Laura Littleton
Manager
Laura has worked at Studio 79 youth for the past 10 years. She danced from the age of 4 and studied at Studio 79 college. Laura also has a BA Honours in Dance and is currently studying the DDE qualification for ISTD Tap.
Not only is Laura our manager, she also teaches Stretch&Flex, Contemporary, Tap and creates routines for the studio 79 youth festival team.
Laura loves her job and is very passionate about making the studio a family friendly environment that everybody loves to attend.
Rebecca prekulaj
Marketing Manager
Rebecca is our Marketing Manager. She runs all our social media accounts, organises events and more for our students to take part in. She has worked for Studio 79 for 7 years, having previously studied at our BTEC college for 3 years. Rebecca runs our monthly newsletter. Rebecca is always finding new ways to shape what we are doing on a weekly basis, as well as working within the community in Leicester. She is currently working with different companies and community groups around Leicester to provide entertainment and engagement. Rebecca has earned certifications in Digital Marketing, SEO and Content creation. Shaping the way we creatively think about dance in the community Rebecca thrives in and we are so happy to have her on the team.
Sian Gurney
Admin Assistant/ Grades
Sian qualified as an IDTA teacher in 2022 after finishing her training at Pattison college in Coventry. She is qualified in Tap, Modern jazz, Ballet and Freestyle/Street. When completing all these exams she achieved nothing lower than 90 in every exam and is currently working towards her next ballet exam. Before starting her training as a dance teacher she danced from the age of 4 right up until she was 21. She competed in many dance competitions and shows, winning lots of amazing awards. She was lucky enough to compete at the ‘IDTA theatre awards’- a competition where students who did outstanding in dance exams go up against each other. Looking towards the future Sian is going to continue her teacher examinations in the hope of one day becoming an IDTA examiner.
CHARLIE KEEN
Head of Street
Charlie Keen is a dancer/choreographer from Leicester. Dancing for 13 years and teaching for 6 he has collected a wide range of achievements such as winner of midlands and Leicester’s best dance crew, appeared on Got to dance (SKY), Alesha’s street dance stars (CBBC) and the semi finals of Britain’s got talent with his crew Total TXS. Charlie teaches commercial and HipHop at studio79 college and has ran 3 successful competitions crews: MDC, Voodoo and UNIT79.
As our Head of street Charlie oversees all current crews and choreographs for MDC.
katie larkin
Grades/ Acro-Tumble/ Festivals
Katie works as our day time Saturday receptionist, she has previously studied at studio 79 and now is completing her ISTD teaching qualifications.. Dancing since she was 3 Katie has always had a passion for dance and being a part of the studio gives her the chance to explore this passion more.
Katie is a AcroBatic Arts Module 1 certified teacher. She teaches our Tumble-Acro classes.
MAYA bARKER
Street Teacher
Mya is currently our Street crew teacher and Street teacher on Saturdays with ages 8-11, she has been a part of the Youth for 6 years and the competition teams for 5. Whilst currently studying at our BTEC college for a level 3 diploma, Mya choreographs and manages our street competition team Cascade as well as our Saturday lessons. Her dance speciality is street/ commercial, Mya is always looking for new concepts to dances and aiming to cover all the different concepts that are a part of street dance, as well as making sure the kids are having fun and enjoying the lesson.
aBY pARISH
Grades Teacher
Aby went to SLP college Leeds and Gained a Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre and a Trinity College London HND in Professional Musical Theatre. Has her teachers status in ISTD Ballet, Tap and Modern. Amongst other fitness qualifications. Travelled nationally and internationally dancing and teaching at dance schools and professional dance colleges. Has also gained a BA(Hons) in Professonal Dance Training from Middlesex University. Opened a dance studio in Syston which is coming into its 11th year. Now regularly teaching across the Midlands entering students for ISTD Exams and teaching Sports Massage.
Georgia Bradbury
Street Teacher
Georgia is one our street teachers and after having trained at Studio 79 Youth for 12 years and attended the Studio 79 College she then continued her training at Shockout Arts in Manchester. Whilst attending the youth she became a member of our Crew Unit 79 where she competed for several years and then was given a teaching position before moving away. After she completing her BA(Hons) in Professional and Commercial Dance she’s now taking a step further and getting her Post Graduate Degree in Teaching (PGCE).
tILLIE fOSTER
Mini Street/ Mini Stars/ Grades
Tillie has been dancing for 14 years in a variety of styles. She enjoys learning new routines and has been teaching for the last couple of years. She currently studies at studio 79 college. Tillie shares her passion for dance taking part in pantomimes for the last 6 years, she also has competed nationally for the last 10 years at the winter gardens in Blackpool. She hopes to get a degree in teaching and see what the future hold in teaching with us at the studio and elsewhere. Tillie can’t wait for the challenge.
DYLAN BOTT
Street Teacher
Dylan has been dancing with Studio 79 youth for 12 years! His speciality is commercial/street. Dylan is currently studying a football course at college.. He is apart of our street crew MDC and has gained many trophies with them!
Dylan is our current street teacher for Serenity. He also teaches his own Saturday street class weekly.
NIALL JOHNSON
Musical Theatre Teacher
Niall is our musical theatre teacher on Saturdays. He has been doing musical theatre for seven years now and had experience from over 20 shows including les miserables, cats, bring it on and Matilda. Niall has also been apart of the youth since he was 10 years old and across the years has competed as part of our festival team. He is currently training at studio 79 college and next year will be pursuing this at university.