Allstars Team
Natalie Powers
Principal
Natalie trained at the highly acclaimed Arts Educational College, Chiswick, London, where she studied Musical Theatre. Natalie then went straight from College into the West End, making her debut at the tender age of just 18 with Starlight Express, playing the principal role of Buffy for 2 years, and understudying both Dinah and Pearl. Other theatre credits include:
Tommy, Shaftesbury Theatre, West End, understudying Kim Wilde in theleading role of Mrs Walker
Starlight Express, Apollo Theatre, a return visit to play Dinah for 1 year
Annie, Birmingham Hippodrome
Russ Abbot Summer Spectacular, B.I.C. Bournemouth
Cinderella The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
Babes in the Wood, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Wimbledon Theatre, London
Annie, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th Birthday Celebration, Royal Albert Hall
After extensive Theatre work Natalie then choose to change direction and break into the recording industry, her first love, and secured lead vocalist with popband Scooch. The band released 5 singles - 2 of which made number 5 in the charts - and an album. The band then won BBC Making Your Mind Up and were voted to represent the U.K in the Eurovision Song Contest in Finland in 2007, watched by some 200 million viewers. Natalie has travelled the length and breadth of the UK with Scooch, performing in every major city and Arena and still performs with them today.
Television Credits include:
Top of the Pops
Blue Peter
CD:UK
This Morning
Lorraine
Live & Kicking
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole
Pepsi Chart Show
Graham Norton
Loose Women
GMTV
SMTV
Richard & Judy
Natalie has successfully run her own vocal academy Songstars for the past 15 years and is now delighted to incorporate it into her new partnership with Amanda to create Allstars Academy.
Amanda Constantinou
Principal
Amanda studied performing arts at the prestigious Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London and began her career touring the country as principle actress with a children's theatre company. After that she toured with Michelle Breeze as singer/dancer in her variety show and then left for the high seas to work - for Celebrity Cruises and then the Italia Prima - on a world cruise as a dancer/singer.
Amanda's first West End credit was in Starlight Express in the principal role of Ashley (one of the carriages) at the Apollo Theatre.
Her next role was in the original cast of Closer to Heaven written by the Pet Shop Boys at the Arts Theatre where she also understudied the lead.
She then appeared in the original cast of Just like that at the Garrick Theatre with Jerome Flynn.
Amanda's other career highlights include:
Work on various musical shows and charity gala's at the Palace Theatre, the Millennium Stadium and Royal Albert hall
Performed in a special production for Scandinavian Royalty of The Lion King produced for a Royal birthday party
Features in numerous adverts for Archers, Datec.com, Vodafone, Iceland and Abba just dance
A featured Zombie in the film 28 Weeks Later
Dancing for Robbie Williams on Top of the pops and the video for his tour
Danced and skated for Madonna on her Sorry Video
Performed on various television shows including The Word, Pebble Mill and Graham Norton
On the production team and performed as a dementor skater in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics
Amanda has also formed and run Muse Artists, a successful events company providing entertainment for prestigious events such as forfilm premieres, perfume Launches and huge events at Natural History Museum, Hampton Court, the Wallis Collection, Madame Tussauds, and supplied the entertainment for England's biggest corporate Christmas party company.
Kelly West
Principal
Kelly studied at Stage works Performing Arts between 2012-2014 and later went on to gain a Scholarship Graduating from Bird College in 2017 where she obtained a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre, she also has the following qualifications ;
Exercise to Music Qualification
Barre Core Personal Trainer and Instructor
Dance Teacher Federation Certificate
Whilst at college she studied many different dance styles from Musical Theatre, Jazz, Contemporary, Contortion and Acrobatics.
Kelly is delighted to become a Joint Principal in Summer 2021.
Credits include ;
2017-2019 Magic to Do , Stephen Swartz , Princess Cruise Lines
2017 TWO GIRLS ONE FLAT, Film series , Mark Battershall
2017 Teen Spirit Feature Film, Angel X dancer, Max Minghella
2017 Pineapple Dance Studios, Model, Mark Battershall
2017 Dance, Dancer, MOVE IT, Bird College, Matt Nicholson
2016, Dance, Dance ensemble, MOVE IT!, Bird College, Matt Nicholson
2016 This Morning Lorraine, Television, Dancer, DANCE, Matt Nicholson
2015 HAIR SHOW Dancer, Royal Albert Hall, Matt Nicholson
2013 Reverb Dance Company, South Africa.
Holly Costin
Head of Theatre
Holly had a professional conservatoire training at ‘East 15 Acting School’ in London graduating in 2004 with a BA in Acting. Training for four years with many experienced directors such as Crispin Bonham-Carter, Dawn Walton and children’s theatre specialist Vicki Ireland (touring in Panto The Ugly Duckling), performing at the Criterion Theatre, Piccadilly Circus in the West End. Later on that summer in the East End played Fanny Squirers in Nicholas Nickleby at Wiltons Music Hall.
Holly then went on to form, with a couple of her fellow graduates, ‘Short Straw Theatre Company’, thus named as all three of the Artistic Directors are quite petite.
As a Theatrical Practitioner, Actor and Co-Artistic Director of Short Straw Theatre Company Holly was responsible for creative production, sourcing Writers/ Directors and Actors, running workshops to groups of all ages, devising interactive shows, acting on stage for both Short Straw and other theatre companies.
Their most successful show was developed over a number of years and started out as a scratch at the Battersea Arts Centre (BAC), became Threads when it went to the Soho Theatre in the West End for development, for it to finally become Fates, premiering at Theatre 503 the following year. With the strap line ‘I’m scared of boxes, they killed my mother’. As well as the Co-Artistic Director Holly played Atropos throughout development and during the run.
With the company based in SE London, the Greenwich Playhouse was the base for the companies new writing and work in development hub, with the show Walthamstow Central, Holly both produced and played Victoria in the claustrophobic underground show. This production was closely followed with Kelly by Jenny Harrold.
Holly is passionate about all areas of the industry and before she chose drama school and became an actor, she she trained as a dancer and singer, with her first professional job being a backing vocalist on a country album. Holly writes her own shows and still occasionally performs them and has been a LAMDA tutor for the past 10 years.
Training is really important to Holly who regularly is found attending workshops on ground breaking theatre both nationally and internationally and is currently studying for her Post Graduate in Education.
Holly is really passionate about her work with Allstars, being Head of Theatre she has been able to introduce the students to a vocational level of professional training which will set them up for Drama School, professional work and beyond.
Jodie Smith
Dance - Grades
Jodie graduated from Margaret Howard Theatre College (Now known as Momentum Performing Arts Academy) in 2014 after gaining her ISTD DDI qualifications in Modern and Tap. While at college Jodie studied many genres of styles from ballet to hip hop. She continued to study after college at Linda Sweetzer Teaching Training College and gained her DDE Modern, Tap and Ballet.
In 2018 Jodie carried on her professional development and became a certified Acrobatic Arts teacher. Jodie regularly attends courses and training days to help her syllabus knowledge and progression and is also a qualified First Aider.
Kathy Andrews
Dance - Grades
Kathy was born in Blackpool and started dancing aged three at the Barbara Jackson Academy of Dance. She continued her training at Arts Educational Tring aged 12 and moved to the Arts Educational London at 16 to complete major exams including 4 associate teaching qualifications in Modern, Tap, Ballet and national dance. She also studied Greek dance, Contemporary, Spanish, Pas de Deax and repertoire.
Kathy returned to Arts Educational Tring where she taught for five years, before taking over a Dance School in Stevenage and opening a further 2 branches in and Tring and Whitechurch. She then went on to spend a further 4 years teaching at The London College of Dance and Drama (The Imperial Society's teacher training college) specialising in boys work.
After moving back to Blackpool in the late 1980s, Kathy returned to teach for Miss Jackson and stayed for over 20 years developing a strong major section and boys, many of whom are now dancing in the West End and numerous other parts of the world!
Kathy gained her Fellowship in Modern dance and Licenciate Tap in the 1990s, the Fellowship being the highest qualification the Imperial grants. In 2012, Kathy moved back to Aylesbury and is enjoying being associated with Amanda, Natalie and all the talented pupils at Allstars Academy
Maddy Darley
Dance - Grades
Bio coming soon!
Becca Austin-Turner
Dance - Grades
Jessica O'Leary
Dance - Acro
Jess started dancing at the age of two. Throughout her childhood, Jess completed ISTD exams, competed at All England Dance Competitions and performed in professional Pantomimes. During her teenage years, Jess gained a place on the Centre for Advanced Training Scheme at London Contemporary Dance School. Jess also trained on the London Studio Centre Associate programme from ages 16 - 18, whilst training full time at Stage Right College. Jess then embarked upon her professional training at London Studio Centre graduating with a BA(Hons) in Theatre Dance and signed with FLP Management.
During her training, Jess appeared in many shows and music videos as well as working with some world renowned choreographers such as; Dane Bates, Kenrick H20 Sandy and Kate Prince. Jess was also in the MANA Cheer Team where she performed at various events including the Olympic Stadium.
In 2020/21/22 Jess successfully auditioned for the Team England Jazz Team. Jess trains monthly in Birmingham, preparing for the ICU World Championships in Florida next April.
From 2021-2022 Jess was the Head of Jazz and Acrobatics at Phoenix Starr College and Academy where she choreographed winning routines for competitions/festivals and had the opportunity to promote the college at Move It 2022. Jess graduated with Qualified Teacher Status in July 2022 and continues to work full time at a local Secondary School, teaching KS3 and BTEC Dance and Performing Arts.
Miss Jess is thrilled to be joining the Allstars Academy Team and aims to help each student fulfill their potential in dance, acrobatics and anything they aspire to become!
Jazmin Bird
MT, Street, Elite
Jazmin trained at London Studio Centre, gaining a BA (Hons) Degree in Theatre Dance, where she trained in a variety of dance styles as well as singing and acting. Since graduating in 2012 she has gone on on play Little Inez in Hairspray the Musical, she has performed in music videos for Jax Jones and Bebe Rexha, danced as a company member of Sol Dans Company, worked as a body double and filmed for various TV commercials for clothing companies such as Zalando. Throughout her career, Jazmin has also regularly taught dance, singing and acting classes for performing arts schools around Bucks and in London.
Sammie Hicks
Singing
Freya Rowley
Guest Teacher
Freya Graduated Laine Theatre Arts in 2009 with a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre. She then went on to perform in many Musicals and Dance Companies and recently starred in Cats the Movie.
Freya's performances include Disney’s Tarzan the Musical, Best of Musicals Arena Tour, Cats UK Tour, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels UK Tour, McOnie Company, Hairspray UK Tour and Strictly Ballroom in London, Leeds and Canada.
Freya has taught at the following institutions: London Studio Centre, Phil Winston's, Performers College, Urdang, IDTA Congress Lecturer, Livingston Academy & Allstars Academy
Rhianna Merralls
Guest Teacher
Rhianna began acting in 2006 when she played a role in ‘The Bartered Bride’ at The Royal Opera House. In 2015 she began training with The National Youth Theatre and The RADA Youth Company. During her training she booked her very first television role in ‘Camping’ on Sky Atlantic. ‘Camping’ was nominated for a BAFTA (Best Scripted Comedy). The following year, Rhianna was cast in a lead role in Sky One’s ‘Carters Get Rich’ and also began working on a new Disney Channel Pilot.
In 2017, Rhianna began working for CBBC and is now appearing in both Millie Inbetween and Hetty Feather. She has also started working on live TV and recently appeared on Blue Peter.
As well as being an actor, Rhianna is also an Acting Agents Assistant and loves finding new, exciting opportunities for her clients.
Staceylee Wyatt
Festivals Coordinator
Staceylee attended ISTD Ballet and Modern Dance classes as a child until the age of eighteen when she trained as a Nursery Nurse.
All four of her children have attended Allstars Academy since 2015. She has been Allstars Festivals Coordinator since 2017 and loves giving the children opportunities to perform at Festivals.
Staceylee is passionate about Performing Arts and supporting the Academy.
Sheree Blanksby
Accounts Manager
Despite proudly obtaining a baby ballerina medal in the early 1970's, Sheree decided her talents were better suited to the world of accounts! She has been Allstars' bookkeeper and Accounts Manager since the beginning of 2015.
Gemma Weyman
Uniform
Gemma has been sourcing costumes and uniform for Allstars Academy for the past five years. Gemma has a daughter at the Academy and runs a successful business Gem's Nail Design.