Sara Alexandra
hamilton
Founder of Hamilton International Training Academy
Tap Dancer, Choreographer, Professional Dancer, Actress, Dance Teacher, Production Manager and Director. After travelling the globe, training with legends in all forms of Dance, Sara's dream has always been to open an academy in the UK that provides incredible opportunities to young performers and professionals, just as she has experienced along her travels.
Sara is a modern Theatre BA honours graduate of Brunel University, specialising in Directing and Stage Management. After breaking into the Theatre Industry in Chicago, she decided to return to the UK
and fell back into teaching dance again. It wasn't long before she was providing workshops across the UK and teaching for multiple different dance schools. Sara became a choreographer for Team England Dance World Cup and the All England National Finals whilst also working professionally across London.
The Hamilton International Academy, is a brand new adventure for Sara, and she would like to thank all of her Faculty who have made the dream become a reality. Students are not necessarily as fortunate as others, in terms of being able to travel & train with the masters, so with the faculty's help and support, we're bringing the opportunity to them.
Sara has been fortunate to perform professionally herself, and looks forward to building a new professional company at Hamilton, offering working opportunities, mentoring, and professional courses to the students.
TV/Commercial - Dancer (Huda Beauty) London 2019, Singer/Dancer (Bluepeter) TriOperas 2018, Dancer (TriOperas Promo) London 2017, Dancer/Make-Up Artists (Pebble 3D) Cadence London 2016.
Events - Tap Judge (IDO TAF) Tap World Championships Germany 2017 & 2018, Tap Dancing Butler (Harrods) London 2016, Tap Dancing Butler (Corporate) Cotswolds 2019, Tap Dancer (Bristol Harbour) Tap Attack Company 2015
Directing/Choreography/Performance - Principal Actor (Variant 31) West End London 2019, Principal Dancer & Choreographer (Guys & Dolls) Prison Choir Project Dartmoor 2019, Principal Dancer (Miss Ivy La'Rouge) P&O Cruises 2018, Choreographer (West Side Story) Prison Choir Project Dartmoor 2018, Principal Actor (Isabeau) Opera Holland Park London 2018, Assistant Director/Choreographer/Dance Captain/Principal Dancer (TiOperas) West End London 2018.
Sara is humbled by her experience within the industry and the opportunities that have led her to open Hamilton International Training Academy. She will continue to perform professionally and continue her training so that she can offer all students the support and inspiration they need to be the best they can be. She would like to thank all the people across the globe who have supported her and are supporting the Academy, and we can't wait welcome you all very soon, and a massive thank you to her faculty, without them, we would not be where we are without you.
Welcome to the Hamilton International Training
Academy.
Joseph
Claus
MT & VOCAL COACH
Joseph trained at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating with a PGDip in Musical Theatre in 2009, having previously obtained a BA(Hons) in Music from Bristol University.
Since graduating, Joseph has performed on various stages including as a soloist at Sondheim's 80th Birthday Prom, which was broadcast live on BBC TV and Radio; for 3 years with the West End Company of Phantom of the Opera (including both 25th and 30th anniversary galas), at Wembley Arena for the premiere of Love Beyond and at The Other Palace in London in new musical Broken Wings. Joseph has also performed on some of the world's largest cruise liners with various vocal groups and has been used on the concept albums for new musicals Vanara and Broken Wings. Most recently, Joseph performed in the Wizard of Oz at the newly refurbished Leeds Playhouse from November 2019 until February2020.
As well as performing, Joseph works extensively as a Vocal Coach, Arranger and MD; in 2018, he was Music/Vocal Supervisor for the West End Premiere of Trioperas and is the arranger and MD for Michael Quinn Productions’ new classical crossover group, Per Voi. He has worked as a vocal coach at some of the biggest Musical Theatre training colleges, including Emil Dale Academy and Urdang, as well as a chorus master worldwide.
Joseph is very excited to be joining the team at Hamilton International Training Academy and can’t wait to meet you all!
ryan
goscinski
ballet coach
Ryan trained at the Royal Ballet School and then Central School of ballet. After graduating, Ryan danced with The Royal Ballet Company, English National Ballet Company, the Estonian National Ballet Company, Ballet Ireland, The National Dance company of Denmark and as a back up dancer for An audience with Beyoncé (ITV).
After his incredible ballet career which stemmed over 8 years, Ryan decided to enter into the Musical Theatre Industry and soon joined the cast of Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's theatre. Since then, Ryan has played Rocky in the Rocky Horror Show European tour, following that he was a swing on the 9to5 UK tour.
Film credits include: Dr Strange (Marvel) and The Nutcracker and The Four Realms (Disney) as a Ballroom Dancer.
Ryan continues to perform professionally and also teaches at Dance Colleges such as Italia Conti throughout the week.
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Avalon
rathgeb
tap coach
Avalon Rathgeb graduated from Bird College in 2009 after studying on a 3 year full time scholarship. Recipient of two internships from the American Tap Dance Foundation 2009/11, Grant Swift’s TeAyPe (Melbourne, Australia) 2009-10, a scholarship for the Los Angeles Tap Festival 2012, winner of the 2013 cutting contest at Stockholm Tap Festival, invited to accept 1 of 25 places reserved for outstanding dancers in the 2014 Tap pro- gramme at the School at Jacob’s Pillow in Massachusetts, USA. Her career highlights include dancing in the opening ceremony of London 2012 Olympic Games, the closing ceremony of the European Games (Baku Azerbaijan) 2015, Artistic Director of ‘Old Kent Road’ 2014-current, principle dancer for ‘Tapestry Dance Company’ under the direction of Acia Gray 2017-19. Avalon is endorsed by Ruben Sanchez DanceWear.
Avalon is the Founder and Artistic Director of London’s preeminent tap dance company ‘Old Kent Road’ which she founded in London in 2014 and has now received Arts Council England funding four times. ‘Fall Out’ was accepted to perform at Resolution! 2015, the full length work premiered in 2016 which went on to tour throughout the UK for 3 years including DanceBase as part of Edinburgh Fringe where they received 5* reviews and ‘recommend show’.
In the summer of 2018 ‘OSCiLLATE’ co-choreographed by Avalon and Dre Torres premiered at the world renowned dance house Sadler’s Wells- The Lilian Baylis Theatre. OSCiLLATE has been performed at venues such as: The Lon- don Cabaret Club as part of The London Tap Dance Intensive and DanceBase as part of Edinburgh Fringe Festival, DanceEast, Salisbury Playhouse as part of Salisbury International Arts Festival, Bath Theatre Royal, HOLT Festival, Latitude Festival, Grand The- atre Shanghai (China).
Humbled to have spent the past 2 years performing as a principle dancer with ‘Tapestry Dance Company’, North America’s only full time and salaried tap dance company Texas, USA. Under the direction of Acia Gray Avalon performed and toured shows including: ‘Just Tap’, ‘Mice and Music- A Jazz Tap Nutcracker’, ‘April Fools’, ‘Sound and Silence’, ‘Passing it Forward- The American Dream?’ and ‘The Souls of our Feet’.
As a solo artist Avalon frequently teaches and performs internationally for tap festivals and events including; Dubrovnik Tap Festival (Croatia), Taptastic (Germany), Stockholm Tap Festival (Sweden), Prague City Tap Festival (Czech Republic), Australian Tap Festival, TapUnited (USA), Escola Luthier Dansa (Spain), Tanzhaus (Germany), Tip-Tap Run (Po- land) Moscato Tap Festival (Italy), Tapworks (Malaysia), Bolzano Tanz International Dance- Festival (Italy), Riff Dallas (USA) Workshops (Singapore), Odessa Tap Festival (Ukraine). In the UK she has performed at events including: Harrods Boxing day opening celebration, the 1st International Chinese Film Awards interviewed for BBC Radio London. In 2016 Avalon was invited to create a show ‘K-Tap’ in Kuwait in collaboration with LAPA LOYAC. In the UK Avalon teaches regularly at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Pineapple Dance Studios, Morea Performing Arts and South London Dance Studios.
christopher
tendai
rosina
andrews
laurence
Blight
modern coach
technique coach
commercial & vogue Coach
Christopher Tendai started his training at the prestigious Urdang Academy in 2011 studying Professional Dance and Musical Theatre (BaHons). Christopher graduated in 2014 and since then, he has been worked in both Musical Theatre and Commercial. (Hamilton, Matilda, West Side Story, In The Heights, Fleur East, Rita Ora, Strictly Come Dancing). Now, Christopher is an aspiring Theatre Choreographer, and Movement Director, who’s ready to deliver a unique and original approach for the new era of the Industry. Christophers most recent piece is IDENTITY which performed Off Westend at The Turbine Theatre March 2020.As a Motivationalist, Christopher aims to give back, motivate and Inspire the next generation of performers. He currently manages his very successful Course 'Industry Ready' with Graduate Success Credits in the Westend, International and Commercial. Christopher also works very closely with his Dance Company: CTC Dance Company. “If you work hard enough, anything in life is achievable. I started my training in dance when I was 18. I knew there were others that had been dancing since they were 3. I knew it was hard but all I said to myself is ‘I need to get to their level in 3 years’. I spent every day in a studio, going over exercises, stretching and choreography. That passion and determination has made me the person I am today. I am now in the Westend, a new theatre choreographer and have my own Company. My aim in this life is to give back as much knowledge as I can to the next generation through, my new training program (The Training Course - Industry Ready), as well as become a well renowned Choreographer.”
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Brandi
Miller
USA guest artist
Brandi Miller is a professional dancer with years of experience. Since 2002, she has developed skills and talent. Some of her accomplishments include going on tour with K Michelle. She has been in multiple music videos including Jidenna, Jeremih, and Jenn Morel.
Dancing With The Stars Sharna Burgess, chose Brandi to be a part of her workout class video promotion. She has trained and competed since the age of 4, performed with the pointer sisters, and was showcased on America’s Got Talent. When she was 6 years old, she was on the Clippers Dance Team, Junior Jam.
She is currently on a team with a Bollywood and Bachata company traveling around the United States. Brandi competed in a bachata world competition and won first as a bachata soloist as well as with her team. She is on tour with the world famous Latin artist, Marco Antonio Solís traveling the world performing at venues filled with thousands of people selling out every show. She has been on tour with Marco for a year now and going on her second as Dance Captain. Among these accomplishments, she has performed in multiple shows, gigs, and performances. Brandi lives in Los Angeles, CA.
Laura
bentley
fitness coach
As a mum of 2 I know how challenging it can be to find time to fit in a workout. Exercise has always been my go to for some head space and “me time” and I never regret it!
I started my fitness journey in 2016 when I trained independently to run the Great North Run having only ever run 5K! More recently online exercise classes have definitely got me through Lockdown!
I decided to use my passion for fitness to help
others and have recently qualified as a Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer & Nutritional Advisor.
By making exercise fun and accessible to everyone, I can’t wait to help others feel great about themselves and their achievements!
Life isn’t a dress rehearsal so let’s feel good & make it a good one!
Influenced by her time living in NYC, Rosina's work is fresh, current and unique. She has an infectious personality which drives and inspires all dancers and creatives that she works with. Rosina's work exudes originality and is internationally in demand; coaching some of the best dancers in the world.
The #RosinaAndrewsMethod is helping dancers, dance teachers and professionals worldwide advance their technique, clarify mindsets and excel within the industry.
Rosina has two technique publications, Pirouette Surgery® and Leap Surgery® as well as their teachers kits that ship worldwide.
The ethos of Rosina, her teaching and her brand is to encourage all dancers to #dancesmarter
ruben
sanchez
Ambassador - Spain
Ruben will be a strong Patron to the Academy, flying in from Barcelona regularly to teach at the academy.
Rubén Sánchez García, was born in lleida in 1978. He started learning to dance at 6 years old including classical ballet, contemporary dance, jazz, ballroom dance and others with most of the best well known teachers around the world. But it's tap inspires him the most, studying with Tap Master Guillem Alonso, Jason Samuels Smith, Max Pollack, Josh Hillbermann, Dereck Grant, Ted Levi, Leela Petronio, Sharon Lavi and Barbara Duffy.
From 2001 to 2007 he joined the tap and African drums company, 'CAMUT BAND' as a soloist, touring around Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands, Scotland, United Emirates, England, Italy, China and Denmark with the shows, 'Life is Rhythm', 'Walking with 'Rhythm and 'Big drums'.
In 2002 he gets involved on Tapeplas Dance company's new creation, building the show 'BOOMBACH', directed by Sharon Lavi.
July 2003 and 2006 he was invited to assist with a full scholarship at the New York City Tap festival with Sharon Lavi dancing in the showcase “Tap Forward” section.
November 2003, Tapeplas was invited by Lane Alexander to the “Chicago Human Rhythm Project”. In November of the same year he created (in cooperation with the Tap Master Guillem Alonso and Jep Melendez and DAZZLE CENTER from Middelburg, The Netherlands) The tap show “THE HOLTRONY'S” .
From April 2007 'till now, he teaches tap in cities such as Toulouse, Limoges, Paris, Marseille, Rennes, Montpellier (FRANCE), Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Sevilla, Valencia (SPAIN), Zürich, Lausanne, Geneva, Bern, Winterthur (SWITZERLAND), Amsterdam, Middelburg (THE NETHERLANDS) Rome, Milano, Alessandria, Torino (ITALY), Dubrovnik (CROATIA), Brno (CHECK REPUBLIC), Wilemshaven (GERMANY) between others.
In 2011 until 2015 he was requested as part of the Jury for the Swiss Tap Championship, German Tap championship and only in 2015 at the Check Republic Tap Championship
In 2011, Ruben created the show 'Swing and Gin' in Barcelona, sharing the stage with tap dancer Ludovico Hombravella.
The same year, he developed the brand RUBEN SANCHEZ DANCEWEAR (RSDW) being the Official Sponsor of SFUMATO Show by L'A Rachid Ouramdane (FRANCE), TAP FACTORY by Vincent Pausanias (FRANCE), OLD KENT ROAD by Avalon Rathgeb (UK), TAPESTRY by Acia Grey (USA), as well as the world wide well known tap dancer Aleksander Ostanin from Ukraine.
RSDW has been also supporting many festivals around the world within the last 10 years:
TAP ON Barcelona 2013-2019, HOOFERZ Tap Fest in Antwerp 2013-2014 (Belgium), New York City Tap Festival 2014, Paris Tap Fest 2014, The Vancouver international Tap Festival 2014, Castellon Tap Fest 2012-2013-22014, Odessa Tap Festival (Ukranie) 2015-2019, TAP UNITED between others
In July 2011, Ruben travelled to Israel to perform at the Karmiel Dance Festival with tapeplas dance company performing the show 'Fragments', directed by Sharon Lavi.
In March 2012 he started working for the Rachid Ourandame's Contemporary Dance Company on
the show 'Sfumato' as a tap dance soloist touring all around the world. In late 2015, they worked together again for the production Tenir Le Temps.
The same year 2012, he created next to Jep Melendez, Clara Pons and Berta Pons, between others, the show CAMBUYON reaching successfully public and critics at the Fringe Festival 2013 in Edinburgh, at the New Victory on 42nd street in New York City and between others.
Since 2013 he has been invited to the most well known Tap Festivals around the world such as TAP ON BARCELONA (SP), TAPTASTIC (GR), DANCE UNITED/TAP UNITED (USA), TURIN TAP FESTIVAL (IT), KL TAP FESTIVAL (MALAISIA), PILSEN TAP FESTIVAL (CZECK REPUBLIC), RED ROBYNNE CONVENTION (SOUTH AFRICA) between others.
Since 2012, Ruben performs as a soloist tap dancer at Rachid Ourandame's Contemporary Dance Company at the Centre Choreographique de Grenoble in France on the shows: SFUMTAO (2012), TENIR LE TEMPS (2015), FRANCHIR LA NUIT (2018), VARIATIONS (2019) .
Laurence began his training at the age of 5 gaining a scholarship at the Ravenscourt theatre school. After winning the award for best all round performer he went on to gain a DaDa scholarship at the London studio centre, graduating in 2006 and gaining a 1st in his degree of the arts. Before graduating Laurence was asked numerous of times to be part of Matthew Bournes workshops for "Edward Sciscorhands"..
Theatre credits include: The Jazz company (UK tour) Thriller Live (working with Michael Jacksons choreographer Lavelle UK and European tour) one for the road (Lamda)The nutcracker suite (UK) various pantomimes along side stars such as Mickey Rooney. The Jacksons and Blues on the mov (UK tour) 2 contracts for P&O UK and 4 contracts for P&O Australia as dance captain. Laurence has also appeared in many music videos including Geri Halliwell “It’s raining men” and boyband V “can u feel it?”
TV/Film credits: 4 weddings and a funeral, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Midsommer murders, Goodnight Sweetheart, pineapple dance studios and many more.
Fitness -
Laurence started his fitness journey in 2016 watching fitness videos on YouTube. Wanting to gain more knowledge on how the body works he applied for a personal training course through “Train Fitness”. As well as a level 3 qualification in personal training Laurence also has qualifications in gym instructing, spin, circuits, outdoor fitness and TRX.
Within two months of qualifying Laurence was teaching out of various fitness studios and even became the general manager of one of London’s newest boutique fitness studios. Teaching various classes and gaining 5 star reviews on Classpass and with a big client following Laurence loves to see people reaching their fitness goals and helping them along their journey.
aleksandr
ostanin
ambassador - ukraine
Aleksandr has become a Patron of the Hamilton International Training Academy and will be supporting us by providing Scholarships (annually) to selected students to attend the Odessa Tap Festival! Also Live and online classes!
Aleksandr began tap dancing at the age of 10. During his career he became a World Champion 4 times at the IDO! Aleksandr also became a winner of “So you think you can dance“ ( Ukraine 1st season) and was in the top 10 boys final in “So you think you can dance” USA.
He has danced and performed in such shows as “Tap reloaded“,“Wings of Rigolo“, “Tap United“. Aleksandr also runs a Dance Studio in the city of Odessa. Besides his dancing career he is a founder and director of Odessa Tap Festival.
Aleksandr is an official face & “legs” of Ruben Sanchez Tap shoes.
Now Aleksandr is coach of USA National Tap Dance Team.
Living and teaching in Boston, MA.
We are so privileged to have Aleksandr join the team, and we feel so honoured to be able to provide students with training overseas!