Members’ Conference Online 1-Day Pass (Saturday)

Dance Artist, Educator, Researcher and Performance Coach  

Before joining the RAD (2012), a career as a professional dancer, choreographer and creative producer took me all over the world working on projects with artists, composers, contemporary designers, jewellery makers, poets, and new media artists; using a range of mediums including film projection, stop motion animation and algorithmic choreography. These collaborations and partnerships resulted in unique installation and theatre pieces that were performed or staged in venues ranging from the Royal Albert Hall and the National Indoor Arena (Utilita), Birmingham, to intimate studio spaces and art galleries. As a dance educator working in vocational training and higher education I have worked at i) Elmhurst Ballet School (2004 – 2012) teaching contemporary dance; ii) University of Wolverhampton (Senior Lecturer 2001-2012) delivering modules focused on dance technique, choreography and dance for film; and iii) as a dance artist with the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s education department (1995- 2012). With the RAD, I am Programme Manager for the Professional Dancers’ Graduate Teaching Diploma, and Lecturer in Dance Education or Professional Dancers. In addition, I lecture across the Master of Education (Dance Teaching), BA Ballet Education, BA Dance Education and Certificate in Dance Teaching Programmes. Subject areas include dance technique and performance, choreography, leading learning, dance pedagogy, dance science and teaching placements. Key to the choreography modules I deliver is leading and facilitating a creative process in which students, as young/emerging choreographers, can explore their physical signature(s) and develop their unique choreographic voice. 

Isabel Sachs is a D&AD & Lovie Award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and strategist recognised as one of the top 21 most influential women by Startups Magazine and one of The Dots’ 100 women transforming the Creative Industry.  

With over 20 years of experience, she has worked with brands, creatives, and organisations to drive organic engagement through strategic communications, community-building, and events. 

She has delivered keynotes and workshops for Apple, The New York Times, The British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, KFC, Domestika, and more on topics including entrepreneurship, creative careers, and networking. 

Isabel is the founder of I LIKE NETWORKING, an award-winning platform supporting 45k+ women and non-binary individuals in the creative industries, mentoring over 1,000 people since 2020, with features in the Evening Standard, Stylist, and The New York Times. She also leads Rahal/Sachs, a 360 creative agency focused on sports. 

Previously, she founded an acclaimed cultural agency in Brazil, producing 50+ events annually, including international tours, and managing artists and a theatre company. Her work spans nonprofits, cultural organisations, and global brands such as Converse, Red Bull, and Lollapalooza.

Lucy trained at The English National Ballet School and Laine Theatre Arts.  

With over 25 years of industry experience, Lucy began her career as a professional ballet dancer before moving into musical theatre, film, television, and a range of work across the commercial arts sector. She has had the privilege of working with and assisting many renowned directors and choreographers, including Susan Stroman, Baz Luhrmann, Kenneth Branagh, Matt Cole, Arlene Phillips, Carlos Acosta, Rob Ashford, Twyla Tharp, Andy Blankenbuehler, Drew McOnie, Karen Bruce, Lucie Pankhurst, Adam Cooper, Javier Frutos, and Kim Gavin.  

Lucy is a multifaceted dance professional. She is currently Head of Jazz at Laine Theatre Arts, and was formerly Head of Dance at ArtsEd and Head of Vocational Studies at Urdang. She has also lectured at numerous HE and FE institutions. 

Lucy is an All England Adjudicator and has served on the All England Artistic Committee. She adjudicates, guest teaches and serves on panels at prestigious events in the UK and internationally. She is also the Choreographer and Movement Consultant for BLOCH photoshoots in the UK.  

Lucy is an Independent Evaluator and Consultant for ENB’s Ballet Futures: The Pipeline Project, a member of the Black British Theatre Awards focus group, a patron of Melt Dance, and the founder of The Un-Boxed Collective.  

Her choreography credits include Choreographer and Movement Director, G’Wed (ITV); Choreographer and Movement Director, A Thousand Blows (Disney+); Associate Choreographer, Guys and Dolls (West End, UK Tour, Tel Aviv); Resident Choreographer, Guys and Dolls (Chichester); Associate Choreographer, Grease (Royal Caribbean/David Ian Productions); Re-stager, Footloose (UK Tour); Associate Choreographer, Angelina Ballerina The Mousical (UK Tour, Australian Tour) and numerous Assistant Choreographer roles.  

Her theatre dance credits include Sadler’s Wells, the London Palladium, ENO, the Royal Festival Hall and Chichester Festival Theatre. She has also performed with ENB. 

Her television work includes Game of Thrones, Strictly Come Dancing for Kylie Minogue, The Royal Variety Show, The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff, Dancing on Ice, Dancing in the Streets and Strictly Dance Fever. Her film work includes Death on the Nile, Disney’s Cinderella and Disney’s Artemis Fowl for Kenneth Branagh, and Centre Stage for Susan Stroman.  

Lucy was also Dance Captain/Dancer for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Closing Ceremonies.  teacher training programmes, including the CDT and CBTS. Her former students include professional dancers and RAD Teaching Members working internationally. 

DPBMN

Head of Benesh International

Melanie began her ballet training in Cheshire before attending the Arts Educational School, Tring. From there, she studied Dance at the University of Surrey. Choosing to specialise in Benesh Movement Notation, Melanie graduated as a professional choreologist in 2010. She has been a notation tutor and examiner at Benesh International since 2014.

Her notation credits include The Tsarina’s Slippers (Alastair Marriott), Serenade (David Justin) and Medusa (Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui). Most recently, Melanie assisted in the restaging of Enigma Variations, The Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia and Swan Lake at the Royal Ballet in London.

She was invited by the Royal Academy of Dance as a guest teacher to conduct a series of Benesh masterclasses throughout Mexico. She was also a guest speaker at the Benesh International BenMove Congress at the Conservatoire in Paris.

Melanie divides her time between London and Austin, Texas.

Benesh International Lead Officer 

Angela began her ballet training at the age of three in the south of Italy, completing all RAD exams up to Advanced 2. She then moved to northern Italy to pursue professional training at a Vaganova ballet Academy. Seeking to expand her versatility as a dancer, she completed a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. 

After years of rigorous training and performing in various theatres, she began her journey in dance education by teaching in the private sector. In 2023, she enrolled in the MA (Education) Dance Teaching programme at the Royal Academy of Dance, which has deepened her interest in the institution and sparked her enthusiasm for joining Benesh International.