MEET OUR TEAM
Laura Dudman (Miss Laura)
LISTD, AIDTA, UKA, BA (HONS), PGCE, PGDip, MA
Principal - Caterpillar Dance School
Artistic Director - Essence Dance Company
“Teaching dance is about encouragement through enjoyment, whilst maintaining focus and discipline. I am passionate about dance and have been lucky enough to have experience in many different dance styles. Through teaching, I can share my knowledge and experience with others, to produce confident and aspiring dancers”.
Laura has been teaching dance and performing arts for over 20 years and is a recognised teacher through the Council of Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre and Foundation for Community Dance. As well as running her own business, Laura also freelances as a Community Dance Practitioner. She has taught in nurseries, community centres, primary and secondary schools and further education colleges, bringing her wealth of expertise and knowledge of dance to her students and the wider community.
Laura initially trained at the Centre Performing Arts College, completing her Advanced Vocational Exams and Associate teaching qualifications in ISTD Imperial Ballet, Modern and Tap. She graduated from the University of Surrey with an upper-second class honours degree in Dance and Culture and a Post Graduate Diploma in Dance Studies. She completed a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education and Training at The University of Greenwich, and an MA in Professional Practice Dance Pedagogy at Middlesex University.
Laura gained a UKA Diploma in Salsa, teaching and running Salsa nights and dancing professionally at venues across the UK. She is a qualified gym instructor, Zumba instructor, exercise to music instructor, exercise referral specialist and personal trainer.
Laura is a qualified Module 1 and 2 Acrobatic Arts Instructor. She also teaches primary school gymnastics and prepares children for BGA Key steps competitions and proficiency awards. She also completed the Progressing Ballet Technique training course with founder Marie Walton and the Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swans training.
Laura completed her ISTD Licentiate Tap and Modern, through Dance College Whitstable under the tuition of Kathryn Wiggans. She is now studying for her ISTD Fellowship Tap and Modern, to become an examiner. She is an approved tutor for the ISTD DDE Level 4 Teaching Qualification and the ISTD South East Regional Representative.
Miss Emily
(ISTD DDE) Dance, Acrobatic Arts and Aerial Arts Teacher
Emily trained as a professional dancer at Performers College in Essex. She has a Trinity Diploma in Dance Theatre and is a qualified ISTD dance teacher in Ballet, Tap and Modern Jazz. Emily is also qualified in Acrobatic Arts Module 1 and 2 and Aerial silks, hoop, sling, and trapeze. She also teaches, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) and kids yoga. Emily has taught many styles of dance ranging from Irish, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical theatre and Street Dance to all ages. Emily loves working with children, and successfully runs her own workshops and children’s parties. She has worked at Haven Holiday Park as dancer, been on tour with Ben – The Michael Jackson tribute Act and appeared in the film Cuban Fury. Emily teaches workshops and Acro and Aerial classes as well as ISTD syllabus dance classes at Caterpillar Dance School.
Miss Charlotte
(ISTD DDE) Dance Teacher and Choreographer Essence Dance Company
Charlotte trained at Mid Kent College gaining a distinction in her BTEC Level 3 Performing Arts Diploma. She completed her teacher training at Dance College Whitstable gaining Advanced vocational graded examinations in Ballet and Modern and completing her ISTD DDE Teaching Qualification. Charlotte also completed the 2-day ISTD Contemporary Dance Teaching Course. She is a qualified Module 1 Acrobatic Arts Instructor. She teaches, contemporary, jazz, commercial/street dance, ISTD Modern, ISTD Ballet and runs Essence Dance Company and our competition team classes at Caterpillar Dance School.
Miss Hayley
Musical Theatre, Singing and ISTD (DDE) Dance Teacher
Hayley gained her Trinity Diploma in Musical Theatre from The Urdang Academy, London, where she was awarded the Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship. Since graduating she has worked abroad on Aida Cruises as a Lead Soloist and Thursford Christmas Spectacular. She has also performed in a number of stage productions. Her previous credits were Lead Soloist in When I Grow Up (The Forge, Camden) Lead Soloist in Our Time (Leicester Square Theatre). Her theatre credits whilst training include Velcro in Soho Cinders (The Pleasance Theatre) Ensemble In Spring Awakening (The Young Actors Theatre) Featured Soloist in The World Goes Round (The Urdang Academy). Hayley now freelances as a Musical Theatre Teacher around Kent, and also offers private singing tuition to students auditioning for vocational training, who want to pursue a career in Musical Theatre. She completed her ISTD DDE Tap with Dance College Whitstable. She teaches Musical Theatre and Performing Arts at Caterpillar Dance School.
Miss Meg
ISTD (DDE) Dance Teacher
Meg completed her training in Musical Theatre at Reynolds Performing Arts, gaining a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts and Level 4 Creative Practitioner Diploma. Upon graduating College, she has taught Ballet, tap, jazz and musical theatre in various dance schools around Kent. Meg has been a Tap Attack Associate for five years and currently attends their monthly training sessions. In 2019, she secured her first professional contract dancing in India with TalenTreee, performing at events, weddings, in music videos and Bollywood films. On returning to the UK, she continued with her ISTD Teacher training and completed her DDE Modern and Tap with Dance College Whitstable. Meg currently coaches Caterpillar competition team creating innovative solos, duets, trios and quartets in a range of styles.
LISTD, AIDTA, UKA, BA (HONS), PGCE, PGDip, MA
Principal - Caterpillar Dance School
Artistic Director - Essence Dance Company
“Teaching dance is about encouragement through enjoyment, whilst maintaining focus and discipline. I am passionate about dance and have been lucky enough to have experience in many different dance styles. Through teaching, I can share my knowledge and experience with others, to produce confident and aspiring dancers”.
Laura has been teaching dance and performing arts for over 20 years and is a recognised teacher through the Council of Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre and Foundation for Community Dance. As well as running her own business, Laura also freelances as a Community Dance Practitioner. She has taught in nurseries, community centres, primary and secondary schools and further education colleges, bringing her wealth of expertise and knowledge of dance to her students and the wider community.
Laura initially trained at the Centre Performing Arts College, completing her Advanced Vocational Exams and Associate teaching qualifications in ISTD Imperial Ballet, Modern and Tap. She graduated from the University of Surrey with an upper-second class honours degree in Dance and Culture and a Post Graduate Diploma in Dance Studies. She completed a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education and Training at The University of Greenwich, and an MA in Professional Practice Dance Pedagogy at Middlesex University.
Laura gained a UKA Diploma in Salsa, teaching and running Salsa nights and dancing professionally at venues across the UK. She is a qualified gym instructor, Zumba instructor, exercise to music instructor, exercise referral specialist and personal trainer.
Laura is a qualified Module 1 and 2 Acrobatic Arts Instructor. She also teaches primary school gymnastics and prepares children for BGA Key steps competitions and proficiency awards. She also completed the Progressing Ballet Technique training course with founder Marie Walton and the Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swans training.
Laura completed her ISTD Licentiate Tap and Modern, through Dance College Whitstable under the tuition of Kathryn Wiggans. She is now studying for her ISTD Fellowship Tap and Modern, to become an examiner. She is an approved tutor for the ISTD DDE Level 4 Teaching Qualification and the ISTD South East Regional Representative.
Miss Emily
(ISTD DDE) Dance, Acrobatic Arts and Aerial Arts Teacher
Emily trained as a professional dancer at Performers College in Essex. She has a Trinity Diploma in Dance Theatre and is a qualified ISTD dance teacher in Ballet, Tap and Modern Jazz. Emily is also qualified in Acrobatic Arts Module 1 and 2 and Aerial silks, hoop, sling, and trapeze. She also teaches, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) and kids yoga. Emily has taught many styles of dance ranging from Irish, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical theatre and Street Dance to all ages. Emily loves working with children, and successfully runs her own workshops and children’s parties. She has worked at Haven Holiday Park as dancer, been on tour with Ben – The Michael Jackson tribute Act and appeared in the film Cuban Fury. Emily teaches workshops and Acro and Aerial classes as well as ISTD syllabus dance classes at Caterpillar Dance School.
Miss Charlotte
(ISTD DDE) Dance Teacher and Choreographer Essence Dance Company
Charlotte trained at Mid Kent College gaining a distinction in her BTEC Level 3 Performing Arts Diploma. She completed her teacher training at Dance College Whitstable gaining Advanced vocational graded examinations in Ballet and Modern and completing her ISTD DDE Teaching Qualification. Charlotte also completed the 2-day ISTD Contemporary Dance Teaching Course. She is a qualified Module 1 Acrobatic Arts Instructor. She teaches, contemporary, jazz, commercial/street dance, ISTD Modern, ISTD Ballet and runs Essence Dance Company and our competition team classes at Caterpillar Dance School.
Miss Hayley
Musical Theatre, Singing and ISTD (DDE) Dance Teacher
Hayley gained her Trinity Diploma in Musical Theatre from The Urdang Academy, London, where she was awarded the Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship. Since graduating she has worked abroad on Aida Cruises as a Lead Soloist and Thursford Christmas Spectacular. She has also performed in a number of stage productions. Her previous credits were Lead Soloist in When I Grow Up (The Forge, Camden) Lead Soloist in Our Time (Leicester Square Theatre). Her theatre credits whilst training include Velcro in Soho Cinders (The Pleasance Theatre) Ensemble In Spring Awakening (The Young Actors Theatre) Featured Soloist in The World Goes Round (The Urdang Academy). Hayley now freelances as a Musical Theatre Teacher around Kent, and also offers private singing tuition to students auditioning for vocational training, who want to pursue a career in Musical Theatre. She completed her ISTD DDE Tap with Dance College Whitstable. She teaches Musical Theatre and Performing Arts at Caterpillar Dance School.
Miss Meg
ISTD (DDE) Dance Teacher
Meg completed her training in Musical Theatre at Reynolds Performing Arts, gaining a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts and Level 4 Creative Practitioner Diploma. Upon graduating College, she has taught Ballet, tap, jazz and musical theatre in various dance schools around Kent. Meg has been a Tap Attack Associate for five years and currently attends their monthly training sessions. In 2019, she secured her first professional contract dancing in India with TalenTreee, performing at events, weddings, in music videos and Bollywood films. On returning to the UK, she continued with her ISTD Teacher training and completed her DDE Modern and Tap with Dance College Whitstable. Meg currently coaches Caterpillar competition team creating innovative solos, duets, trios and quartets in a range of styles.