Our school dance teachers:
- Louise Woods - Principal
- Paulyne Woods - School Burser
- Michaela Thacker
- Chris-Louise Estrada
- Rebecca Holder
- Bethany Bianga
Our assistant teachers: Shanie Lynch, Becky Lewendon, Joanna Perkins, Anna Reid, Bryony Martin and Georgia Dunne.
Should you require dance teachers from Reading for workshops, schools andevents please call us on
0118 988 7848
Teacher biographies:
Louise Woods - Principal
Louise trained at the Urdang Academy, Covent Garden, London, where she gained a National Diploma in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. She was trained in Street Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Pointe Work, Locking, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Singing, Acting, Voice and Accents, Tap and Musical Theatre. She has passed her exams with the Royal Academy of Music in Singing and Piano. Taken her exams for Drama with LAMDA, Ballet in RAD & Modern & Tap with the ISTD. Louise is also a trained Zumba instructor.
Her credits include having danced for Sky Sports International Dance Team, Backing Dancer for pop group STEPS, Singer/Dancer for National Lottery, dancer/model for Topshop, singer for Atomic Kitten tribute in Menorca and a dancer/model for BBC Radio 1 Fitness Video with Chris Moyles and Scott Mills. She has also appeared in ITV dramas The Last Detective, Bombshell, Gideon's Daughter, adverts for anti-drugs campaign FRANK, Olympic Games and the film Charlie & The Chocolate Factory starring Johnny Depp. Louise also was a backing dancer at Madame Tussauds in London for 'Breast Cancer Charity Ball' in October 2007. Louise has choreographed and produced the Broad Street Mall Fashion Show for the past 4 years, working along side 2TEN FM, Reading 107, The Evening Post and Reading Chronicle. Louise most recently appeared as a judge alongside Sir John Madejski at 'Has Reading Got Talent' in August 2010 and August 2011.
Paulyne Woods - School Burser
Paulyne has many years experience in business as well as running her own companies. She uses her expertise in any area required.
She also heads the Costume Department and inputs into our drama classes, scripting pieces for our shows. Paulyne also runs the Dance School's Dancewear Shop, selling things from jazz shoes, dance trousers, tap shoes, leg warmers, dance bags and many more items.
Michaela Thacker
Michaela has been dancing all her life. She has gained a National Diploma in Performing Arts and has taken all her exams in RAD Ballet and ISTD Modern & Tap. She is trained in Street jazz, Ballet, Modern, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acting and Tap. She has modelled for teen magazines, performed at Butlins in the UK, performed at the Children's Variety Performance in London and danced in shows touring hotels in Tenerife. Michaela appeared in 42nd Street and Disco Inferno at the Hexagon as lead dancer and was a model/dancer at the Broad Street Mall Fashion Show 2007 and 2010.
Chris-Louise Estrada
Chris-Louise trained at The Royal Academy of Dance where she gained her BA (Hons) in the Art and Teaching of Ballet and was also award the Licenciate of the Royal Academy of Dance which is the highest accolade for excellence in teaching. Chris-Louise has also gained the her Licenciate in Modern Theatre Dance and the Certificate in Dance Education. Chris-Louise has gained Advanced 2 in all three genres. Chris-Louise has gone on to teach and choreograph in various schools throughout Berkshire and Hampshire, including Redroofs Theatre School.
Rebecca Holder
Rebecca has been dancing since the age of 3. She attended the Royal Ballet associates for 4 years and qualified at London Studio Centre obtaining a foundation degree in Performing Arts; whilst there Rebecca trained in a variety of different styles including, ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, street, commercial, hip hop, lindy hop, jazz partnering, lyrical and pointe work. Rebecca performed in ‘Coppelia’ with the Royal Ballet Company and has also toured the UK in ‘The Jazz Company’ directed by Petra Siniawski (Director of West End Wicked). She has also completed training in ISTD ballet, tap and Modern, RAD Ballet and a DDI in ISTD modern. Since graduating Rebecca has enjoyed teaching a range of different styles in London, Reading and Cheltenham.
Bethany Bianga
Bethany started ballet & tap dancing at the age of 3 and then at 8 years old discovered street dance which has been her passion ever since. She has been lucky enough to perform at many theatres such as the London Palladium, The Shaftsbury Theatre, The Hexagon, High Wycombe Swan and many smaller ones. In 2005 Bethany and her dance crew won the UK HIP HOP Championships which allowed them to go to Los Angeles to represent the UK in the World Hip Hop Championships. This was an experience which taught her a lot and one she shall never forget. She also enjoys singing. She has performed in various shows and in 2010 came 3rd in the ‘Has Reading Got Talent’ Finals, competition.
Teaching dance in Reading
Our dance teachers are all CRB checked and we are licensed by the local authority to work with children (called Chaperone Licensing).
We are all passionate about teaching dance, singing and drama to all age groups. Learn to dance with us and you learn to dance for fun.
Our dance teachers are highly experienced, professional and friendly.
Testimonials
“My two daughters have been enjoying Starlet classes for the last two years as well as taking part in the Summer Shows, Choreography and Singing Competitions and 'Themed Holiday Schools'. My eldest appeared at the Hexagon in the National Tour of Annie with Sue Pollard and both girls have danced for Arlene Phillips. If it wasn't for Louise and Starlet Dance School they would not have had either of these great opportunities, which have really given them confidence.
Wanting to join in their fun, I have been attending the Adult Dance Classes for the last year and am loving it. Huge thanks to Louise and Paulyne!”
Tania Banyard
”Starlet is a fabulous dance school! My daughters started here three years ago and have loved every minute of it. They have both grown in confidence greatly and have been given some fantastic opportunities to perform on the stage. The teachers are both friendly and professional and enjoy having fun with the children and getting to know them. Starlet has a lovely family feel to it, being run by Louise, rather than being part of a franchise. I look forward to my daughters working their way through the stages and having many more performances.”
Hannah Lloyd-Thomas
“My daughter Anna started Starlet Dance School when she was just eight years old and she has now just turned eighteen. She attends all the classes which are dance, ballet, tap, singing and drama and has loved every minute of it. She has grown from a young girl to a confident performer thanks to the help of Starlet Dance. What is great about the school is that it’s fun and based on teamwork. Each year there are shows at theatres to demonstrate what they have learnt so the parents can go and watch, which is fantastic. Starlet also encourages children to audition for many other shows and concerts which have been great for Anna who has appeared in many of them.”
Joy Reid
“Starlet Dance School has made such a huge, positive impact on my daughter's confidence. We've seen her progress over the years, and she's been given some fantastic opportunities through the school. I would like to thank Louise, along with the other teachers and the wonderful Stage 5 assistants for teaching, encouraging and nurturing her within the Starlet Family and look forward to many more years of watching her enjoy dancing!”
Cathie White
“Starlet had helped my daughter in so many ways. She has gained so much confidence in herself that not only has shown at starlet but it has also helped her a great deal in school! A fun, friendly dance school with great opportunities that I would recommend to any one.”
Sam Clifford
"My daughter Ceri joined Starlet Dance to be part of the world of music, singing and dance, and has never looked back. She now has the confidence to sing and dance on stage, and from this has been given the opportunity to dance for Arlene Phillips as part of a Street Dance group in the Henley Literary Festival. The teachers are friendly yet professional, the classes are disciplined yet fun, and Ceri has made many new friends.
I really look forward to seeing the children (and adults!) perform in the Starlet Shows where everyone is given an opportunity. The holiday clubs are great fun too!"
Marcia Milnes
“My daughter only started dancing and ballet at Starlet in January 2011 and was still just 3. She has come on leaps and bounds since then and enjoys going every week. The teachers and assistants are always so happy, friendly and smiley and make all the children comfortable and help them to be themselves. My daughter took part in a show in the summer and really wanted to win a trophy for most improved, but she had only been there 4 months so I think it was a bit too soon, and she was very happy with the medal they all received. This dance school is all you need a dance school to be and I would highly recommend it, and have done with 2 friends who now bring their children.”
Sharon Wynn
“Joining Starlet Dance School was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. Not only did I build my confidence and self esteem, I made friends that I’ll keep forever. I started at the age of 8 (stage 3) and within a couple of months was doing my first Starlet summer show. After doing the show and watching everyone else, I decided to join every class I could which included a variety of dance styles from ballet to street dance as well as singing and drama. Starlet provided me with many amazing opportunities enabling me to showcase my talents, a few of these included performing in ‘All Shook Up’ at The Hexagon, being a model/dancer in the Broad Street Mall Fashion Show and being part of a music video. In 2009 I was given the opportunity to become an assistant teacher. From my time at starlet I have realised my passion for performing arts and have since gone onto study theatrical hair and make-up. Thank you to my Starlet Family”
Georgia Dunne (former student and assistant teacher)
“I attended Starlet Dance School from the age of ten until eighteen, and the highlight of my week for eight years was getting up on a Saturday morning and going to dancing. Starlet offers their children an array of opportunities to perform at a variety of venues; giving the children a large confidence boost, and allowing them to 'showcase' their performance skills. I joined Starlet Dance School to gain a hobby in dancing which led to participating in choreography competitions and performing in Annual Summer shows. With the knowledge and techniques I had gained from Starlet, I furthered my dance studies at A-level and am now studying for an Undergradute BA (Hons) Degree in Dance at Chichester University. Without joining Starlet Dance School I would never have found my love for dance, so for that I thank the wonderful teachers that taught me at Starlet”
Brooke Helmore (former student)
"My daughter has been attending Starlet Dance school for the past eight years, and she has loved everything she has done there, from fashion shows, dancing at Madjeski Stadium to recently dancing for Arlene Philips, but mainly because it's a happy, friendly, safe place to be"
Sarah Martin
Starlet Dance School
Telephone: 0118 988 7848
Email: starletdanceschool@hotmail.com
Address: 63 Oatlands Road, Shinfield, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 9DN