Sonya Marie Academy of Dance
Tel: 07861 747681
Teachers
Miss Sonya
Miss Sonya attended the MT Laundy School of Dance in Darlington from the age of three where she trained until aged 16 in RAD ballet and the BTDA syllabus before going on to the Pattison College of Dancing and Theatre Arts in Coventry and gaining her teaching qualifications. She performed throughout the country and has appeared in pantomime at Darlington’s Hippdrome, the Sunderland Empire and in Leamington Spa. After spending two years travelling, singing and dancing with a band, she started teaching in 2003 before setting up her own school in 2007.
Gemma
Gemma began dancing at the age of three, going on to train full time at the London Studio Centre on a full scholarship receiving a Diploma in Performing Arts. Credits include: dancer and resident director on The Illusionists direct from Broadway; assistant choreographer for Miss World in Washington, USA; choreographer for The Overtones; assistant choreographer for Celebrity Cruises; dancer on Anton and Erin UK tours; dance captain on various UK and world tours including Twist and Shout, Dancing Queen, Spirit of the Dance and Jersey Nights. Performed alongside Ricky Martin at the Kodak Theatre LA and in numerous TV shows including Top Of The Pops and Peter Kay’s Car Share.
Gemma is also a qualified pilates and body conditioning instructor.
Mason
Mason has been working in the industry professionally for three years after graduating from college in 2017. He had completed three cruise contracts and had started his fourth when it was postponed due to the pandemic. He has also worked as a model with Barbour clothing.
Mia
Since graduating from Kingston University with a BA Hons in Dance, Mia has turned her passion for dance into her fulltime job. She has specialised in street dance since a young age, her favourite styles are old school hip hop, house and locking. She is excited to be teaching our street dance classes.
Lauren
Dancing since she was three, Lauren has always had a passion for all varieties of dance, performing at the Durham Gala Theatre pantomime and being a part of many stage musicals in her youth. She trained professionally at SLP Performing Arts College in Leeds where she graduated with a National Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre. From here she began her teaching career in contemporary dance before moving on to set up her own company, teaching contemporary, Latin and African dance styles in 2015. She began teaching in Darlington and Newcastle before achieving contracts to teach and perform across the UK and Europe. Lauren also went on to convert her diploma in MT to a BA Hons degree in Dance from Sunderland University in 2018.
Sarah
Sarah has been a vocal coach for around 20 years and has experience training many vocal styles and abilities. She is a member of the British Vocal Association and as a result is kept up to date with the latest vocal techniques and training. She has received training herself in both classical and contemporary styles as well as experience leading Gospel and children’s choirs. As a professional performer Sarah has worked as a lead production vocalist on various cruise ships, appeared in pantomime, musicals and musical compilation touring shows, worked in the pop music industry and more recently has been writing and releasing her own music under the band name Homeward.