Teachers

Sally Prout

Dip RBS (TTC), ARAD, AISTD (CDE)

Principal and Director

Teacher’s profile
Sally trained at Bush Davies School of Education and Theatre Arts, followed by The Royal Ballet School in London, where she earned her Teachers Diploma. Upon graduation, she was honoured with a special award from Dame Ninette de Valois, founder of The Royal Ballet, for achieving the highest results in her final year. Sally began her teaching career in 1984 at The Bristol School of Dancing.

In 1985, she founded her own dance school while also teaching at The Hereford Ballet School. Over the years, she has taught at several institutions including the Corraine Collins Dance Studios in Cheltenham, Monmouth Haberdashers’ School for Girls and Westonbirt School for Girls.

As her own school flourished, Sally chose to dedicate herself to its full-time development. She is delighted to lead the newly established Severn Dance Studios and is passionate about providing more dance opportunities for the wider community.

Sally is a proud Life Member of the Royal Academy of Dance.

Louise Watson

Dip NBS, AISTD (CDE)

Head of Pre-vocational Training

Teacher’s profile
Louise began her dance training in her hometown of Sunderland before advancing to The Northern Ballet School in Manchester at the age of sixteen. Over the course of her three years of professional training, she performed in and choreographed numerous productions staged at The Dancehouse Theatre. Notably, she choreographed a Ballet set to Walt Disney’s Fantasia soundtrack, performed live by the Hallé Orchestra.

During her time at Northern Ballet School, Louise taught classes at the school’s Associate programme and completed the three-year teacher training course, earning her Teaching Diploma.

After graduating, Louise relocated to Gloucestershire to join The Sally Prout School of Dancing. She is now a proud Partner of the school, contributing to its continued growth and creative development.

Louise will be leading our new Pre-Vocational Programme, designed to equip young students with the foundational skills and preparation necessary for entry into specialised vocational dance training.

Sarah Spaven

Dip RAD RTS, ISTD (DDE)

Head of Staff

Teacher’s profile
Sarah trained at The Urdang Academy in London before continuing her professional studies at Stella Mann College, where she completed a three-year National Diploma in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre.

In 2017, she achieved Registered Teacher Status with the Royal Academy of Dance after completing the Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma. She also holds DDI qualifications in Ballet, as well as DDI and DDE qualifications in Tap through the ISTD.

Following a successful professional career—which included numerous touring productions and competitive Latin dance, culminating in a place at the ISTD Grand Finals in 2012 at the iconic Tower Ballroom in Blackpool—Sarah transitioned fully into teaching. She joined The Sally Prout School of Dancing and was appointed Assistant Principal in September 2019.

More recently, Sarah has taken on the role of Head of Teaching Staff at Severn Dance Studios. She looks forward to sharing her performance experience and technical expertise with the next generation of dancers.

Jade Elliott

Street Dance Teacher & Founder of Defined Dance

Teacher’s profile
Jade began dancing at the age of two, training in Ballet, Tap and Jazz at The Sally Prout School of Dancing. At ten, she expanded her repertoire to include disco, commercial and street dance.
She continued her training through College and University, graduating from the University of Gloucestershire with a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts, which provided opportunities to train within the industry alongside professionals.

Throughout her education, Jade consistently excelled – achieving Distinction in every dance exam, winning numerous awards at national competitions, and earning the position of Dance Captain for the University’s Theatre School. One of her proudest achievements during this time was leading the Theatre School in a performance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

In her professional career, Jade has taught at several performing arts and private schools as a Choreographer, working across a wide range of genres and supporting the direction of theatre productions. She continues to share her passion and expertise through Defined Dance, a branch school of The Sally Prout School, which she founded in 2015.

Alongside teaching, she remains an active performer, most recently competing in the European Dance Championships in Germany.

Rebecca Maycroft

BA (Hons) PGCE QTS LRAD ARAD RTS

Dance Teacher

Teacher’s profile
Rebecca trained at the Royal Academy of Dance, where she completed her BA (Hons) in Ballet Education and was awarded Registered Teacher Status. She subsequently achieved her PGCE with Qualified Teacher Status (11-19), specialising in secondary dance education.

She holds both the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance (LRAD) and ARAD qualifications, and brings extensive experience in preparing students for Royal Academy of Dance graded and vocational examinations. Rebecca has taught across private dance schools and secondary education settings, delivering classes from Pre-Primary through to Advanced Foundation, as well as GCSE and A Level Dance.

Rebecca is dedicated to inspiring her students through expert guidance, a genuine passion for dance, and a strong commitment to excellence in training.

Why choose Severn Dance Studios?

We know you have a choice when it comes to dance education. Here is what sets us apart:

Qualified Faculty: Our teachers are fully qualified, DBS checked, and passionate about their craft. They bring years of experience and a genuine love for teaching to every class.
Pathways for Everyone: From our fun-filled “Baby Ballet” classes to our intensive Pre-Vocational training program, we offer clear progression routes for recreational and career-minded dancers alike.
Performance Opportunities: We provide regular opportunities for students to perform in showcases, exams, and community events, building stage presence and confidence.
A Supportive Community: We foster a culture of kindness and respect. Our studio is a safe haven where students can express themselves freely without fear of judgment.