Woking Dance Space classes are taught by a variety of hard working, talented and energetic teachers.
Charlotte Bateup
Charlotte trained at the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts where she was awarded a National Diploma in Musical Theatre as well as gaining her ISTD teaching qualification in Modern Theatre Dance and Ballet.
After graduating Charlotte was lucky enough to start a career as a professional dancer on some of the largest cruise liners in the world. Since 2009 when she started her career with Princess Cruises she worked her way up and became Company Manager where her duties, as well as performing, included managing the cast of singers and dancers and all the logistics of maintaining a happy and hard working company.
Princess Cruises has some of the most elaborate and high end shows that are available on water and in 2014 Charlotte was asked by the company to assist in teaching and installing their shows on to the ships.
In 2015 Charlotte returned home and started working for Guildford Fringe Theatre Company where she is the General Manager. Charlotte choreographs and directs their pantomimes and in house productions, occasionally still performing! Charlotte is over the moon to have found Woking Dance Space when she finished performing professionally and is blown away by the standard of dancers and teachers that are part of such a wonderful organisation.
Charlotte teaches Open Jazz, Jazz Technique & Tone, and is also a Trustee of Woking Dance Space.
Jennifer Dyson
Jennifer began her professional dance training at The Royal Academy of Dancing, where she studied from 1995-1998, gaining a degree in The Art and Teaching of Ballet. Here, under the tuition of many prestigious teachers, including June Mitchell, Karen King and Norman Morrice, Jennifer studied a variety of dance styles, such as, Contemporary, National, Modern and Tap. The course also consisted of a choreography elective, which led to performances of her work at the College. The three-year course also enabled Jennifer to gain her Licenciate, by successfully passing the Advanced R.A.D examination.
Jennifer has performed professionally all over the world, including tours with “Spirit of the Dance” in the USA, South East Asia, Brazil, India, Dubai, Mexico and Australia. She has also performed in numerous pantomimes and TV productions such as “Stars in Their Eyes” for Grenada Television. Look closely and you might spot her in the New Line Cinema movie “The Golden Compass”.
Jennifer is always eager to share her experience and wealth of choreographic knowledge and has recently joined our board of Trustees.
Jennifer teaches Theatre Jazz, Theatre Tap, Daytime Tap and Daytime Jazz and is also a Trustee of Woking Dance Space.
Philippa Jarrett
Philippa trained at Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts under Noreen Bush and Bridget Espinosa.
After finishing her training she went to Virginia, USA to join the Bristol Ballet. Following this, she moved to Belgium and joined the Ballet de Flandre, where she undertook teacher training which she completed at the Jarrett School of Dance in Brussels.
Philippa spent many years dancing, teaching and choreographing for ballets at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels and the Gent Opera House.
She now lives in Guildford, and is Co-Artistic Director of Southern Youth Ballet in Sussex.
Philippa teaches Daytime Improvers Ballet, Daytime Intermediate Ballet and RAD Discovering Repertoire.
Christina Hobbins
Christina has been dancing since the age of 6, beginning her training in disco, street and hip-hop. She went on to train with London based hip hop company Impact Dance, where she was introduced to contemporary, before continuing her training at the Zoonation Academy of Dance, Zoonation Youth Company, Ombrascura Dance and Boadicea.
Christina completed her professional dance training at London Studio Centre, graduating with a BA (Hons) in Theatre Dance. Since graduating, Christina has built a caried professional career across commercial, theatre, television and live entertainment. Her credits include X Factor, Lorraine (ITV), The O2 Academy, Move It, Sadler’s Wells, Sky Sports with Surrey Storm, alongside various music and live entertainment projects. Most recently, Christina has been working with RWS Global performing at Chessington World of Adventures, as well as performing at the Women’s Cricket World Cup Final. She has also recently completed a tour with Steve Steinman’s production.
Alongside performing, Christina is an experienced dance teacher, working with children, young people and adults across a range of ages and abilities.
Christina teaches Commercial.
Gretchen Fox Kiefer
Dancing and teaching for over 25 years, Gretchen is a former professional dancer and founder member of Newport Contemporary Ballet (formerly Island Moving Company).
She undertook numerous tours, performances and out reach programmes with Island Moving Company, and also performed with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and several Colorado ballet companies. Gretchen also choreographed for Island Moving Company, Little Theater of the Rockies and the University of Northern Colorado.
She has taught dance at the Newport Academy of Ballet, University of Northern Colorado and currently teaches for the Susan Robinson School of Ballet and the British Ballet Organization.
Gretchen is a Royal Academy of Dance Registered Teacher (RAD RTS) and holds a British Ballet Organization (BBO) Level Five Diploma qualifications in Dance Teaching.
Gretchen teaches Advanced Ballet.
Claire Tabraham
Claire started her dance training aged three years old, and has over twenty years of teaching experience, holding ISTD Licentiate qualifications in Tap & Modern, and now working towards her Fellowship Tap. For many years, she was a teacher & Trustee at Woking Dance Space before moving to Eastbourne and establishing Eastbourne Dance Space in 2015. An inclusive and encouraging place for adults of all ages and ability levels to enjoy the many benefits of dance, which is still going strong today.
Claire has performed in, and choreographed for, shows in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Docklands Arena and Birmingham Indoor Arena. She has delivered inclusive dance workshops for children and adults, provided dance training for figure skaters and pre-audition coaching for West End Performers, and been a regular teaching artist at Greenbelt Festival.
Claire has been recorded speaking about the benefits of dance for BBC Radio 4’s Listening Project, been featured on the People Dancing website and in the ISTD magazine. Claire teaches at dance schools across Sussex and Surrey which also includes running regular examination sessions. She is a qualified Dance for Parkinson’s practitioner and has completed training in Inclusive Dance Practice.
She is pleased to be returning to Woking Dance Space in 2026 to share her passion and experience, and promises fun, encouraging classes!
Claire teaches Improvers Tap.
Emily Little
Emily’s love for dance started at the age of 2, watching her older sister in dance class & joining in when ever possible! At 16 after many years of training with Susan Robinson School of Ballet Emily gained a place at Laine Theatre Arts where she studied Dance & Musical Theatre.
In Emily’s 2nd year she felt privileged to be chosen for her first professional dance contract; The Royal Variety Performance 2003. Once graduated Emily performed in FAME the Musical which toured Germany & Holland, Spirit of the Dance USA tour, Viva La Diva UK Arena tour Starring Katherine Jenkins & Darcey Bussell, Dancing Queen UK & Monte Carlo, Lead dancer in 2 Pot Noodle Adverts, Dance captain for professional pantomimes & many various music videos. Emily has also danced on stage with Kylie Minogue, Enrique Iglesias, Cheryl Cole & Anastasia.
After many years of professional experience in the industry she had also gained fitness & gym instructor qualifications. Emily finds teaching at WDS a wonderful creative outlet & truly enjoys teaching her classes.
Dance is so good for your soul, escape everyday life for an hour & release yourself into the music- what ever it may be! I look forward to meeting you soon
Emily teaches Contemporary Jazz.
Shani Nash
Shani studied Ballet, Tap and Modern dance at the Susan Robinson School of Ballet, before gaining a grant to attend The Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. At Rambert Shani trained professionally and continued her study of Ballet, as well as Graham and Cunningham contemporary styles.
She was fortunate to be given many performance opportunities whilst with the school and danced as the ‘Fortune teller’ in National Youth Ballet’s “Maid on the marsh “1994”.
Shani joined Woking Dance Space classes in 2010 and started teaching for First Dance Studio soon afterwards. She has previously taught for Dance Woking, Woking Gymnastics club and has covered for Natalie Dodd, teaching children’s classes for the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary dance. Shani teaches pre-school children through to adults, and currently teaches for Surrey adult learning and Surrey Community Dance.
Shani is an ISTD qualified teacher, having passed her Advanced 1 and 2 in Imperial ballet as an adult, she gained her Licentiate higher level teaching qualification in 2020, and in 2021 will start her studies towards Fellowship.
Shani teaches Beginners Ballet, Intermediate Ballet, Contemporary, Open Ballet, ISTD Advanced 1 Ballet, Relaxed Contemporary and Pointe Preparation and Conditioning.
Laura Porter
At the age of 5, Laura started dancing at Julie Sianne Theatre Arts where her passion for dance began. There she gained excellent grades up to advanced levels in RAD ballet, ISTD tap, modern and jazz. She was fortunate enough to compete at a national level and perform in various dance festivals and pantomimes.
Laura taught at Julie Sianne Theatre Arts for several years before heading to university where she also taught ballet and jazz and choreographed routines for yearly dance shows.
Laura joined Woking Dance Space in 2013 and is a regular attendee and show choreographer.
Laura teaches Lyrical Jazz and Improvers Lyrical and our Beginners Courses.