Staff

Valerie Brown – Founder/Principal

Valerie began dancing at the age of two and a half at her local RAD ballet school in Glasgow. At sixteen, she began a three year professional dancer and teachers course at the Dean Academy of Dance and Drama. Graduating in 1993 as a registered RAD teacher and an ISTD associate in tap and modern.

As a young dancer, Valerie gained opportunities to perform in a number of well known theatres including the Kings Theatre, Glasgow and the Edinburgh Playhouse. She has also danced in a number of Scottish variety shows. However, it has been her passion for teaching that has ensured her a lifetime career in dance.

Valerie now holds the RAD teaching diploma and ISTD associate diploma. She lives with her husband and three children in Motherwell and would like to thank all parents and pupils for their continued support.

Teachers

Lisa McCleary

Lisa has been dancing since the age of two and moved to The Valerie Brown School of Dance and Drama when she was twelve. Lisa began assisting with classes as a pupil helper and is now a valuable member of the team. As well as completing a university degree in Zoology, Lisa has continued to dance and teach and is now working towards her Diplomas in Dance Education for modern and tap dance with the ISTD and was recently awarded her Diploma In Dance Education with the RAD. Lisa currently teaches tap, ballet, modern, jazz, streetdance and acrobatics.

Sarah Peachey

Sarah began her training at the Bernadette Sloan Dance School and was a Scottish Ballet Junior Associate before pursuing teaching, gaining British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD) Membership and a first class Honours degree in Community Arts from the University of Strathclyde. She continued her training through the Licentiate course at RAD headquarters in London, during which she was awarded the Iris Truscott Scholarship for achieving the highest mark in her class. Sarah completed the course with Distinction, achieved the Advanced 2 certificate and was awarded Registered Teacher Status with the RAD which afforded her an international teaching position at the Goode School of Dance in the Republic of Ireland. Sarah has taught at a number of dance schools in Scotland, teaching students from pre-school to adults, has trained BATD Associate teachers and delivered numerous community dance projects both as an individual and as part of the education outreach team at Scottish Ballet.

Abbie Watson

Abbie from Ayr, has recently come off of P&O Australia as Singer-Dancer where she has been performing around the South Pacific and surrounding islands for 4 years.
Abbie trained at Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Arts Educational Schools, London for 2 years before heading to The Urdang Academy.
From there, Abbie has been a featured vocalist in UK Tours, starred in Pantomimes, choreographed and featured in numerous Variety Shows, and danced in major Movies (Sunshine on Leith, Happy Hardy & Heer; Bollywood).