweetzer Teacher Training College and continues to teach all ages, from children to adults and loves every second of it. In 2021, Sophie achieved the highest qualification possible – a Fellowship of the ISTD taking her nearer to her goal of becoming an examiner one day.
Sophie teaches at BCA on Saturdays, training our dancers studying Vocational Grades: Intermediate, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2. The rest of her time is spent looking after her three energetic boys and trying to keep up with them!
Delia Du Sol - Dance Teacher
Delia was born into show business. With her parents performing an acrobatic specialty act, it was inevitable she took up the profession. She trained as a contortionist and classical dancer from an early age and trained in aerial silks and hoop in her teens.
Delia performs in theatre, television and corporate events UK and worldwide.
Career highlights include being a guest on television shows such as Graham Norton, This Morning and The Tonight show with Jay Leno in the USA, touring with Take That, Sir Elton John and dance group Diversity. As well as performing her aerial skills on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Delia has also performed aerial acrobatics with Hugh Jackman, opening The Brit Awards with ‘The Greatest Showman’.
She loves to see her students progress to professional level where they sometimes work and perform for her all around the world. She is director of her own circus entertainment company, ‘Du Sol Productions’ and her own circus school, ‘Du Sol School of Aerial and Acrobatics’.
Delia teaches Acro on a Saturday morning at BCA from our youngest, bendiest pupils to the amazing Seniors who take our breath away at every show!
Leanna Adams - Teaching Assistant
Leanna's love for dance started when she joined Pat Steel School of Dance at the age of 5 with her first class being ballet and her first teacher being Pat Steel. Leanna then joined our sister school, Bucks School of Dance in April 2010, with the branches that were previously under the Pat Steel umbrella: Bourne End and Loudwater. Leanna has been lucky enough to have been taught by the Head of Tap and Modern, Karen Stuart and feels extremely proud to have been taught ballet by our founder, Pat Steel, alongside Claire Austin.
In 2016 Leanna started as a teaching assistant for Bucks School of Dance for Claire, learning all the new RAD syllabus at the Loudwater branch and then joining Tylers Green First School in 2021, assisting Karen in Ballet, Tap and Modern.
In 2023 Leanna started as a teaching assistant at the Holtspur branch for Pat Steel School of Dance, and she started teaching her first classes under the watchful eye of principal Candy Cox.
Leanna has now started her Diploma in Dance Education (DDE) training at Linda Sweetzer college to gain her teaching qualifications in Modern and Tap with the ISTD.
Leanna performs in all our shows and continues to take medal exams whenever possible!
Catherine Kirby - Dance Teacher
Qualifications:
Registered Teacher RAD
Catherine’s passion for dance started early when she attended her first ballet class with Miss Jeanette at 3 years old. She has experienced a variety of wonderful teachers throughout her training with both Pat Steel School of Dance & Bucks School of Dance.
Catherine soon began dancing every day and her love for dance developed further when she gained a place training at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and joined their Classical Ballet Academy. It was in her teenage years that she decided she wanted to become a dance teacher, having assisted during classes and summer camps.
Before Catherine started her teacher training, she danced with the English Youth Ballet Company performing Swan Lake and has competed in many local competitions.
Kim Coulson - Dance Teacher, RAD registered
Qualifications:
Level 3 BPT Instructor, Registered Teacher RAD
Kim’s love for dance began at a very young age with her grandma, an ex-professional dancer, teaching her ballet and tap in her living room. She then enrolled in classes at Pat Steel School of Dance and has not looked back!
In her time at both Pat Steel and Bucks School of Dance she has trained in ballet, modern, tap and contemporary and was a member of the very first Senior Performance Group. Kim also performs locally in musicals, choreographing for Henley Operatic and Dramatic Society and has been in the Maidenhead Drama Guild’s pantomime for 14 years!
She is a fully qualified level 3 Progressing Ballet Technique instructor and was awarded a first class BA (Hons) Dance Education degree from the Royal Academy of Dance in 2023.
Kim began teaching for us in 2020 and is a wonderful addition to our ever growing, and evolving teaching faculty. She has been taught and trained by many of our highly experienced teachers at our school and our sister school, and we know she has a fabulous work ethic and that “dedication to dance” that we strive to inspire in all of our pupils, assistant teachers and most definitely our wonderful teaching team.
