We use cookies to provide you with a better experience when accessing our website, for more information please see our Privacy Policy

Menu
close
book a trial

Our Teachers

Our Teachers

Our principal, Leanne Edwards and her team of expert teachers of theatre arts are able to get the absolute best out of your child.
LESTA logos

Leanne Edwards

Fellowship - Tap
Licentiate Modern & Tap
DDE Ballet
Working towards Fellowship Tap and Modern
Module 1 Acrobatic Arts
Module 2 Acrobatic Arts
Module 1 & 2 Alixa Flexibility courses
Progressing Ballet technique
First Aid at trained
Mental Health Aware Training Course
Enhanced BDS
Licenced Chaperone
As a seven year old, Leanne was introduced to the exciting world of dance. Her passion for this fun, energetic and enjoyable art form grew over the years and allowed her to follow her dream of teaching others.

Having qualified as an ISTD teacher, Leanne opened her own dance school in 2005 and LESTA was born.

Sixteen years later, she moved into her own dance studios and is delighted to welcome past, existing and new students to her wonderful, purpose-built space. Leanne loves teaching and enjoys nurturing the talents of her students, seeing them blossom and grow as people as well as dancers. LESTA is a friendly, welcoming school and embraces everyone who wants to enjoy the wonderful world of dance and musical theatre.

Fun Fact: Leanne used to work in a letting agent dealing with the administration and letting contracts. This job has really helped Miss Leanne’s administration for the school.

College and Performing

Leanne has performed in many locally based theatre shows, including lead roles in Hello Dolly, Sound of Music, Oliver!, 42nd Street, Annie and Calamity Jane and has performed in two professional pantomimes.

She has also danced at the 2000 Olympics in Australia, performed in a charity gala on the stage of the London Palladium (twice) and Her Majesty’s Theatre.

Leanne choreographed two professional musicals that ran at Edinburgh and Brighton Fringe Festivals and toured the South East. She choreographed Janus Theatre Company’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” which received critical acclaim from a renowned West End producer following its production at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford and Five Star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Read More

Vicky Barclay

Licentiate - Modern
DDE Modern & Tap
FDI Ballet
Working towards her Licentiate qualifications in Modern & Tap
Module 1 Acrobatic Arts
Module 2 Acrobatic Arts
Module 1 Alixa Flexibility courses
First Aid trained
Enhanced BDS
Licenced Chaperone
Vicki started dancing at the age of three at a local dance school and, in her final year, was taught by Miss Leanne.

Having assisted the teachers during dance classes, she realised that teaching dance brings a great feeling of achievement and enjoyment and she trained as a teacher at the Deborah Capon College in Kent. Upon leaving, she joined the teaching staff at LESTA in 2007 and has watched the school grow and blossom over the years.

Vicki really enjoys helping young students to grow as dancers and is LESTA’s creative choreographer.

Fun Fact: Vicky is a fully qualified hairdresser and beauty therapist!

College and Performing

She studied for 3 years at Deborah Capon Dance College. She has always loved to perform taking part in Christmas pantomimes as a child at The Wimbledon Theatre, and being part of the chorus in Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat whilst it was on tour.

She also has performed on the London Palladium stage with a performance group. This led to joining the local youth theatre group where she took part in annual musical stage performances, and in her final year at college she landed the lead role as Tracey in the college’s version of Hairspray.
Read More

Angela Brierley

Licentiate - Ballet
Higher National Diploma in Performing Arts at Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts
DDE Ballet and Tap
Working towards DDE Modern
Qualified Teaching and Learning Status (QTLS) which allows her to teach GCSE and A Level dance.
First Aid Trained
Licenced Chaperone
Angela has a passion for dance, and this really shows in her teaching style.

The students have fun, learning in a creative environment yet challenging themselves to broaden their knowledge and skills. Angela is currently working towards her higher teaching qualifications and is excited to be part the team at LESTA.

Fun Fact: She has two little boys, William and Oliver and they keep her very busy!!

College and Performing

Angela trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts from the age of 11yrs and gained her Higher National Diploma in Performing Arts. Angela then went on to have a 12-year professional dance career where she performed around the world on tours, cruises and theatres. (It was fantastic!!)

She has had the opportunity to dance and work with some amazing dancers and learn even more styles such as Irish, Burlesque, Aerial, Latin, Ballroom and Adage. On all these shows Angela was Dance Captain, Lead Dancer and Production Manager and has a wealth of experience in maintaining show teams and high standards in her dancers.

After returning to the U.K Angela choreographed and produced a show with her sister (a professional musician) and raised a large amount of money for the charity Marie Curie. The show team comprised of 15 professional dancers, 3 singers and an 18 piece live Big Band, an achievement she is very proud of.
Read More

Emma Harding

BA Musical Theatre
Grade 8 LAMDA
Basic APC unarmed and knife stage combat
Working towards Vocal Health First Aid
Enhanced DBS
First aid trained
Emma has a passion for teaching and loves using her skills to create really fun lessons and challenge student’s creativity and build confidence. She is currently training as a vocal health first aider and loves mixing the technical side of singing and drama with the creative side.

She loves the passion and energy the students at LESTA bring and cannot wait to meet even more new faces!

Emma is absolutely loving being part of the LESTA team.

Fun Fact - Emma didn’t take her first singing lesson until she was 11 and fell in love with the technique behind singing from that moment.

College and Performing

Emma is a Musical Theatre graduate from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and previously completed a foundation in Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting.

Her roles while training include Dance Captain/Ensemble in Spring Awakening, Jean in London Road, Ensemble in Chess and her favourite role of Violet Hilton in Side Show.

Her most recent professional credit is Maid Marian in the UK Tour of Robin Hood.
Read More

Louise Callin

Licentiate - Modern
Diploma in Jazz Dance and Commercial Theatre
ISTD Qualifications in Modern and Tap
Acrobatic Arts Qualified
Louise started dancing at the age of 3 at a local dance school in Woking and quickly realised that Dance and the Performing Art was what she was destined to do. At 16 she went into full time training at Elmhurst School of Dance gaining a diploma in Jazz Dance and Commercial Theatre as well as her ISTD teaching qualifications in Modern and Tap. As well as 18 years teaching experience, Louise also has had a successful professional performing career, which landed her all way in New Zealand!

Now back in the UK Louise is excited to work with local dancers, teachers, professional performers and studios to pass on her knowledge. She is a huge advocate of safe dance practice, training longevity in dancers and creating a positive nurturing environment for dancers to thrive, be inspired and reach their full potential.

Louise also enjoys creating video projects and designing costumes which, with choreography makes up her brand 'Louise Callin Creative'

College and Performing

Her professional performing credits include : Thursford Christmas Spectacular (Stage), The Mobo Awards (Stage), Captain America (Film), Judge John Deed (TV), Diamond Entertainment (Events) and P&O Cruises- MV Arcadia, MV Oriana and MV Aurora (Stage) as a Dancer, Dancer/Singer and Head Girl. Moving to New Zealand 9 years ago, Louise knew she wanted to continue her passion for dance and teaching which lead her to set up Louise Emma Academy Of Dance (LEAOD) on the beautiful Waiheke Island. Throughout its 7 years in operation, the studio quickly became a reputable training facility known for its high standards in the Auckland region. Louise’s pupils competed through New Zealand and Australia making it to the National Finals in both countries with both soloists and Troupes.

During this time, Louise also had the opportunity to up skill her ISTD qualifications, become a qualified Acrobatics Arts teacher and adjudicate at a large competition in NZ. After handing over her studio on Waiheke, Louise went on to work and choreograph in some of the top NZ Dance studios in Auckland before heading back to the UK to be back with family.
Read More

Katherine Clinch

ISTD teaching qualifications in Ballet, Modern, Tap and National.
Diploma in Dance & Drama
Katherine started dancing at the age of 3 Carmichael school of theatre arts in her home town of Telford, Shropshire. This is where she fell in love with dancing and soon knew this is what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Katherine went on to train full time at Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre in Liverpool where I gained my ISTD teaching qualifications in Ballet, Modern, Tap and National. I also gained my diploma in Dance & Drama

College and Performing

After graduating Katherine’s first job was teaching at the Conservatoire of Dance in the Seychelles where She taught Ballet and Modern for a year. Once She returned to the UK Katherine decided to try dancing professionally and performed cabaret in several countries. After two years She was missing teaching so She decided to come home and pursue a career in teaching. Since returning to the UK Katherine has taught in Guernsey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Middlesex and is currently living and teaching in Surrey.

Fun fact Katherine is currently training to teach exercise classes in Gyms.
Read More

Lucie Scuse

Working towards DDE in both Tap and Modern Theatre.
From walking into my very first dance studio at the age of 2 I knew this was where I belonged. I first started training in ballet, then at the age of 11 I decided to explore new dance styles Tap and Modern Theatre which I fell in love with.

College and Performing

I continued to broaden my knowledge when I studied A level dance at Woking College when I was introduced to contemporary and theatre jazz. After suffering an injury and being told I am unable to ever perform, I threw myself into my teaching. Now I am currently working towards my DDE in both Tap and Modern Theatre.

Fun fact – I am also a school teaching Assistant and sports coach
Read More

Emma Parrott

Musical Theatre Teacher in Mindenhurst
Cert HE Musical Theatre
Emma's passion for performing was ignited at the tender age of three when she began ballet and participated in mini shows in her hometown of Cheltenham. Her love for the arts continued to grow as she pursued part-time training in Drama, Dance, Singing, and Musical Theatre at Theatre Studio, Cheltenham. At the age of 14, she began assisting classes, discovering a deep enthusiasm for teaching. This led to her teaching full classes and leading holiday workshops, with a notable achievement being the successful production of a mini Toy Story show with twenty-seven 4-7 year olds within a week!

Emma then moved to Guildford to further her training at drama school. She completed a Cert HE in Musical Theatre at Italia Conti last year and is currently in the first year of her degree in MT at the Performance Preparation Academy.

Fun Fact: Emma dreams of playing Eponine on the West End!

College and Performing

During her growing years, Emma excelled in LAMDA exams in Acting and Verse and Prose, earning distinctions. She also trained at Theatre Studio and DanceWorks. She participated in several amateur productions in Cheltenham, including Sweeney Todd, Sister Act, and Les Miserables (School Edition). She achieved A*s in both Music and Drama at A Level, which led her to audition for drama schools to pursue her passion for Musical Theatre. She received offers for Foundation courses from Emil Dale Academy and Italia Conti, choosing to train at Italia Conti on their Cert HE in Musical Theatre, where she achieved a Merit. She auditioned for degree courses while training and received offers from schools including The Brighton Academy and Performance Preparation Academy. She chose to study her degree at PPA and is currently enjoying her first year there.
Read More

Imogen Fenwick

DDE (Tap & Modern)
3rd Year BA Professional Dance & Musical Theatre
Imogen grew up in a family that loves to dance and sing. From the days she learned to walk, she would wait outside her older sister’s ballet class, eagerly leaning on the door until she was finally allowed to join in. At the young age of three, she began taking lessons at the fabulous Leanne Edwards School of Theatre Arts. She trained there for 17 years in as many styles as she could, and also competed in the competition team.

From the age of 14, Imogen began assisting with the younger classes, learning how to shape young dancers from the very woman who taught her. In 2016, she made her professional debut as part of the ensemble in the Woking pantomime, working alongside Harry Potter star Warwick Davis.

During her final year at LESTA, she took her DDE exam in both tap and modern at Italia Conti. She is currently in her third year, completing her BA Honours in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre at Bird College. After graduating from Bird, Imogen hopes to perform in musicals both on cruise ships and national tours.

Fun fact: Imogen took classes in circus skills for two years!

College and Performing

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (2016), New Victoria Theatre, with Warwick Davis
Who’s Crazy: The Crazy Ex Girlfriend Musical! (2024), Doreen Bird Theatre, directed by Anthony Whiteman and Dom Haslam
Lots of Love, Raye (2024), Doreen Bird Theatre, directed by Aretha-Jay McEwan
BOB (2024), Doreen Bird Theatre, directed by Luis DeAbreu
The Book Doesn’t Lie (2024), Doreen Bird Theatre, directed by Sam Hooper and Steve Trill
Read More

Latest News

News, Articles and Latest Updates from LESTA
Woking Dance Classes Latest News Image
January 16, 2025

Valentine's Day Dance Party at LESTA

Join us for a fun-filled Valentine's Day Dance Party at Leanne Edwards School of Theatre Arts in Woking on Sunday, February 9th from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM! With dancing, games, sweetie bags, and glow sticks, it's the perfect way for kids to enjoy an afternoon of excitement and fun!
Woking Dance Classes Latest News Image
December 16, 2024

Exciting News from LESTA: Hip Hop Dance Classes Are Here!

Starting Wednesday, 6th February 2025, we’re launching brand-new Hip Hop classes for ages 5-7, 8-12, and 13+. These fun, high-energy classes are perfect for kids and teens who love to dance, stay active, and express themselves creatively. Taught by expert instructors, our vibrant choreography and supportive environment will help students build confidence, coordination, and a passion for movement.
Woking Dance Classes Latest News Image
November 26, 2024

Unleash Your Groove: New Hip Hop Classes Starting February 2025!

Unlock your child’s creativity and confidence with our hip hop classes starting February 2025! From energetic routines to building lifelong skills, these sessions are the perfect way to keep kids active, engaged, and inspired in a fun, social setting.
Dance Classes in Woking
ToddlersChildrenAdults
Book a trial
About Us
Our TeachersTimetablesTerm DatesNewsHire our Dance Studio
Can We Help?
Contact UsSubscribePolicies07773 121884[email protected]
Leanne Edwards
School of Theatre Arts
Unit 10a Lansbury Estate
Knaphill
Woking
Surrey
GU21 2EP
chevron-downarrow-right