Meet the Team
- Sherrie Pennington
- Alex Lowe
- Emma Manes
- Amira Kendall
- Claire Guntrip
- Lianne Carter LISTD, LLB Hons, PGCE
- Lucy Nelson
Sherrie Pennington
Sherrie is Legat's Director of Dance. Sherrie trained at Laine Theatre Arts and graduated with an honours musical theatre diploma as well as gaining ISTD teaching qualifications in modern, ballet, tap and national dance.
Having danced from an early age performing in numerous pantomimes and summer seasons she made her West End debut at the age of 14 in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at the London Palladium. Sherrie has gone on to appear in numerous West End Shows including Disney's Beauty and the Beast , Mamma Mia, The Producers, The Drowsy Chaperone, Singin In The Rain, Hello Dolly, Legally Blonde and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
On the touring and repertory circuit, Sherrie has performed in West Side Story, The Music Man, Me and My Girl, Sweet Charity, White Christmas, My Fair Lady and Babes In Arms.
Most recently, Sherrie appeared in the live production of The Sound of Music for ITV, Mamma Mia Here We Go Again for Universal Pictures, Oklahoma as part of the BBC Proms, Sanditon for ITV and Film Four’s Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
Sherrie has taught at many prestigious institutions including The Guildford School of Acting, Hurtwood House and St John’s School in Leatherhead.
Alex Lowe
Alex began her Dance career with a BA (Hons) in Dance Studies at Roehampton University, before going on to gain her PGCE and Masters in Dance Teaching at the Royal Academy of Dance.
Utilising her experience performing and choreographing for many corporate events in the UK and Switzerland, Alex brings a wealth of professional knowledge to her expansive teaching career.
Alex is passionate about the power of education. Previous teaching roles include 6 years as Head of Dance at a large comprehensive school (at which she taught GCSE, A Level, BTEC Performing Arts Dance, Arts Award and Dance Leaders Award); and Programme Leader for the Foundation Degree in Performing Arts Dance at K College, Tonbridge. Here, she led units such as Contemporary Dance, Ballet, Dance Improvisation, Choreographing Dances and Physical Theatre. Alex also taught on the A Level Dance programme at the Royal Academy of Dance headquarters in London from 2007-2012.
Alex was an A Level Dance examiner from 2009-2013 and a Standards Verifier for BTEC Performing Arts: Dance from 2012-2014.
Alex is Bede's Senior School's Assistant Head, focusing on pupil welfare and pastoral care. Legat dancers know they can come to Alex should they have any concerns regarding their physical or mental wellbeing.
Emma Manes
Emma trained at Tring Park, and then The Royal Ballet School on the Teachers Training Course.
She went on to tour Europe and Asia playing the lead role of the ‘Queen’ in Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake’.
She danced in numerous productions at The Royal Opera House, with the Royal Opera Company and at the Coliseum with English National Opera (credits include: La Traviata, Samson and Delilah, Onegin and Cyrano de Bergerac).
Emma toured the UK with Vienna Festival Ballet Company and spent a year in Portugal performing in a show dedicated to the fado singer ‘Amalia’.
Emma was Head of Dance for Phoenix Theatre Arts Project which she co-founded and managed.
Emma has over 20 years of teaching experience having taught for The Royal Ballet, National Youth Ballet, Hofesh Shechter, the Royal Academy of Dance, and is a RAD Mentor on the RAD CBTS programme for trainee teachers. She has also been teaching in the local area for 12 years entering students for their RAD exams.
She has performed in feature films, and worked on television and performed in adverts and promotions for the BBC, ITV and Sky. She has a BTEC in Sports and Remedial Massage therapy from the London School of Sports Massage.
Emma currently teaches ballet at Bede’s Prep School and Senior School, and runs The Bede’s Legat Associate Programme on Saturdays.
Amira Kendall
Amira started dancing at the age of 3 at her local dance school. When she was 16 she left home to further her professional dancing career and trained for 4 years at Performers College in Essex whilst also gaining teaching qualifications with the ISTD.
She then graduated and has been lucky enough to work professionally on TV, theatre and around the world. Alongside performing Amira has taught at many different dance schools around Sussex and is now delighted to be teaching pupils at Bede’s.
Claire Guntrip
Claire trained with the Royal Ballet School Associates for 8 years and performed with them at many events including MoveIt and various outreach performances. Here she was selected to perform with The Australian Ballet at The London Coliseum in their version of Swan Lake during their 2005 international tour, making her professional debut at age 10. During this time she also trained and toured with The London Russian Ballet School, performing her debut Principal role in Le Spectre de la Rose. Here she also performed Soloist and Corps de Ballet roles in many Russian versions of the traditional classical ballets in locations such as The Hurlingham Club and City Hall for the Mayor of London. She then went on to study at Central School of Ballet for three years in classical ballet, contemporary and jazz and performed with Ballet Central on their UK tour, graduating with a BA(Hons) Degree in Professional Dance and Performance. Claire then moved to Switzerland to perform with the Cinevox Junior Company for two years. Here she performed Principal and Soloist roles in classical, neo-classical and contemporary styles in their national tours, and had the opportunity to have her own choreographic work performed on stage.
Whilst in Switzerland, she not only performed and taught ballet classes in the local area, but was selected be a dancer-model for the fashion brand Tods, where she co-choreographed and performed for their advert campaign. Since returning to London she has immersed herself in teaching for various schools and colleges. She continues her freelance performing, including performances with The London Festival Opera, Classical Spectacular at The Royal Albert Hall with The London Philharmonic Orchestra and performances for members of the Chinese Embassy. She has also performed many roles as a dancer-model for several high profile brands including Apple, Hyundai and Canon and performed at a fashion show with Scuderia Ferrari, having also featured in multiple times in Vogue Italia. She is a passionate and caring teacher and is delighted to be teaching at Bede’s.
Lianne Carter LISTD, LLB Hons, PGCE
Lianne trained with the Pauline Howard School of Dance from the age of three. After completing A-levels in Dance and Performing Arts, Lianne successfully auditioned for a place at Stella Mann Professional College of Performing Arts, where she studied a wide range of dance and theatre genres. After leaving Stella Mann, Lianne started to teach Tap and Modern classes at the same time as studying Law at the University of Sussex. Lianne has taught Contemporary, Modern, Tap, Ballet and Musical Theatre for a number of schools in Sussex, entering pupils for exams up to Advanced 2 level, and has recently taken over as Principal of Turning Pointe School of Dance. Lianne holds Licentiate status with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and also has a PGCE in Further Education. Dance teaching is Lianne's vocation and she feels privileged to have taught so many wonderful pupils over the years, many of whom have gone on to professional dance training.
Lucy Nelson
Lucy trained at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and then completed her RAD Ballet teacher training with the Royal Academy of Dance.
She has worked professionally as a dancer and choreographer with many companies including the Brighton Dance Network, Nu Tempo Dance Company, Ijad Dance Company, Stuart Thomas Dances, Diadon Dance and Moving Visions Dance Theatre.
Lucy has taught ballet and contemporary at Pleasing School of Dance in London, Art of Dance, Dance2Advance training other teachers on the ISTD DDE Programme, Rennie Dance Academy and established her own school Leap and Bound in Brighton.
Lucy will be teaching contemporary on our Legat Programme and inspiring the students with her knowledge and expertise.