Pro Dancers
Melanie Cox (Resident Principal)- Melanie trained from a young age at the Old Bakehouse Dance Studios continuing her training at The Arts Educational School, Tring Park on a Music and Ballet Scheme scholarship and graduated July 2007 with a distinction. During her time at Tring she won the Barbara Geoghegan ballet award and won the contemporary award and jazz award. In 2007 she danced at the Linbury Theatre, Covent Garden in a Stabat Mater by Robert Cohan and earlier that year she was invited to work with Robert Cohan on a contemporary DVD. Her first job was with English Bach Festival Trust and she worked in both Athens and Whitehall under the direction of Chris Tudor. When Eve Pettinger was awarded an M.B.E. in 2007 a performance of The Sleeping Beauty prologue was put on and Melanie was chosen to perform Lilac fairy. In September 2007 she joined Vienna Festival Ballet and toured dancing the principal role of Sugar Plum Fairy. Since then, she has performed principal roles with the company in Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Cinderella. In 2008 she was chosen to be a body double dancing the role of the Dying Swan in a film ‘Godforsaken’. Melanie has worked with KYD every year so far and danced principal roles in Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, Snow White, La Bayadere, La Fille Mal Gardee and Cinderella. She has choreographed many pieces for the company including Jazz, Contemporary, Flamenco and many classical pieces. In 2010 she was chosen to dance in Kenya with the Kijani Trust. Christmas 2011, Melanie performed in Dubai at the Mall of Emirates, she danced the roles of Clara and Sugar Plum fairy. Early 2012, Melanie performed at The Place, London in a contemporary piece choreographed by James Loffler called 'LFO'. Melanie now performs with Divine Company at different events all over the world. She has danced in places including Abu Dhabi (Mother of the Nation Festival), Bahrain (International Bahrain Airshow), Toulouse (Launch of a new Airbus), Naples (Private Wedding), Prague (at the Presidents Palace) and Cairo to name a few. Since 2016 Melanie has performed with Hire a Dancer and since 2018 Melanie has begun performing with Let's All Dance in their productions of Alice in Wonderland, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.
Rosy Nevard (2018) - Rosy trained at Central School of ballet graduating with BA (Hons) in 2010. She worked with Stephen Pelton Dance Theatre before joining The London Ballet Company in 2011 where she danced many lead roles in their original ballets over her 5 years there. In 2018 she joins the Let’s All Dance cast of Alice in Wonderland and Sleeping Beauty touring children’s shows across the UK. She has performed in dance projects across the UK and abroad, being lucky enough to travel to Los Angeles, Egypt, Spain, Morrocco, Italy and Germany for performances. As well as performing many different styles of dance, Rosy also performs aerial hoop and silks and circus stilts.As a freelance performer, Rosy has danced in concerts for music artists including Basement Jaxx and Beyoncé. Music video credits include Daisy Victoria, I am Harlequin and Jason Kouchack and TV credits include BBC4's Margot and BBC's Poldark. She performed in the London Olympic Closing Ceremony 2012, Champions League Final at Wembley 2011 and at the Bernabeu Stadium Madrid 2014. As well as performing, Rosy co-founded an entertainment agency - HIRE-A-DANCER.COM - in 2015. The company specialises in dance and circus acts for private and corporate events and has entertained many celebrities including the likes of Jack Whitehall, Sophie Ellis Bexter, Philip Schofield, Michael Portillo and Anton du Bec. Alongside this, In 2016 she also co-founded a social enterprise to bring dance to a wider audience. To date, Nova Grace Productions has taken dance projects to communities in Uganda and South America and developed a connection with a ballet school in The Gambia, West Africa, sending regular donations of dance wear. Rosy is also an experienced ballet teacher, coaching children in weekly classes in London from 2.5-18 years. Most recently she has been invited to teach on the prestigious Cecchetti Scholars pre-professional programme. She has also taught ballet, Spanish, jazz, repertoire and creative workshops on various summer schools and holiday camps in the last 8 years.
Louise Mellin (2014 & 2016) - Louise grew up in South Wales, Swansea where she attended her local dance school from a young age. She was accepted as a Junior Associate of the Royal Ballet and a member of the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain where she performed all over the country. Alongside this Louise also performed in many professional pantomimes and various at the Grand Theatre Swansea, including her first Louise grew up in South Wales, Swansea where she attended her local dance school from a young age. She was accepted as a Junior Associate of the Royal Ballet and a member of the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain where she performed all over the country. Alongside this Louise also performed in many professional pantomimes and various at the Grand Theatre Swansea, including her first professional job as senior dancer at the age of 15yrs for Qdos Entertainment. At the age of 16yrs Louise was awarded scholarships for London Studio Centre, Laine Theatre Arts and Arts Educational Tring Park. Louise trained at Arts Educational for three years, gaining A levels, DDI teaching qualifications (ISTD) in tap and modern, national certificate in ballet, national diploma in dance where she graduated highest in her year. Louise was also dance captain whilst at Arts Educational and also covered classes and teaching staff whilst in her third year. After graduating Louise was successful in gaining a job with Christopher Biggins private pantomime company in Nottingham and various other contracts but decided to focus on her passion for teaching. At the age of 21yrs she set up her own dance school 'Mellin Theatre Arts' based in Swansea's Grand Theatre. Louise has progressed her teaching qualifications with the ISTD by gaining her Diploma in Dance Education in tap and modern, part time at the Bristol College of Dancing. She also holds her Licentiate in Modern which she passed with 96% so is now the highest qualified modern teacher in Wales and one of the youngest in the country. Louise also has her associate in Modern and Tap with the IDTA and is a mutual member with the RAD and holds a 100% exam pass rate. Louise has also choreographed for various companies touring at Swansea Grand Theatre and currently provides the juvenile dancers for pantomimes for Qdos Entertainment and has provided senior and juvenile dancers for UK Productions.
Rachel Stock (2016) - Rachel started her training at the Bird College Junior School. She then went on to study under a full scholarship at Bird College, graduating with a BA Honours in Dance and Theatre Performance and an award for most professional student. Rachel began 2016 touring Germany as dancer in Tina the Rock Legend, a musical based on the life of Tina Turner. Other recent credits include backing dancer for dance artist Tara McDonald (“My My My”, “Shooting Star”) at various large scale music events in France and as a featured dancer in The Infiltrator with Bryan Cranston and Diane Kruger, set for release later this year.Rachel held the position of Dance Captain for the Bollywood Company Bollyflex for two years. During her time with the company Rachel performed at a large variety of events. These include the Nobel Peace Prize Awards in Oslo, on Strictly Come Dancing and Children in Need (both for the BBC), and at performances at the O2 Arena, London and The LG Arena in Birmingham. Her theatre credits include Future Cinema’s production of Dirty Dancing, creating the part of Weckl for Ethan Lewis Maltby’s ‘Drumchasers’ (Two UK Tours, Norway, Holland, Belgium) ‘The Sunflower Jam’ (Royal Albert Hall), 'Peter Pan' (Dance Captain, Chatham), “The Ivy Paige Show' (Dance Captain), and one of the cast members aboard the inaugural cruise of The Saga Pearl II. Other performance credits include work for Sky, Freddy Active, Tinie Tempah, Telenet, T-Mobile, Alesha Dixon, Miss Kitty’s, the Trafford Centre, Honda, Superdrug, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and for contemporary company- Divine Company.
Laura Mellin (2016) - From a young age Laura was involved in many local pantomimes and was a part of ‘The National Youth Ballet of Great Britain’. At the age of 18yrs she gained a place at Laine Theatre Arts. Laura trained at Laines for three years and obtained her first professional job for Celebrity Cruises upon graduation in 2011. Laura has completed five contracts with Celebrity Cruises performing globally in many different styles of dance to audiences worldwide and was recently promoted to Dance Captain. Laura has taught ballroom classes on Celebrity Cruise ships and has also choreographed for them.Laura taught for Mellin Theatre Arts summer school in 2013 and has choreographed and assisted many classes at Mellin Theatre Arts.
James Loffler (2012 & 2014) - James was born in Kircheim, West Germany and at the age of 7, moved with his family to Guildford in the United Kingdom where he began his dance training at the Arden Holford School of Dance. He became a junior associate of the Royal Ballet School, and at the age of 11 began his full-time training there. James completed his training at the Arts Educational School, Tring, and was a member of Britain’s National Youth Ballet for three years. In 2005 he was awarded the prestigious Barbara Fewster Boys’ Award, under the auspices of the Cecchetti Society and was granted a scholarship to attend their annual Summer School. After graduating in 2006, James joined Ballet Ireland, with whom he has performed many roles, including Prince (Nutcracker), Fred (A Christmas Carol), Fairy God-Father (Cinderella) to name a few. In 2008, James joined the Michael Clark Company in London for The Stravinsky Project and toured with them to New York’s Lincoln Centre, Seoul and extensively throughout Europe. In 2010 James worked with the 'Pasodos' company in 'Majorca' as a guest artist performing 'The Grand Pas De Deux' from Nutcracker amongst other repetoire. As a choreographer James presented his first work as part of the Ballet Ireland choreographic workshop in 2011, the piece was then invited to be performed at the Drogeda catwalk show. In February 2012 James presented his first professional work 'LFO' at The Place for 7 dancers which was received warmly.James continues to work with Ballet Ireland as well as being a freelance dance artist and choreographer.
Lucy Lowndes (2012) -Lucy began her training at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance when she was 19. She graduated in 2006 with a BA Honours Degree. She has performed professionally with Cork City Ballet, Vienna Festival Ballet, Swansea Ballet Russe, Belinda King Creative Productions, Grange Park Opera and most recently Les Grands Ballet Canadians in Montreal, Canada. Performing soloist roles in Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Coppelia and Odette in Swan Lake.
Amy Fussell (2012)- Amy was born in Walsall, West Midlands. She began dancing at the age of three at Walsall Academy of Dance. She then continued with her training winning a scholarship to Abotts Bromley School for Girls, Lichfield. At sixteen she moved to London to attend Central School of Ballet where she studied for four years, graduating in 2008 with a BA Hons Degree in Professional Dance and Performance. During my final year at CSB I was part of the Ballet Central Company performing at various venues throughout the UK. Amy joined Vienna Festival Ballet in September 2008 where she was given her first soloist role as 'Snow Queen' in The Nutcracker. From then she has also performed soloist roles in The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, finishing with their Spring tour of Cinderella in 2011. In the Summer of 2011 she worked at Camp Chateaugay, New York where she was assistant to the director of dance, teaching children of all ages and helping to co produce two shows. Amy is currently a member of Belinda King Creative Productions
Gledis Tase (2008 & 2009)- Gledis trained at the Margaret Howard Theatre College and continued his training for a further year at Central School of Ballet, graduating in 2005 with a BA Honours Degree in professional dance and performance. In 2005 Gledis toured the UK at various venues with the Ballet Central company. In 2006, Gledis joined Vienna Festival Ballet and performed in Giselle, La Sylphide and Rhapsody in Blue touring around the UK. Since Gledis’ first tour with Vienna he has completed 3 more tours including performances in The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and principal role in Coppelia. He has also performed with the English National Opera in Mikado at the London Coliseum. Gledis has also performed with American Ballet Theatre.
Emily Hufton (2008 & 2010) - Born in Oxford Emily Hufton trained firstly with the Royal Ballet Junior Associates and then at Elmhurst School for Dance. In her early years at Elmhurst Emily Danced with English National Ballet in their production of The Nutcracker. In 2005 Emily was appointed head girl during which she was involved in many major events such as the official opening of the new school. In Emily’s final year at Elmhurst she was invited to dance with Birmingham Royal Ballet in their 2006 UK tour. Emily then joined Vienna Festival Ballet in spring 2007 and was given her first soloist role in their Swan Lake and Coppelia tour. Since then she has danced soloist roles in Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker and Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty most recently Fairy Godmother in Cinderella .On graduation from Elmhurst Emily appeared in the BBC’s adaptation of The Ballet Shoes. With KYD she has performed Odette in Swan Lake, Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, Wicked Queen from Snow White and a Principal in Les Sylphides also choreographing a jazz number, a Flamenco number and various classical numbers for us. In 2010 she was chosen to dance in Kenya with the Kijani Trust.
Carl Hale (2009) - Carl trained at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and graduated with a degree at the age of 19. Whilst at Rambert Carl had the chance to perform at the Cochrane Theatre, the Watermans Arts Theatre and the Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House appearing as Franz in the ballet Coppelia. . From there Carl made his debut with the Vienna Festival Ballet in September 2007, peforming in the Nutcracker as a Soldier Doll, the Rat King, and the Trepak Russian dancer. Carl has danced the roles of Bluebird, The wolf , Puss in Boots, Carabosses evil monkey and prince for the Rose Adage in Sleeping Beauty, Jester in Swan Lake and most recently an Ugly Sister in Cinderella.
Sam Walton (2010)- Sam started dancing at the age of 9 at the Chorley School of Dance. He then joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet Junior Associate program which he attended for a year before applying, and being accepted to Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. Sam Trained at Tring for 7 years, during which he taught the Junior Associates with Melanie Cox. After leaving school Sam performed in a Pantomime in Nottingham with Claire Sweeney, Christopher Biggins and Basil Brush. He then auditioned for Carnival Cruise Lines and worked with them 2007-2010. He got hand picked to be the first cast of the newest ship in the fleet, the Carnival Dream in 2010. Whilst on the ‘Dream’ Sam was assistant to the ‘dance captain’ working closely with the choreographer and helping with teaching.
Phil King (2011) - Phil was born in Lancaster where he studied dance at the Joan Ward School. He later went on to join the Ludus Youth Dance Company and also worked with Merville Jones, of Phoenix Dance Theatre. In 2006 he enrolled at the Rambert School in London where he performed contemporary works including Darshan Singh-Buller’s Stand And Stare, Robert Cohan’s Forest, and Martha Graham’s Diversion of Angels, as well as classical repertoire from La Sylphide, La Bayadère, Don Quixote, Giselle and The Nutcracker. In spring 2009 Phil danced with Rambert Dance Company in the UK premiere of Itzik Galili's ‘A Linha Curva,’ during their Sadlers Wells Season. Phil Joined Vienna Festival Ballet in 2009 as a principal dancer, dancing the lead in the Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. In 2010 Phil went as a guest artist to Ballet Riviera in Switzerland, dancing alongside Principal dancers from English National Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, La Scala, Bejart Ballet and Nice Opera Ballet