Members’ Conference London 1-Day Pass (Friday)

Edel is a former professional dancer, turned internationally recognised dance teacher, lecturer, and researcher. She co-authored ‘Safe Dance Practice: An Applied Dance Science Perspective’ (Human Kinetics, 2015), a cornerstone resource in the field of dance teaching and training. In 2021, Edel was awarded the prestigious International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) Dance Educator Award, honouring her work in integrating dance science into teaching and prioritising dancer well-being through evidence-based practice across styles, ages, and settings. Edel has worked at leading institutions across the globe, including Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (UK), Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (Hong Kong), Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (University of Limerick, Ireland), University of Bern (Switzerland), Beijing Dance Academy (China) and University of Wyoming (USA). Now based in Chichester, UK, Edel contributes to the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Dance Science, Dance, and Sport Science at the University of Chichester. As a freelance educator, her work continues to inform and support future generations of dancers and educators.  

Justine joined London City Ballet at the age of seventeen and enjoyed an international performing career spanning 19 years. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance’s Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma (PDTD) with Distinction. 

Justine has taught for the Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Central School of Ballet, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, Laine Theatre Arts, amongst others. For the Royal Academy of Dance, she has taught across many programmes, summer schools, workshops and CPD activities.  

She has also taught Benesh Movement Notation at the Royal Ballet School, anatomy at London Studio Centre and held the role of Ballet Mistress and répétiteur for many touring companies. 

Justine has extensive experience in dance teacher education. She was a Lecturer in Dance Education for the Faculty of Education at the RAD from 2019 to 2022. She has taught on programmes including The Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Certificate and the BA (Hons) in Ballet Education. She was significantly involved in the Royal Academy of Dance’s Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma (PDTD) UK for many years, including tutoring, assessing, and reshaping the programme. Justine was the PDTD Programme Manager (UK and China) from 2019 until 2022.  

In 2022, Justine was appointed Subject Lead: Ballet and Contemporary at Bird College.  

Justine taught Character technique and repertoire at the Royal Ballet School from 2018 until 2022. She was fortunate to study Maria Fay’s approach to character extensively with specialists Valerie Sunderland and Amanda Maxwell, both of whom worked closely with Maria Fay. Justine continues to teach Character for RBS Intensive programmes and auditions. She is a tutor for the Royal Ballet School’s Inspire seminars and has taught and assessed for the school’s Diploma in Dance Teaching.  

Other roles include former Chairman of the Royal Academy of Dance’s London and Middlesex Regional Advisory Board and Trustee of the Academy, 2016 -2019. Justine returned as Trustee in 2024 and serves on the Artistic sub-committee.  

Justine has a keen interest in music, in dance teaching and education. She holds a Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (University of the Arts) and the Master of Teaching (Dance) from the University of Surrey/ Royal Academy of Dance.

Alexander Campbell was born in Sydney, Australia. He was attracted to ballet at the age of five after seeing the work of his grandmother, a former examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance  

Alexander won a silver medal at the 2003 RAD Genée International Ballet Competition (now renamed The Fonteyn), which was held in Birmingham. Through this experience, Alexander was introduced to Birmingham Royal Ballet, securing his first job with the company in 2005.  

He joined The Royal Ballet as a Soloist in 2011 and was promoted to Principal in June 2016, a role he held until retiring to take up the position of Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Dance in 2024. 

BA(Hons) LRAD ARAD ABATD RAD RTS

Holly grew up in Yorkshire and studied ballet at the Scott Stevenson School of Dance, where she trained in RAD graded and vocational ballet alongside BATD tap and modern, winning multiple national scholarships during her training. After gaining her associate teacher’s status with the British Association of Teachers of Dancing, Holly then moved to London to continue her ballet studies. She graduated with a First-Class degree from the BA(Hons) Ballet Education course and gained Distinction in her Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance programme, receiving the prestigious Iris Truscott Scholarship to support her continued professional development. Holly is now a freelance ballet teacher, teaching a variety of genres at several well-established schools across London, including the RAD Dance School.

As part of her specialist training at the RAD, Holly had the privilege of studying the Karsavina syllabus under the guidance of Virginia Parkinson and Louise Jefferson and was awarded the Rachel Cameron Prize in recognition of her excellence in her studies. Holly continues to support the work of the Karsavina Heritage Award, having demonstrated at numerous CPD events with the honour of performing in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Camilla and Dame Darcey Bussell. She is passionate about preserving the Karsavina legacy and, through her involvement with the programme, is committed to sharing its unique artistic heritage through her own teaching and professional practice.

Dr Nathan James PhD MA (Dist.)  

Fellow and Examiner ISTD FIDTA ANATD MBBO Cert FE (QTLS)  

Nathan trained in the Midlands in all musical theatre and dance disciplines, along with his initial teaching qualifications. As a performer, he appeared in several pantomimes at the Birmingham Hippodrome alongside several contracts for Celebrity and Princess Cruise Lines. Upon returning to England and settling in London, Nathan has performed in a range of regional productions, including ‘Copacabana’ and ‘Hello Dolly’ and various trade shows and TV commercials. He has toured the UK in the national tour of ‘Copacabana’ and Europe in the Irish dance show ‘Spirit of the Dance’. He also completed a season at the renowned Chichester Festival Theatre. Nathan last appeared in the revival of the Broadway Musical ‘42nd Street’, albeit in German, in the city of Stuttgart.  

Following his first passion, teaching, Nathan established himself as a successful jazz and tap tutor and choreographer working at several vocational schools, including Arts Ed, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Bodywork Dance Studios, Sylvia Young Theatre School and Performers College, Birmingham. In 2008, Nathan joined the faculty of Urdang Academy, ultimately taking over the running of the degree programmes as Director of HE Programmes. Nathan has also taught at many private dance schools and taught workshops across the country. He has also delivered the ISTD teaching qualifications at various centres.  

He completed an MA in Professional Practice (awarded with Distinction) at Middlesex University and was awarded a PhD in Dance in 2018 from the University of Roehampton. He is an examiner for the ISTD Modern and Tap faculties and has been part of the teaching and creative team for tap. As an External Examiner, Nathan has overseen the degree programmes at Shockout and currently Laine Theatre Arts.  

An experienced adjudicator, Nathan represents the British Federation of Festivals and was a trustee and Artistic Director for All England Dance, where he chaired the Artistic Committee. Nathan was responsible for the accreditation and launch of the Dang Theatre and Dance Syllabus and its rollout into performing arts schools. After working with the RAD as a development consultant and creating their OFQUAL-regulated Musical Theatre, Nathan has been appointed as the Deputy Artistic Director (Education). 

Emily Anne Koschyk (RAD Teaching Dip, Dip LCDD, ISTD DDE) trained at London College of Dance and Drama in Bedford and graduated with Distinction in Teaching Studies. In 1988, she moved to Germany and danced in national television and theatre productions. She taught in various schools around the country before opening her own school.  

At this time, she also led a full-time 3-year teacher training programme, from which many young aspiring teachers successfully graduated. In 2020, Emily relocated back to the south of England and now teaches on a freelance basis. She conducts workshops and teaches at various summer schools in Europe.  

Since its inception in 2004, Emily has been a tutor for a number of modules of the Royal Academy of Dance CBTS and also tutors on the PDPTC Programme based in Berlin. She is an examiner and was invited to be a CPD tutor for all levels from Pre-Primary to Advanced 2, and travels extensively in these roles. Emily is a tutor for the Royal Ballet School’s Inspire series. 

Originally from the northeast of England, Victoria began her dance training at age five, progressing through RAD grades and vocational examinations and embarking on the RAD Student Teaching Certificate at 16. Her professional career as a dancer and choreographer has spanned the UK and internationally.  

After relocating to Mexico, Victoria founded a highly successful dance school and established Acadancers, a company producing seasonal classical ballets in collaboration with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Acapulco. Alongside this, she choreographed for Mexican pop artists, performed in music videos, and completed the RAD Teaching Diploma, gaining a high Distinction.  

During her tenure in Mexico, she was the recipient of a distinguished honour recognising her exceptional contribution to the arts in the state of Guerrero.  

On returning to the UK, Victoria became Head of Ballet at a leading independent school and an examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance. During this time, her students excelled in exams and at the prestigious Genee competition. She is also a recipient of the Phyllis Bedells Bursary choreographic award.  

A Life Member of the RAD, Victoria is also a trustee and member of both the artistic and exams sub-committees. She is an experienced CPD tutor, a Silver Swans® tutor since 2017, and has contributed to RAD teacher training programmes, including the CDT and CBTS. Her former students include professional dancers and RAD Teaching Members working internationally. 

Emily Anne Koschyk (RAD Teaching Dip, Dip LCDD, ISTD DDE) trained at London College of Dance and Drama in Bedford and graduated with Distinction in Teaching Studies. In 1988, she moved to Germany and danced in national television and theatre productions. She taught in various schools around the country before opening her own school.  

At this time, she also led a full-time 3-year teacher training programme, from which many young aspiring teachers successfully graduated. In 2020, Emily relocated back to the south of England and now teaches on a freelance basis. She conducts workshops and teaches at various summer schools in Europe.  

Since its inception in 2004, Emily has been a tutor for a number of modules of the Royal Academy of Dance CBTS and also tutors on the PDPTC Programme based in Berlin. She is an examiner and was invited to be a CPD tutor for all levels from Pre-Primary to Advanced 2, and travels extensively in these roles. Emily is a tutor for the Royal Ballet School’s Inspire series. 

Sarah trained with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) from childhood grades, through the Teacher Training College, a distance-learning degree course and into postgraduate education. Research in ‘Inclusive Dance Practice’ at Postgraduate level instigated an interest in more diverse teaching. Sarah was part of the RAD Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing (DfLW) project in 2012, undertaking practice-based research into the benefits and considerations when teaching older learners to dance. Having contributed to the RAD Report (2013) and presented at the DfLW conference (2013), she participated in the second phase of the DfLW project (2017) and acted as mentor to other researching teachers. From these beginnings came the creation of the RAD Silver Swans Ballet programme, formally launched in 2017, the benefits of which Sarah is passionate about.  

Sarah has had the opportunity to share the joy of Silver Swans in many contexts, particularly during the pandemic when there was a surge of interest in ways to keep fit and healthy whilst isolating or in lockdown. Sharing enthusiasm through various media and presenting in a range of situations contributed to her earning the RAD Advocacy Award in 2020. Her latest project has been developing the Seated Swans programme so that even more people can share the joy of dance. Sarah currently enjoys teaching Silver Swans in a wide range of contexts, from church halls, through Zoom (still!), at RAD HQ, and she has the great honour of teaching our prestigious Swan, Queen Camilla, whenever Her Majesty’s diary permits.