Meet the team

Hi, My name is Nick, I’m the founder of Shining Lights Performing Arts Academy. I have had a passion for performance since a young age performing in both instrumental and musical theatre groups. After gaining a Triple Distinction in Performing Arts from Brockenhurst College, I went on to do a BA Honours in musical theatre at the University of Chichester where after three years I achieved a 2.1Throughout my time honing my craft in Drama, Dance, Singing and Technical Theatre I have always had the dream of opening my very own Theatre Academy where children can express themselves through performance, feel safe and happy to be a Shining Light. I have spent the past 6 years working as a Drama, Music, Dance and Performing Arts teacher at a private school in Bournemouth. It has given me the opportunity to work within a school environment and pass on my love for performance and the arts. Throughout my training I have not just honed my skills in the Three main aspects of theatre but working at school has allowed me to teach the importance of technical theatre to the children and how without a back stage team there would be no productions. Starting Shining Lights Performing Arts is scary yet exciting and I am hoping to offer a vast range of sessions from drama, singing and dance to set design, theatrical make-up, Stage Combat. If you are a budding performer or someone interested in technical theatre, shining lights is the academy for you. I am hoping to launch drama and dance classes in Lymington and Brockenhurst, from January 2021 depending on Government guidelines offering a Taster Package at a discounted price. So if you think we might be for you or you'd like to give it a go please send us your details and we will keep you up to date on classes. For information on upcoming classes email or WhatsApp using the link on the: info@shininglightsperformingartsacademy.com

Introducing Jazz

Jazz overseas all of SLPA’s Admin and Social media pages. She will be welcoming children and parents on registration of all our classes. Jazz will be an integral part of the Shining Lights team. Please do not hesitate to ask her any questions or concerns that you might have during our Saturday classes

Ayrshire born, Katrina started her professional training at Dance School of Scotland and then continued to Elmhurst School for Dance. Since leaving Elmhurst she has toured with Vienna Festival Ballet, performing classical ballets such as Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. She then danced in Thursford Christmas Spectacular in Norfolk. Katrina has danced around the world on various cruise ships and performed in The Snowman on The West End for the past five years. Most recently Katrina was awarded a Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma with The Royal Academy of Dance. She is committed to providing high quality dance education in a nurturing, positive environment.

Katrina has joined the team and head of Royal Academy of Ballet (RAD) examination classes at Shining Lights Performing Arts Academy 

Welcome Katrina! We cannot wait to see you working with the children. 

Megan has worked with us at SLPA now for a couple of years back in November of 2021 she was covering when Amy left to be a Disney princess . 

Megan teaches dance and assists in weekday evening classes. She also teaches in schools a couple of times a week. 

Meg has now not with us anymore as she has gone to university but will be back when she can when we have other events throughout the years. 

Hi I'm Clare, I am a qualified Dance and Fitness Professional of 15+ years and I’m very excited to be taking on the role of Youth Theatre Dance Lead at SLPA!

Clare has been dancing since the tender age of 3 and began her training at Diane Gulliford School Of Dancing in Poole. She continued her professional and full time training (including teacher training) at Performers College in Essex from 2007-2010.

Since graduating Clare has performed and choreographed within the industry in a wide variety of shows, events and productions with different companies and continues to perform and competes on the Latin and Ballroom circuit. 

She has a huge love for learning and passing on her passion and knowledge for dance and theatre to others, and alongside her performing career gained additional qualifications in teaching dance as well as instructing fitness classes, and gained many more qualifications in the dance, fitness, health and wellness space over the years.

She is experienced in teaching children and adults across all ages, abilities and demographics.

Clare is a passionate advocate for all things performing arts based and a great believer that dance is for everyone and that everybody should be given the right and privilege to express themselves through the means of dance and creative theatre.

She very much looks forward in joining the SLPA team and meeting all the wonderful students very soon!

Talisa has recently joined us this new year of 2024 teaching 1-2-1 singing in schools and has started up choirs. 

Abi, who has been with SLPA for nearly two years, has had a profound impact on our students. Initially,

she worked as a dance assistant, but her extensive knowledge of dance soon became evident. While pursuing her teaching qualifications in Russian Ballet and other disciplines at Brockenhurst College, Abi consistently strives to motivate and inspire our students in all her classes and we cannot

wait for our parents to see the amazing routines she has created with the groups 

With years of experience performing and choreographing in theatre productions, Karina is also a Dance Fitness instructor and teaches Dance Fit, DDMIX and Barre workouts across Dorset, as well as 'DDMIX for Schools' in various school and pre-school groups. 

Most recently, she was the Youth Theatre & Dance Projects Lead at Mayflower Theatre in Southampton, leading their Summer and Christmas Youth productions with over 160 young performers and collaborating with dance companies such as New Adventures and English National Ballet. 

Karina is beyond excited to join the Shining Lights Performing Arts Academy family and can’t wait to share her passion for theatre, making every moment on stage fun, inspiring, and rewarding for young performers!'