07999570903
MEET THE TEAM
Where the Passion Began
SUE GARNER
School Principal
Overlooks all teaching, as well as teaching herself
Sue began her dance career at the age of five at Scotts Academy of Dance. During her time there she appeared, with the Royal Festival Ballet, in productions of Graduation Ball, Sleeping Beauty & Swan Lake. One of her major roles that will always stand out in her mind is when she danced the role of the Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty. She has also danced in amateur productions of Copelia. Sue started her teaching career from the age of fifteen. She obtained her full teachers qualification at the age of twenty. She worked with many different dance schools, mainly as a ballet teacher. The Sue Garner School of Dance was founded by Sue in 1980. During Sue’s successful teaching career she has produced lots of shows and has coached pupils for competitions, exams and auditions. Many pupils who has passed through her school have become teachers, professional choreographers and dancers.
Sue retired in 2023 from working at Towers Junior School as a Special Educational Needs Teacher / Teaching Assistant/ Class Teacher.
Sue loves watching her pupils progress with their hobbie and wishes those who go onto further dance education all the best!
LAURA GARNER
Deputy Principal
Pure Acro, Exams, Pink Stars, Group 1,2,3 & 4 Dance Teacher
Laura started her performing career at the age of 2 where she attended her mothers dance school (Sue Garner School of Dance).
She performed in many shows and competitions and took her baby, prep and primary exams.
At the ages of nine, she attended Future Faces Theatre School where she took on the roles of main characters in many shows including, Annie, Oliver, Bugsy Malone and Guys & Dolls. One of her leading roles she will never forget is playing Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz at the Queens Theatre.
Laura enjoyed following her mum around to dance schools, joining in her classes, as she taught ballet. At the age of ten, whilst joining in a singing class as her mum was teaching, she was scouted by a singing teacher to audition to be part of the children's choir for the West End Show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Laura was successful and experienced six years of performing in West End & Touring shows! Credits include: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat-New London Theatre & The Adelphi Theatre, Whistle Down The Wind-Palace Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Touring shows at Cliffs Pavilion, Southend & The Orchard Theatre, Dartford.
Whilst she had a successful performing/singing career she also attended The Carmel Thomas Choir where she sung at weddings, shows and also appeared on TV in Children in Need with Lee Mead 2007.
Laura, as well as being a pupil at her mother's dance school, became a student teacher at the age of fifteen, where she choreographed dances for her pupil's competition work. Once she left school at the age of sixteen she attended Havering College on a Production Arts course where she gained a BTEC National Diploma and passed with a Triple Distinction!
Laura moved onto being a full time freelance Theatre Technician at Brentwood Theatre where she had lots of fun working on shows taking on the roles of Stage Managers, Sound and Lighting Designers and Operators on many shows and pantomimes. One of her roles coincidently as a Stage Manager at college was taking a show to Her Majesty’s Theatre London where little did she know that she would have a future there as a Backstage Crew Member of The Phantom of the Opera, which she completed a years contract from 2013-2014.
Laura then ventured off back to college where she studied and gained a Teaching Assistant qualification to work in Primary Schools.
She has worked at many schools now in Hornchurch, Romford, East Ham & Barking & Dagenham. Still to this day, Laura works in a school during the day and really enjoys teaching dance in the evenings.
She is very pleased how her mums dance school has grown over the years and loves to work with every talented child she has at her school.
LOUIE- GEORGE DANIELS
Singing Teacher & Group 1,2,3 & 4 Dance Teacher
Louie-George Daniels is a fully qualified dance teacher and choreographer alongside a musical theatre performer! Having trained at Laine Theatre Arts, here hewas able to qualify under the ISTD Syllabus under ballet, tap and modern. Sincethen, Louie has performed up and down the U.K. in various musicals andconcerts(la cage aux folles U.K. tour, the barricade boys, west end live andvarious concerts as a soloist in theatres such as the royal Albert hall)He also works as a regular voice over actor for Disney, Sky ITV. Louie has alsobeen lucky enough to teach and choreograph and some of London’s top collegesand regularly teaches/coaches' students of all ages.Due to being able to work with some of London’s top choreographers andteachers, this brings an all-rounded background in training and nurturing youngdancers!Teaching at SGS is a highlight of Louie’s week and he loves the hard work ethicof all the dancers he’s lucky enough to teach
SARAH LYNCH
Exams, Group 1, 2 & 3 Dance Teacher
Sarah has been dancing and performing since the age of 6 and has taught as SGSD for many years.
Sarah belongs to BTDA (The British Theatre Dance Association) and enjoys teaching Modern, Acrobatics, Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Singing and also line dancing!
She has worked as a blue coat at Devon Pontins and has performed at the Circus Tavern, Haven and Paris 2 years running. When she was younger, Sarah competed in many competitions with her dance school as a solo performer and within groups.
SAMANTHA HARRIS
Green Stars & Exam Dance Teacher
Sam trained at the Italia Conti Stage School in Barbican London.
She Has worked in many TV programs, adverts and theatres. Sam has taught at the Sue Garner School of Dance for the last fourteen years. She also owns her own dance school.
DOREE MAVUSI MATU
Street Dance Teacher
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ADMINISTRATION & PARENT REPRESENTATIVES
A fantastic team behind the scenes.
Lesley Pell assists with administration, orders and the front desk.
Our parent representative committee is an effective system as this allows us to communicate information straight to our parents, quickly and efficiently.
They assist to answer any questions, problems or any suggestions a parent /career may have or even problems. We value all our parent's thoughts and suggestions to enhance the ongoing improvement of our school.
Our well-informed reps have regular meetings together with us (Principal and Deputy) about the dance school including events, changes, improvements, questions, discussions and ideas of which come from our parents/careers.
This allows us to concentrate more on teaching our students and the general running of the school rather than be interrupted by individual parents and careers during class time.
Obviously, we are still available to speak to /message at any time of the day.
Additionally, we have a students who is our student voice. Abbie has trained with us for many years and has shown qualities engaging the ethos of our school. This role allows Abbie to reassure students with any questions, problems or ideas they have for filling the same role as our parent reps . Abbie regularly visits classes to make herself known to our students.
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We welcome you to our class representatives:
•ZARA.S–GROUP 3+4
•CLAIRE.H- GREEN & PINK STARS GROUPS
MARIA.B- GROUP 1
•NICOLA.C- PURE ACRO GROUPS
•KAYLEIGH.H- GROUP 2
JENNY.W- STREET GROUPS
•STUDENT VOICE – ABBIE.P
CARRIE DAVIS
Green Stars & Cover Dance Teacher
Carrie who teaches our Green Stars groups who are all our new comers from 3years old, also Carrie is our cover teacher for exam classes!
Carrie has been dancing herself since the young age of 3 years old where she attended the Starshine Stage School in Dagenham. I’ve r the years she competed in many competitions, performed in shows and all England championships. In 2003 Carrie took her teachers qualification. From then on she opened her own dance school which still runs to this present day. Carrie joined us in 2021 and has great rapport with the teachers and students.