Teachers

Principal: Anna McBride ARAD, RTS, AISTD

Starlight Theatre School opened in January 2006 with Anna McBride as principal. Anna has eight years professional teaching experience.

On graduating from Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre, Anna undertook work at a South Manchester dance school and became a guest teacher for Stagecoach Theatre Arts and Ladybarn House School. During this time she also gained her RAD teaching certificate.

Anna now teaches musical movement to pre-schoolers at numerous nursery schools and is part of the Manchester Students' Dance Society teaching ballet, tap and modern theatre from beginners to advanced 2 level. She is also choreographing competition and show dances for the society.

Anna has taught students who have progressed into full time dance training including Merseyside Dance & Drama Centre, Northern Ballet School, Liverpool Theatre School, Kate Simmons Ltd, North Liverpool School Dance Academy and The Hammond School Lower & Upper students.

At the moment Anna is also guest teacher at Hulme Hall Grammar School teaching ballet, tap and modern theatre to the kindergarten and year 1 children. She is also the GCSE dance teacher.

Anna has a CRB check and first aid training.

Lisa-Marie Albes

Lisa-Marie

Lisa-Marie is a qualified I.S.T.D. Tap Dance teacher with 10 years experience of teaching all ages up to adults, and entering pupils from pre-primary up to advanced 2 in examinations. Lisa-Marie trained in all major dance disciplines along side acting and has a first class bachelors degree in Performing Arts. She currently teaches students at college and degree level at institutions in the northwest, teaching credits include: The Arden School of Theatre, ALRA North, LIPA and The Debut Academy.

Rachael Wray

Rachael trained at The Hammond in Chester and graduated with a Diploma in dance.

After many years of dancing throughout Europe and the Middle East Rachael decided to further her professional development and has secured her Istd DDE status.
Rachael will be working alongside Miss Anna with the new ISTD Contemporary syllabus and Intermediate modern work.

Testimonials

Our daughter has been having Ballet and Modern dance lessons for the last few months and loves the classes so much, she has just started Tap dancing also.

She has come on leaps and bounds with her confidence and loves to practice dancing at every opportunity.

Miss Anna has a fantastic approach to teaching and includes so much fun the children barely register they are learning new dance steps and how to position their bodies correctly.

Tracy Capper

Our daughter has attended dance lessons at Starlight Theatre School for five years and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

She has consistently gained grade A's in Tap and Modern Theatre exams along with top marks in ballet examinations thanks to Miss Anna's comitment, enthusiasm and professionality.

In addition to her acquired dance skills she has gained great personal confidence and a sense of responsibility since she became a Saturday helper with the younger pupils of the school.

Hannah has had the opportunity to audition for the Royal Ballet School junior associate programme.

We would firmly recommend Starlight Theatre School!

Ruth & Hayden Bailey

Starlight Theatre School is fantastic!

My six year old daughter enjoys her lessons always saying that "they have had fun and that Miss Anna is a really great teacher".

I have seen my daughter with Miss Anna's nurturing and expertise grow in confidence and capable child as well as a dancer.

Completing the dance syllabus to a high standard and allowing children to demonstrate their capability by undertaking exams in each genre confirms that Miss Anna is confident in the ability of her students and herself.

Miss Anna encourages each child to develop as individuals and be the best that they can be.

My daughter loves meeting all her dance friends and having fun in Modern Theatre , Tap and Ballet classes.

We would both recommend Starlight Theatre School to anyone looking to take up dance lessons.

Thanks for all your hard work and encouragement Miss Anna.

Anne Howarth and Ella H-H (6yrs)

Molly started Ballet classes at the age of 3 (as most girls dream of doing) prancing around in a little pink Tu-tu.

I honestly believed it would be a 5 minute wonder though she proved me wrong and through devotion and Miss Anna's teaching methods was soon thereafter learning all three disciplines: Modern Theatre, Tap and Ballet. She is now 9 and loves it just as much today as she the first day she attended.

Miss Anna is compassionate and a hardworking teacher and enthuses all her students individually to ensure they work to achieve their goals.

Molly has undertaken examinations in all disciplines and I am a firm believer that the high examination marks reflects the standard of the school.

Lynsey Maddick

I love dancing and Miss Anna is really nice and helps us when we are stuck with a step she is always patient whilst we learn. It's exciting how we learn different dances to lots of new songs some are pop songs. My favourite moves at the moment are single and double timesteps in Grade 3 tap.

Molly Howarth aged 9

I love dancing with my friends in Ballet, Tap and Modern Theatre. I have had the chance to take dance exams throughout the year in ballet, tap and modern.

I have auditioned for the Royal Ballet School outreach programme and The English National Ballet my re-call was in London which was good fun as they liked my ballet and the way Miss Anna teaches us we always work very hard in every class.

I enjoyed Summer School this year as it was all new styles of dance with new steps.

Miss Anna is always very fair and makes us try very hard to do well in all the grades and exams.

Trinity aged 9