Achievements of Past and Present Students in Dance & Performing Arts

Current Students

Mollie Casserley, 15, who attends The Sylvia Young Theatre School, played Marta in the national tour of The Sound of Music and appeared in the lead role of Liesel in the national tour of The Book Thief. Sophia Clarke, 15, is in the ensemble of the Matilda the Musical movie. JMDS Head Girl Lottie Casserley, 17, played Bielke in Sir Trevor Nunn’s acclaimed production of Fiddler on the Roof for its entire off-West End and West End run. Saffia Layla, 14, appeared in Sir Trevor Nunn’s Identical the Musical, played Summer in the UK and Ireland tour of School of Rock, and has also appeared in EastEnders, played one of the three mean girls in the Arcola’s production of Little Miss Sunshine and appeared in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s run of Evita. In 2019 Dulcie Allsop, 18, who went to The Sylvia Young Theatre School, played Tessie in the national tour of Annie and Louisa in the national tour of The Sound of Music. Leah Kennedy, 17, and Abi Summers, 16, are at the Arts1 School of Performance sixth form, and Lottie Casserley is at Base Performing Arts College sixth form, all while continuing their JMDS classes.

Recent Students

Eve Cronin, 18, went to the Arts1 School of Performance sixth form and will start her Musical Theatre degree at Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts in September 2024. Abi Fullard, 20, is studying for a degree in Musical Theatre at Laine Theatre Arts. In December 2023 she played the eponymous role in Snow White, the Potters Bar panto. Ex Head Girl Lola Cronin, 20, is at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts working towards her degree in Music (Songwriting & Performance), while fellow ex Head Girl Aimee Chapman, 21, is studying Musical Theatre and Dance at Performers College. Phoebe Causer, 20 and Lauren Rance, 19, are about to start their second year studying towards their degrees in Theatre Dance at the London Studio Centre.

Past Students

Ayla Clare, 22, achieved First Class Honours in her degree in Musical Theatre at Laine Theatre Arts. She has also completed her Diploma in Dance Education. Lili Nikolic, 24, who won a scholarship to Bird College when she was 16 and also achieved a First, has just finished her run in Rock of Ages in Munich, and is now in the ensemble of Mamma Mia in Hamburg.

We have had several students win scholarships to the Sylvia Young Theatre School, probably the country's leading children's school for the performing arts. These include Lauren Bird and Alex Bird who, before leaving JMDS for Sylvia Young, appeared regularly in West End musicals, including Les Miserables, in which both girls played the part of the young Cosette. Alex went on to train at the London Studio Centre and has been a dancer on X Factor and performed in Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, the UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Matilda the Musical.

Nancy Allsop, 21, also won a scholarship to Sylvia Young. While at JMDS she won the lead role in God Bless the Child at the Royal Court and the part of Marta in the Indonesia and China touring production of The Sound of Music. In May 2017 she was cast as July and Annie understudy in the West End production of Annie. In 2022 she performed in Fever Syndrome at the Hampstead Theatre. In 2024 she appeared in the West End run of The Hills of California, and in September 2024 will make her Broadway debut when it transfers.

Joanne Stobbs and Syanne Day successfully auditioned for the Royal Ballet School's Junior Associate programme. Jo Stobbs is now a Costume Assistant on such productions as The Crown, Burnt, War Machine, The Tunnel, Denial, and Suffragette. Syanne Day went on to Elmhurst School of Dance and is now a dance and fitness teacher and personal trainer. Natasha Chung also studied at Elmhurst.

Samantha Turton performs continually in musical theatre in Germany. From January 2017 she performed in Tanz der Vampire (Dance of The Vampires) in St Gallen as Ensemble/Dance Captain. As of August 2018 she is assistant choreographer / performer in Titanic in Germany. 

Former head girl Jo Redburn went on to train at Laine Theatre Arts and undertook engagements in South Africa, Sweden and on an American cruise ship. Jo also won leading roles in the UK tours of 42nd Street and appeared with Shane Ritchie in Boogie Nights, on tour and in the West End. 

Joley Brindle received a first-class degree in Theatre and Professional Practice at Coventry University. She now runs Flametree Productions. 

Sam Chung started his dance training at JMDS, won a scholarship to Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and was also an associate of the Royal Ballet School. He has performed with the National Youth Ballet, Ballet Black, Saltzburg Ballet Company, Tarzan the Musical and Aladdin The Musical, both in Germany. In 2022 he will be performing in The Goodbye Girl, a musical version of the film, also in Germany.

Natasha Chung had a fully-funded place at the Bejart School in Lausanne, Switzerland. As a student, she performed on the UK tour with Birmingham Royal Ballet and with Bejart Ballet in Milan. She also performed as a TV backing dancer with Beyonce. She has been a rehearsal assistant and costume designer for the National Youth Ballet.

JMDS pupils appear with the National Youth Ballet, the English Youth Ballet and the London Children's Ballet. We also have students studying extra ballet at the Tring Park Academy and the London Junior Ballet.  

Lisa Bridge has been in Bend It Like Beckham, the West End production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and the UK tour of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. Until lockdown closed the West End she appeared in Only Fools and Horses in the West End.

Lucy Jones is the voice of ITV2, a voiceover and continuity artist, writer and producer. She is also a presenter and self-sufficient editor for many shows across Box TV, 4Music, C5 and Spike. She also interviews some of the biggest stars in the world as ITN’s entertainment reporter and as the showbiz correspondent for a New Zealand TV show.

Georgia Long completed her dance training at Stella Mann College in 2018 and is now a performer in Greece with Sani Hotels.

Eloise Ward and Tegan Bushby completed full-time training at the Margaret Howard Theatre College. Lewis Sanders, now successfully pursuing a career in performing arts, also qualified there.

We encourage individual excellence so, wherever possible, students can fulfill their dreams of a career on the stage.