Meet the SBSD Team
Come dance with us at Samantha Boyd School of Dance! Our team of teachers are dedicated to teaching you the
moves and techniques you need to take your dancing to the next level.
Whether you’re here for recreation or for professional training, we can help you reach your goals.
Principal and Owner, Miss Samantha Boyd
Dominic North
Patron
Dominic has been a principal dancer with New Adventures since 2008, with roles including The Prince in Swan Lake; Julian and
Ivan in The Red Shoes, Angelo in The Car Man, Edward in Edward Scissorhands, Cyril Vane in Dorian Gray, Ralph in Lord of the Flies, Early Adventures, Fritz in Nutcracker!, Leo in Sleeping Beauty and Harry the Pilot in Cinderella. Dominic has also performed in Swan Lake 3D, Matthew Bourne’s Christmas, and the film versions of Sleeping Beauty and The Car Man.
Dominic has been a dance captain on many productions and has been a workshop leader for New Adventures since 2008
and a Resident Artist since 2012.
Dominic was named in the top 10 performances of 2014 by londondance.com. He was Dancing Times’ dancer of the month in January 2010 and was nominated for Outstanding Male Dancer (Modern) in the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards twice
(2009 and 2016).
Estela Merlos
Patron
Born in Barcelona 1983, Estela is an independent dance artist based in London. She collaborates with a wide variety of international artists, dance companies, and organisations as a performer, choreographer, teacher, assistant choreographer
and rehearsal director. She trained at her local school
Escola de Dansa Madó and at Central School of Ballet in London.
Upon graduation, Estela danced for companies Cannes Jeune Ballet (2004-2006, France) and IT Dansa (2006-2008, Spain)
before joining Rambert Dance Company in 2008
where she toured nationally and internationally for six years.
Estela is a certified Awareness Through Movement Feldenkrais® Practitioner
Helen Gulston
Guest Teacher
Helen trained in Essex and since made her professional debut in The Thursford Christmas Spectacular (Thursford Enterprises). Most recently she has been performing in SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER UK/International Tour as Doreen, 1st Cover Annette and 1st cover Linda Monero (Bill Kenwright).
Other Theatre Credits include; CATS the Musical as Tantomile,
1st cover Demeter/1st cover Rumpleteazer (Really useful Group
and RCCL), Roy Hudd’s Mother Goose Ensemble/1st Cover Fairy Virtue (Wiltons Music Hall, London), Cinderella (QDOS, Swansea),
Beauty and the Beast (Disney, motion picture), The Bee Gees Story (The Orchard Theatre, Dartford) and A Night Of Dirty Dancing, Ensemble (UK Tour).
Miss Karen
Dance School Secretary and Data Protection Officer
Miss Karen devotes her time to being a wife, proud mother of three children and nana of four grandchildren, as well as working tirelessly behind the scenes at SBSD. Miss Karen has been part of the team at Samantha Boyd School of Dance since its opening in 2011, and is responsible for the majority of the day-to-day running of the Dance School and Dance Shop.
Miss Olivia
Assistant Teacher
Miss Olivia’s love of dance began when she was very young. She joined Samantha Boyd School of Dance in the summer of 2016 and is now training at RAD Intermediate Level. Miss Olivia says “I am now an aspiring dance teacher and love to spend time helping and developing the skills of young dancers. I work within the classes as an Assistant Teacher and also on Reception and love my time spent at the Dance School”. Miss Olivia is currently working towards completing her Level 3 CACHE Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator) Diploma.
Miss Ellena
Cover Teacher
Miss Ellena has been dancing since a very young age. She was a pupil at Samantha Boyd School of Dance for many years, making lifelong friendships. Miss Ellena trained at RAD Advanced 1 Vocational Level and has completed an Extended Diploma in Performing Arts (Dance) at South Essex College. She is presently at Norwich University of the Arts studying Fashion, Communication, and Promotion. Miss Ellena enjoys all aspects of dance. She loves working with the pupils at SBSD and seeing them achieve their dreams, which is why SBSD are lucky to have her return from time to time as our Cover Teacher.
Miss Maria
Teacher
Miss Maria made her professional stage debut whilst in Primary School, and has enjoyed a long performance career in UK Theatre Tours, Pantomimes, onboard Cruise Ships, and Variety Performances, as well as TV, Radio, and Voiceover work. Miss Maria was in the first 3 productions with the London Children Ballet, and won the first of many choreography awards at the age of 17 giving her the opportunity to put her work onto a London Theatre stage.
Miss Maria trained in RAD Ballet, IDTA and ISTD, and took part in many festivals winning The All England Dance Finals, Miss Dance of Great Britain Heats, Rene Myrtle Bursary, and several adjudicator choice awards. She was awarded a full scholarship for London Studio Centre where she gained a BA Hons in Theatre Dance.
During her vocational training, Miss Maria worked as Company Choreographer for UK holiday parks, and went on to work as Production Manager, Dance Captain, and Associate Producer for Cruise Companies. Miss Maria has directed and promoted Theatre Productions, which are still currently touring Worldwide.
Miss Maria has a passion for developing confidence in those she teaches. She has taught performers who are currently in Professional Theatre Shows, as well as assisting many through BTEC and A-Level Dance, Examinations, Festivals, and debut performances.
01702 840048