CDS FACULTY
All of our Cornwall Dance School Teachers are DBS Checked, have Full Chaperone Licences, Safeguarding and First Aid Training. We strive to create the safest environment possible therefore we meet regularly both to train and to discuss improvements to our management.
Lisa Ann McNally (School Principal)
Lisa Ann is Dance Principal and Teacher for our Truro, Falmouth and Helston Dance classes, teaching Ballet, Hip-Hop, Street, Contemporary, Freestyle, Musical Theatre, Commercial and Stage dance.
Lisa started dancing with the BBO (British Ballet Organisation) from the age of 2 years old studying Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz and Contemporary achieving honours and highly recommended in exams. She gained a scholarship with BBO London when she was 12years old and spent several years training with top teachers in London and performing around the country.
Lisa Trained in IDTA Freestyle Dance Teaching, in which she is now a Licentiate, allowing her to hold IDTA exams and Competitions. She is a Qualified Associate of Ballet with the IDTA, OFQUAL registered. Lisa also holds a Level 6 Dance Pedagogy Diploma with the British Ballet Organisation of which she is a full member. Lisa also holds a QTLS Certifcation.
With her competition teams she has gained over 50 1st-3rd places and gained Championship Titles with highly trained students from Cornwall Dance School.
Lisa was on Britains Next Top Model (Series 5), and has worked as a model since the age of 16, in promotion and shooting for covers and spreads in Magazines regularly, her photographs can be seen on Ron Hill Clothing, Vogue, Caravan Club, Glaxo Smith Kline and Dotty Magzine. Working with Louis Marriette, Ed Hardy, Huggy Raggnerson and Nicole De Carle her profile has grown and grown.
Lisa McNally became the owner of Cornwall Dance School in 2012, she has since then managed to introduce many modern styles of dance to the school, alongside IDTA exams and Teacher Training to students in Cornwall at Affordable prices. She has introduced the charity PAEF (Performing Arts Enabling Fund) to students at Cornwall Dance School, along with the help of Parents at the School, alongside creating two shows a year and hosting various events and fundraisers each year.
Alongside her Dance Training, she holds her Health & Safety Level 2, Epilepsy and Life Support Training, First Aid at Work and Paediatric First Aid & Safeguarding Level 3. Lisa has a Safeguarding Lead Level 3 Certificate, is LADO Level 3 trained and has a Level 3 Child Psychology Diploma. She has also obtained a Level 4 SEND Diploma.
Other Credits include;
Programmes and advertising: Blue Peter, The Surgery (BBC), The Caravan Club, Kernow Clothing, Virgin Holidays, Todka, Febreeze, Ron Hill, Newquay Life Guards and Newquay Hydrotherapy Centre.
Theatre Productions: Annie, Steel Magnolia's, Jack and the Beanstalk, Oklahoma, Bugsy Malone.
Films: World War Z, About Time.
Paige Brown - Manager & Musical Theatre Teacher
Paige has trained with Cornwall Dance School since 2012, taking Musical Theatre and Dance classes. Her knowledge of our school and our ethos has enabled her to support our students and the school and led to her undertaking of the manager role in 2024. Her passion was then turned into a career path. Not only is she preparing her students for the stage, she has also trained our students to compete in singing competitions in the Country - with very successful results.
Paige herself has performed at several theatres in Cornwall such as the Hall for Cornwall and the Royal Cornwall Showground.
Playing many parts over the years, Paige's most loved role to play was Belle in "The Beast" in 2017. This passion has led to her current undertaking of a Musical Theatre Degree at Falmouth University.
Musical Theatre is not Paige's only passion, she has a background as an Early Years Childrens Worker, supporting her work at CDS with the children and young people.
Paige has obtained the following qualifications: BTEC Level 3 in Play Learning and Development, Level 2 in Safeguarding and Level 3 in Paediatric First Aid and is currently undertaking her Degree in Musical Theatre.
ANNA BROOME - Dance Teacher
Anna has been passionate about all kinds of performance, particularly dance from a very young age; training throughout the years in a variety of styles such as ballet, contemporary, hip-hip, modern and tap. Having graduated a few years ago from the Trinity Laban conservatoire of music and dance with a first class honours degree in contemporary dance.
'Dance has always been an integral part of my life and I am extremely passionate about sharing my knowledge within this field and to continue to learn from others whilst doing so. I am extremely excited to begin teaching at Cornwall Dance School and cannot wait to start my new journey with the students!'
With regards to recent work Anna has been involved in, during last summer Anna was part of UPG’s emergent ensemble, as part of this experience they trained in a variety of techniques such as somatic work, physical theatre, vocal work and performance-parkour (2PK). Being part of an ensemble they devised and performed a number of works around the streets and stages of Cornwall.
Prior to Anna's studies at Laban, amongst lots of other performances and classes, she trained with the Big Dance Company. With them in 2014 Anna placed 1st at the UDO world championships in the solo category. Before Anna's degree she was also a part of the Hall for Cornwall’s contemporary youth dance company.
'I have recently gone back and started teaching the current company; It has been amazing to go back to a place where I once trained and be able to teach!'
hiroko west - Dance Teacher
Hiroko started Ballet aged 2, originally beginning her career at a young age by competing in Ballet competitions in Japan.
Hiroko spent extensive time in overseas countries training in a variety of styles of dance. Including Ballet, Jazz to Freestyle, Locking and African.
Her career took her to Disneyland Tokyo, Disneyland Hong Kong and Disneyland Paris as well as a long stint on Princess Cruises. Hiroko currently travels overseas during the summer to work as a professional dancer at DisneyLand Paris.
Alongside all of her professional dance work, Hiroko has worked as a dance teacher for over 10 years and also as a judge and assistant for corporate auditions for companies such as Disney. Undertaking her formal teacher training currently within Cornwall Dance School, Hiroko brings a world of knowledge to the Cornwall Dance School students.
KERRY HACKWORTH - SINGING TEACHER
'I started out in music at the age of 6 when I began piano lessons and then
worked through the classical grades until gaining my grade 8 just before studying for my Degree in 1985. Along the way I picked up some grades on clarinet and also started classical and contemporary
guitar lessons locally.
Leeds College of Music lasted until 1988 where I studied for a GDLM (Graduate Diploma in Light Music) and also where I started my singing training. I came back to Cornwall after my time at Leeds and started working in commercial and function band setups. Finally at the end of 1989 I got my first opportunity to work in a band abroad and then followed a succession of successful gigs in many different places in the world, for example;
Butlins and various Holiday Parks in the UK (1989 - 1991), Paphos in Cyprus (1993-1994), Ibiza, Spain (1996), UAE (1997), Nagoya, Japan (1999-2001) and Yokohama, Japan (2001-2002).
Since the last contract in Japan, I have been working as a singing and piano teacher at Truro and Penwith College and continue to do so. I also have some private teaching in the local area and I am still working as a solo artist around various live venues in the County.'
Kerry can provide exams with ABRSM, LCM (Musical Theatre) and Rockschool (Pop Singing). Alongside this Kerry is qualified in Level 3 First Aid, Leve 2 Safeguarding & Level 2 Health and Safety.
chrissy warren - dance teacher
Chrissy Warren completed her dance and choreography degree at Falmouth university in 2021. Her training consisted of contemporary dance techniques (release, Cunningham, graham), improvisation and contact work.
From a very young age, Chrissy trained in contemporary, ballet and tap. She has been teaching/ assisting classes since the age of 13 and now teaches
children from the age of 4+, as well as at Richard Lander school and adult sessions.
Along side teaching, Chrissy loves to perform and is currently part of the 'Emergent Ensemble 2' with Prodigal UPG. She has been performing this summer with the company, learning new performance techniques and character work.
As well as her degree, Chrissy completed the betec dance diploma at Truro college and the A level dance course, finishing with D*D*D* and A*.
Since finishing university, Chrissy has been to London and Barcelona taking part in workshops, exploring different ways of moving and teaching. She has performed in the Ordinalia in St.Just, Cornwall and been part of a film made by Alice Cooke called entity rising.
Over the past few years she has also worked with Dance in Devon, the Hall for Cornwall and Cscape on projects involving children and local communities.
Chrissy is passionate about encouraging people to dance and finding enjoyment whilst moving. She wants to inspire others, the way she has been inspired by her teachers and lecturers.
BENJAMINn DI'ATH - DANCE TEACHER
'Benjamin attended the London Studio Centre graduating from Intoto Dance Company in 2013. Since then he has worked nationally and internationally performing all over the world as well as West End theatres. Credits include: Pet Shop Boys Royal Opera House, ‘Carmen’ Secret Opera Company, Siobhan Davis at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Celebrity Cruise Line, ‘Cinderella’ 2015, Step One Dance Company, Metta Theatre’s ‘The Little Mermaid’, to name a few.
He gained his BA Hons degree in theatre dance (upper second class honours)
Professional diploma from the London Studio Centre
UKA Ballroom and Latin awards Distinction
Throughout his career he has taught as much as possible, from dance schools, to colleges and fitness studios, delivering classes and workshops all over the country. He is always excited to pass on knowledge and passion to others.
He specialises in Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Commercial as well as Latin American, Ballroom and tap dance. Through extensive work in the industry he has great knowledge of the working performing arts world which he brings to his lessons here at CDS.
Ben has his first aid level 3 certificate, he is also trained to Safeguarding level 2, he is also Epipen and Defibrilator trained.’
TIM MERRIFIELD - DANCE TEACHER
Tim graduated from Edge Hill University in 2018 with a first class honors degree in Dance, Drama & Aerial Performance. Since graduating Tim has performed & taught nationally and internationally with the Urban Playground Team, including Glastonbury and the Qatar World Cup 2022. Tim has also performed for Company Chameleon, Hall for Cornwall and Blackhaine.
Tim has found a love for teaching and community work since going through ProdigalUPG's Emergent Ensemble programme on 2021. Tim also teaches for the Minack theatre and co-runs UPG Teaching, a teaching partnership which facilitates Performance-Parkour sessions for schools and youth clubs around Cornwall.
ALEX HARRISON - GUEST DANCE TEACHER
Alex Harrison was born and raised in Cornwall and trained locally with Pamela Darlington before gaining a scholarship to attend Elmhurst Ballet School, in association with the Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Alex has danced with ballet companies in both Europe and America, most notably as a First Soloist with the Sarasota Ballet, Florida, USA. He has performed lead or featured roles in classical ballets as well as in works by choreographers such as Ashton, Balanchine, Macmillan, Robbins and Wheeldon.
Alex has recently made the transition into musical theatre and credits so far include: Mister Mistoffelees in the International Tour of “Cats” (China and Europe); Ensemble in “On the Town” (Tokyo and Osaka, Japan) and Alberto Beddini in “Top Hat” (for Cunard’s Queen Victoria).
nicolette whitley - GUEST Teacher
Nicolette Whitley completed her degree at Paul McCart-
ney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). Her experience as a performer spans across Film, TV and Theatre throughout the UK and internationally. Nicolette has most recently been working with award winning company Fallen Angels Dance Theatre under the guidance of former Royal Ballet soloist Paul Bayes Kitcher.
Nicolette’s professional career commenced as the joint founder and choreographer of the contemporary lyrical dance duo Alleviate. Alleviate were the runners up on Sky 1’s Got To Dance series 2 and went on to star in the hit dance show Flash Mob at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre in the West End. Alleviate were also invited to perform for the Queen at Buckingham Palace and appeared at An Evening with Strictly Come Dancing Stars Karen and Kevin.
Her commercial credits include: The Inbetweeners movie, 8 out of 10 Cats, Hollyoaks, Adidas, Stella McCartney, Topshop, BBC3 Amazing Humans, VOGUE Brasil, Guess, Gap, Move Dancewear, Sweaty Betty, Shayne Ward 2021 music video Coming Home and commercials for Argos, Virgin and Oral B featuring Shakira.
Her performances includes; The Royal Opera House, The London Science Gallery, collaboration with Birmingham Royal Ballet,TEDx, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Latitude Festival, 59th FilmFare Awards (India) and 3D Filmusic Barcelona, collaborations with Russell Maliphant and Marco Goecke via FADT company.
Nicolette started her journey into contemporary dance in Barcelona with Martz Contemporary Dance Company (MCDC) working in Spain, Italy and Switzerland. In the last four years she has been working with Tuckshop Dance Theatre on productions FLAMINGOS, Neverland and Alexa Are We There Yet? funded by ACE, performing in the UK.
Nicolette has an ever growing passion for teaching and inspiring the next generation of artists. She has taught at events such as The Dance World Cup, Move It, Can You Dance and currently guest teaches in the UK at a range of schools, colleges and universities. She has lectured for a year at the Institute of Arts Barcelona (IAB) and two years at Chester University. Further international teaching credits include Switzerland, India, Portugal, Ireland and China.