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Miss Alex M.B.A.T.D.
Miss Alex M.B.A.T.D.
BA (HONS) Theatre Arts 2:1 BATD Member Freestyle, BATD Member Cheerleading, BATD Associate Ballet, BATD Associate Tap
Miss Alex began dancing at age 2, gaining exams in ballet, tap, modern and freestyle with the BATD. At the age of 11 she had already taken part in several Pantomimes and Shows in the local area, often taking lead roles and expanding her experience by training in singing and drama. During this time, Alex was fortunate enough to compete in the All England Finals and local dance festivals/competitions.
After achieving top grades in A Level Performing Arts, Alex studied for three years at The Southern Theatre Arts Centre to gain a BA (Hons) in Theatre Arts: Musical Theatre. During this time she performed as the role of ‘The Boss’ in the first UK performance of ‘Sideshow’ at the Northbrook Theatre, As ‘Lucy’ in ‘Sweeney Todd’ and performed in Professional Showcases at the London Battersea Arts Centre, and the Brighton Pavilion.
After graduating from STAC Alex became a professional Cheerleader for Brighton Hove Albion Football club, supporting the Seagulls and performing to 25,000 people twice weekly. This also involved charity work, Cheer coaching and modelling. During this time and under the guidance and expertise of Diana Freedman, Alex gained her Associate Teachers qualification and then her Member Teachers Qualifications with the British Association of Teachers of Dance, which involves training in child development, health and safety, observation, teaching skills, choreography, musicality and syllabus training. Since qualifying, Alex regularly attends the BATD Teacher Training Schemes, and all syllabus courses to keep updated with the latest news. She has undertaken full first aid training and holds a DBS Disclosure. Miss Alex set up a Cheerleading Troupe with Miss Laura, and they successfully performed at various events including the Brighton American Football Club, and FDMCC motorcycle events.
On qualifying, Alex was offered the position of Cheer and Freestyle Representative for the BATD’s London Region Committee and in 2017 was voted on as the Press Representative for the entire British Association of Teachers of Dance. She has always achieved a 100% pass rate with all examination entries, with a high percentage achieving 'Honours', and invitations to Scholarships! Additional, to teaching the syllabus work, Alex has choreographed routines for Dance shows, professional work, and for local and regional dance festivals, of which many have achieved 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place, and qualified for the All England Regional and National Finals.
Miss Laura A.B.A.T.D.
Miss Laura A.B.A.T.D.
Performers Diploma in Musical Theatre & Dance BATD Associate Ballet, PGCE (14+) Dance in Education
Miss Laura started dancing at the age of 4 with the Sussex school of dance in Eastbourne, East Sussex, training in Ballet, Modern, Tap, National, Classical Greek, Disco, Ballroom & Latin American with the exam board ISTD. She took exams in all subjects including taking her Advanced 1 Greek exam, which left one qualification before being able to teach the subject.
After 11 years of fun and dance with the Sussex, Laura started a new dance career at the Performance Factory. It was here that she realised she wanted to train to dance professionally and had many opportunities to perform in shows and festivals which ignited her passion even further, including working as dance captain for several performances.
During this time Laura was also studying her BTEC National diploma in Performing arts at Park 6th Form College. The course provided Laura with many performance experiences such as The Hours, Aladdin, Saturday night fever, Rent and We will rock you. She completed her BTEC and received a Distinction, Merit, Merit (3 A level equivalent).
In September 2008, after a year of extra training and audition experience Laura successfully auditioned at LIPA, The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, and received a place on the Dance Diploma 1 year foundation course. This year was a turning point for Laura and she performed alongside her fellow classmates in many shows including Cabaret and a show devised by her and her classmates. She also had the opportunity to perform in a fashion show in the Liverpool One shopping centre in front of 100s of shoppers.
After a successful year at LIPA, in which she graduated with a Merit and met Sir Paul McCartney, she successfully auditioned for several London stage schools and accepted a place at The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts on the three year Musical theatre course.
This year included working with teachers who were performing in the West End and performing in shows at the Islington Assembly hall for a Christmas carol concert. After an amazing year, Laura left Italia Conti due to a lack of funding for the next two years.
She returned home and after a year of settling in, she started teaching with the Diana Freedman’s School of Dance and Performing Arts in September 2011.
While teaching she studied for her Associate Ballet which she took in July 2014 and received Top marks - 97/100 for practical and theory. Alongside this with fellow dance teacher Alex Tomlins she set up a cheerleading troupe who performed at an American football match and at the FDMCC grass track motorbike events. In September 2012, Laura started a degree with the Royal Academy of Dance in dance education. She completed this degree and then went on to extend her Degree into a PGCE (14+) in 2021. Through studying for her degree Laura developed a passion for Dance and its link with Parkinson's disease after her Grandfathers diagnosis. She attended a three day course in Leicester by People Dancing and Dance for Parkinson's U.K.
Laura continues to attend her professional development courses with the BATD, which includes her first aid training.
Diana Freedman- Principle F.B.A.T.D
Diana Freedman- Principle F.B.A.T.D
F.B.A.T.D. F.I.D.T.A. K.F.A.
Examiner, adjudicator, lecturer, Vice President of the B.A.T.D. and Chairman of the London Region and officer on the Executive Council. Principle & Managing Director of DFSD, DSL Level 3 Child Protection Officer with the B.A.T.D, Theatre Dance Council Delegate.
Miss Diana started dancing at 6 years of age at Searles Stage School and took all her grade Examinations in Ballet, Tap and Modern, plus Medals in Song and Dance. Miss Diana successfully entered many Dance Festivals in London, helping to teach in classes and choreograph group numbers for the Principal of her Stage School, then progressed to jointly running a branch of her own connected to the Stage School. At 18 years old Miss Diana joined a professional Dance troupe, Dancing and Singing all around the London area whilst attending Professional Classes at the London Studio Centre, appearing at The Royal Albert Hall and appearing on television and in Review Companies. Diana was offered a Professional Dance Career in ‘The Bluebell girls’ in Las Vegas, but decided to turn this down to continue her passion and dreams of Teaching Dance and opening her own School. After becoming a Mum to 3 daughters, Miss Diana relocated to Bexhill -on -Sea and fulfilled her dream by opening The Diana Freedman’s School of Dance & Performing Arts in Pevensey Bay & Little Common in 1989. Diana continued to add to her expertise by adding Keep Fit Teaching Qualifications onto her already extensive qualifications.
Miss Diana now runs two Professional Studios in Eastbourne and Bexhill, and continued her Professional Training to the highest level possible -Fellowship, and then was honoured to be one of the very few to be selected as an Examiner for the British Association of Teachers of Dancing. She examines subjects such as Ballet, Tap, Stage, Modern, Cheer Pom, National and Freestyle, plus those training to be BATD teachers, and does this throughout the UK and Northern Ireland. Miss Diana is also a successful Lecturer and Festival Adjudicator, often demonstrating and leading discussions in the BATD syllabi in the South. Diana has been voted as Chairperson for the London Region for several years, and as part of this committee organises and maintains the running of the largest BATD Stage Dance Festival in Essex.
2 years ago Miss Diana received the most votes at The BATD Conference and was chosen to represent England on the BATD’s Executive Council. Here she attends meetings to flourish the general running’s of the BATD, and to make improvements to the dance world for our up and coming BATD dancers all around the world.
Diana has been delighted and honoured to have trained pupils who have been chosen for scholarships, become professional performers in the West End, touring companies, Disney land performers and professional Dance teachers, teaching in primary, senior, private education and local Dance schools. Miss Diana has a full CRB, First Aid and licenses, and attends quarterly training to keep her examining and dance skills up to date.
Miss Cassie A.B.A.T.D
Miss Cassie A.B.A.T.D
BATD Associate Ballet, BATD Associate Tap
Miss Cassie has danced with Diana Freedman’s School of Dance and Performing Arts since she was 4 years old. She has participated in ballet, tap, modern, freestyle, musical theatre, and contemporary.
Since 2005 Cassie has continually performed in shows with the school at the White Rock Theatre and The De La Warr Pavilion. She has also performed and competed with multiple solos, duets, mini-groups, and large groups throughout the years at many festivals and competitions throughout the south of England and has gotten the chance to compete at the All England Dance regional finals.
Cassie has participated in many workshops with accomplished choreographers some of which were held at the Pineapple Dance Studios in London. After performing a solo at the BATD London Region Festival she won first place earning a week of workshops at the Brighton Academy.
She has continually received high grades with BATD examinations and since Grade 1 has only received top marks.
Miss Cassie qualified as a Teacher with our DFSD Teacher Training programme but started helping teach classes in 2015 where her interest in teaching began. In October 2021 she successfully completed her BATD Teacher Training in Ballet and Tap, and became a fully qualified Teacher with top marks in both subjects.