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.
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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.
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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.
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Events
Company Manager Saudi Arabia Oscars 2023
Dance Judge Southhampton University 2023
Tap Judge (IDO TAF) Tap World Championships Germany 2017, 2018 & 2023
Tap Dancing Butler (Harrods) London 2016
Tap Dancing Butler (Corporate) Cotswolds 2019
Tap Dancer (Bristol Harbour) Tap Attack Company 2015
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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.
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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.
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Welcome to the Hamilton International Training
Academy.
Jess o'leary
acro & comp coach
Jessica O'Leary is a distinguished professional in the world of dance and acrobatics, with a foundation rooted in her formal training at the prestigious London Studio Centre. With influence from tutors, Jess honoured her craft, developing a profound expertise in choreography. Her innovative routines have captured audiences at dance schools and colleges across the globe.
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As an esteemed educator, Jessica has the honour of serving as a judge at dance competitions throughout th dance competitions throughout the UK and Europe such as the Global Dance Open International Finals as well as teaching at conventions such as Move It.
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Jessicas dedication to the arts extends beyond national borders, as evidenced by her leadership in conducting international workshops that inspire a global audience.
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Representing Team England Jazz, Jessica showcases her skills on the competitive stage at the ICU World Championships, held at the iconic ESPN Wide World of Sports in America.
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Jessica is thrilled to be a part of the Hamilton International Training Academy Team!
Reece Woodier
Modern technique coach
Reece Woodier first discovered his passion for dance at the age of 16, With his drive and determination it wasn’t long before he secured a fully funded place on the 3 year course at the prestigious Laine theatre arts, it was here he started to widen his ability and knowledge of the many other aspects of performing before tackling the industry and marking his space.
Some of Reece’s professional credits include:
SNOW WHITE | movie | Walt Disney, L’Oréal HAIR SHOW | event, DIE GROSSE SILVESTER SHOW | television, KINGS CUP HALFTIME SHOW | arena, THE HIVES | Music Video, GLASS ANIMALS | Music Video
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.
Lynsey Gordon
Vocal & Musical Theatre coach
TRAINING- Laine Theatre Arts
Theatre credits-
WEST END
'Cats' ( played Rumpleteazer), 'Beauty and the Beast' (played Belle) 'Guys and Dolls' (played Adelaide) 'Calamity Jane' (played title role)
UK TOURS
'Singing in the Rain' (played Kathy Seldon)
Copacabana' (played Lola)
Carousel (played Carrie Pipperidge)
OTHER THEATRE
'Cinderella'-(played title role opposite Brian Conley)
Blues In The Night (The Woman)
TV CREDITS
This Morning, Blue Peter, The Generation Game, Royal Variety Performance
CAST RECORDING
Beauty and The Beast
RADIO CREDITS
Radio 3- played Philia in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
CABARET/ CONCERTS
West End Galas and solo performances at Talk Of London, Cafe De Paris, Almeida Theatre, Bloomsbury Theatre One-Woman Show at Trafalgar Studiios, London
TEACHING
Principal of The Britton School of Performing Arts.
Musical Theatre Masterclasses taught in various schools in London and Hertfordshire
Jordan southern
ballet coach/rad/istd
BA (Hons), LRAD, RAD RTS, DDE, Acrobatic Arts Accredited Teacher
Jordan started ballet at a young age and quickly fell in love with dancing. She soon expanded to train in modern, tap, acrobatics, street dance and aerial arts, competing in festivals and dancing in local shows and performances. At age twelve, Jordan began assisting in younger children's classes and discovered her passion for teaching.
Jordan went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dance, graduating with a First Class Honours Degree in Ballet Education as well as the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance. Jordan then continued her teacher training and completed the ISTD DDE in Modern and Tap and the Acrobatic Arts Module 1 Certification.
Emily Allen
Mini & Jnr Coach
Emily began her training at the age of three, attending both the Morgan Aslanoff School of Dance and Dance Design Theatre Arts. Whilst there, she competed and won numerous medals at the Regional and National All England Finals, as well as at the Dance World Cup in 2013, 2014 and 2015. At 11 years old, Emily made her West End debut as a Ballet Girl in the critically acclaimed Billy Elliot the Musical.
She began her teaching journey at age 15 supporting with the mini and junior classes at Dance Design. Whilst at Nottingham Trent University, her journey continued when she became Team Captain in her second year and Club President in her third year. These opportunities allowed Emily to choreograph competition routines, which went on to win various trophies, including Best Choreography and Best Female Dancer for herself.
Emily is excited to now be part of Hamilton International Training Academy, helping to train the next generation of dancers.