The

Faculty

KIRSTIE O'SULLIVAN BA(Hons), RAD RTS CBTS, ISTD DDE, PBT, ACROBATIC ARTS
PRINCIPAL OF STEP ONTO STAGE and DSL

Before founding Step Onto Stage ltd, Kirstie trained at Bird College gaining a BA Hons in Professional Practice in Arts (Dance and Musical Theatre). Kirstie is a Registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), the Imperial Society of Teachers in Dance (ISTD), the Acrobatic Arts and the Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT). Kirstie also teaches at ASA Theatre Arts as their Artistic Director and is a tutor with the Virtual learning UK for Musical Theatre and Dance.

Professional credits include:

Choreographer/Wicked Stepsister in Cinderella (Royal Spa Centre, Royal Leamington Spa), Dance Captain/Spirit of the Ring/Ensemble/ in Aladdin, (Royal Spa Centre, Royal Leamington Spa), Dance Captain/Mirror/Dwarf/Ensemble in Snow White, (Royal Spa Centre, Royal Leamington Spa), Dance Captain/Fairy BowBells/Ensemble in Dick Whittington, (Royal Spa Centre, Royal Leamington Spa), Dance Captain/Queen/Ensemble in Sleeping Beauty, (Royal Spa Centre, Royal Leamington Spa), Dance Captain/Ensemble in Beauty and the Beast (Royal Spa Centre, Royal Leamington Spa), Ensemble in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Adelphi Theatre, London), Dance Captain/Ensemble in Jack and the Beanstalk (Royal Spa Centre, Royal Leamington Spa), Ensemble in Cinderella (Royal Spa Centre, Royal Leamington Spa), Anytime Annie in 42nd Street (Garden Theatre, Dundee), Dancer in Mountbatten Festival (Royal Albert Hall, London), Dancer in BBC One Show (BBC Television Studios, London).

Additional CPD Certificates

- Paediatric First Aid

- Safeguarding Young People Colleges and Universities

- Health and Safety in Education

- Equality and Diversity

- The SEND Code of Practice

- The Prevent Duty (Colleges and Universities)

- Concussion Awareness

- Online Safety

BETH PEARSON BA(HONS), MA
VICE PRINCIPAL OF STEP ONTO STAGE

Beth has been with Step Onto Stage since 2014 and deals with all of the administration and paper work, as well as teaching the students Ballet, Tap and Modern. Beth also co-ordinates the child licensing for Imagine Theatre which is one of the top professional pantomime companies within the UK.

Beth began her training at Pattison College where she performed at many theatres in and around Coventry and was taught to the highest level in all disciplines of dance. To further her education Beth then headed to Birmingham City University, gaining her Undergraduate degree in Psychology (BSc Hons) and her Masters degree in Forensic Psychology (MSc).

Beth is proud to be part of the Step Onto Stage team and loves guiding and watching the students follow their dreams.

Additional CPD Certificates

- Paediatric First Aid

JOSHUA DEAKIN BA(HONS), DIP LCM
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR and HEAD OF SINGING

Josh has had the privilege of being a student and teaching at Step onto Stage now for the past 7 years.

Joshua trained at Chichester University Conservatoire in Musical Theatre and is represented by Belfield and Ward. Joshua is a qualified Sining teacher with the London College of Music (LCM) and offers one to one tuition at his own singing school which works in alongside to Step Onto Stage ltd, offering singing exams and many other opportunities. https://www.cadenzasingingschool.co.uk

This year, Josh has started a new job as the Music Teacher at Pattison College and will be Musical Director for The Albany Theatre’s Pantomime 23/24.

He is very excited to start his new role at Step Onto Stage and hopes he can pass on his knowledge he has learnt over the years to the next generation of performers.

cadenzasingingschool@gmail.com

Professional Credits/ Credits whilst training:

Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls (Live recording at the Alexander Theatre, Bognor Regis, Tour Company Chichester University), Writer/ Asitant Choreographer/ Director/ The Crow in Underland (Assembly Theatre, Chichester University), Lorry Driver/ Emcee/ Nun in Lucky Stiff (Alexander Theatre, Bognor Regis and The Corn Exchange Theatre, Newbury Fringe Festival), Kevin Crossland in A Dolls House (Assembly Theatre, Chichester University), Fredrick C. Graham/ Petruchio in Kiss Me Kate ( Alexander Theatre, Bognor Regis), Ensemble Boy, Understudy in Jack and the Beanstalk (Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa).

Additional CPD Certificates

- Paediatric First Aid

BECKIE CALVER BA(HONS), DDI ISTD
DANCE AND ACROBATICS TEACHER and UNIFORM ADMIN

Beckie started her professional training at The Wilkes Academy Of Performing Arts for 3 years on the BTEC Level 3 diploma course where she also gained her DDI teaching qualifications in modern and tap with the ISTD. Beckie then went onto further her studies at The University of Chichester Conservatoire - Musical theatre triple threat, where she was lucky enough to dance captain and assistant choreograph alongside many industry professionals whilst training.

Beckie cannot wait to pass on her knowledge and passion for performing to the next generation of students at Step Onto Stage and watch them grow and succeed as performers and individuals.

Professional Credits/ Credits whilst training:

Magic Elf in Lapland UK, Kitty/Dance Captain/Assistant Choreographer in A Man Of No Importance (show recording Assembly theatre, Bognor Regis, Festival Company Chichester University), Ensemble/Dance Captain in Underland (Assembly theatre, Chichester University), Assistant Choreographer in Flora The Red Menace ( Alexander Theatre, Bognor Regis), Ensemble/Dance Captain in A Dolls House (Assembly theatre, Chichester University), Chastity/Dance Captain in Anything Goes (Alexander Theatre, Chichester University), Trouper/Dance Captain in Trouper Shows(Parkdean Resorts), Ensemble in Jack and the Beanstalk (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry), Ensemble in Sleeping Beauty (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry), Ensemble in Sleeping Beauty (Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa), Ensemble in Mother Goose (Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa)

Additional CPD Certificates

- Paediatric First Aid

CHANTELLE AYRES
DANCE TEACHER

Chantelle's journey with Step onto Stage ltd began 3 years before auditioning for vocational colleges in London. After successfully gaining places she moved and lived in London for three years whilst training at Doreen Bird Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre. Chantelle recently graduated in 2020.

During training, Chantelle was lucky enough to perform at various events such as London fashion week, X-Factor and MOVEIT! Chantelle was apart of many in-house performances, one of which she

played Kylar in Bring It On: The Musical.

After graduating from Bird college 2020, during the pandemic, it only seemed right for Chantelle to find her way back to SOTS.

Teaching was never something she had really considered but, after seeing how much potential the students had she couldn’t resist to keep training and teaching them!

BETHANY GILKES BA(HONS)
SINGING,
DANCE and ACROBATICS TEACHER

Bethany started dancing at the age of 7, at Abbey school of Dance till the age of 18. She started singing lessons and then began training at studio 79 for Level 3 Extended diploma in Performing Arts(dance) where she found her voice. Whilst in training she played the part of Mary Poppins in her end of year show.
Bethany then furthered her training at SLP College in Leeds for a Trinity Level 6 Diploma in professional Musical Theatre. Whilst at SLP sheplayed many different roles such as Lise in an American in Paris, Jennifer in Witches of Eastwick, Choir Girl in Company, Pearl from The SpongeBob Musical, Mary Poppins from Mary Poppins and Cosette from Les Miserables.

Since graduating she has performed for Dance companies such as Rosetta’s Entertainment and Socharo Dance Entertainment and taught at another Dance school. She also performed at Claridges in London as a singer for young lives vs cancer, directed by Glyn Kerslake.