About us

Fully qualified dance instructors in Truro

The team at Jason Thomas Performing Arts consists of qualified dance instructors who have been practising this form of art for many years, becoming masters in their area. They have professional performance experience in dancing and musical theatre. To study and learn under their guidance, contact Jason Thomas Performing Arts in Truro. We're easily accessible for students in Bude, St. Ives, Portreath, Bodmin, Fowey and Wadebridge.

Dance classes

Jason Thomas, R.A.D. (R.T.S) A.I.D.T.A

Having previously performed in London's West End, Jason Thomas has established his performing arts classes across Cornwall since 2001. He has opened seven schools in Cornwall and is the artistic director of the Foundation Course in Dance and Musical Theatre. His students enter exams yearly with the Royal Academy of Dance, Trinity College of London and the International Dance Teachers Association.

Jason is also a mentor for the Royal Academy of Dance and has choreographed for local holiday camps and pantomimes. His school is regularly asked to work with many companies such as "Strictly Come Dancing" star Pasha Kovalev and with Ellen Kent's Opera Ballet International. Many of his students are now at vocational dance colleges, as well as younger students auditioning successfully for the Royal Ballet School, Royal Academy of Dance, Elmhurst School of Dance, Arts Educational - Tring Park and The Hammond School.

Jason also teaches at Truro High School for Girls .He also runs Cornwall Casting Agency.

Jason said, "I am passionate about enabling as many students as possible to discover, participate and excel in performing arts. I am excited by the opportunity to have a studio in Bude as it will allow even more students across Cornwall to sample and gain experience in many genres of dance."

Terri-Anne Beattie-Sawyer, Dance instructor

Terri-Anne started dancing later in life in Dorset, after becoming interested following GCSE dance. Terri-Anne began teaching at the age of 16 with her local school as a teaching assistant in Ballet, tap and modern. She also taught for a performing art school in Boscombe and sports center's.

She went on to complete her Foundation degree in Dance at Truro college before completing the final top up year at Plymouth University graduating with a first-class honor's in 2011 in BA (Hons) Dance Theatre. Recently Terri-Anne has gained a degree in Adult Nursing.

Terri-Anne has since then completed her Ballet teaching certificate with the Royal Academy of Dance and DDE modern with the ISTD. She is also certified to teach Arco Arts, leaps and turns and contemporary.

Terri-Anne has taught at Jason Thomas Performing Arts since 2009 and currently teaches Ballet, Tap and modern. She regularly prepares students for examinations and shows.

Kira Terry, Dance Instructor

''I have been dancing since I was 4 years old, achieving my intermediate level with BBO as well as ISTD exams in modern, disco freestyle and rock and roll. I have participated in competitions such as Got 2 Dance and Britain's Got Talent as well as performing at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Dance Proms. I have achieved a Distinction in BTec dance and studied a diploma at Truro College achieving a Distinction. I went on to study BA(Hons) in dance at Plymouth Conservatoire graduating with a First-Class Honours. I have always aspired to be a dance teacher and am excited to start my career with Jason Thomas Performing Arts.''

Sapphire Sumpter , Dance Instructor

Sapphire Sumpter is a freelance dancer, choreographer and workshop facilitator based in Cornwall. Growing up in Cornwall, she began as an associate of the Royal Ballet School, before training at London Vocational Ballet School, followed by Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance BA(Hons) at which she trained extensively in Graham, Cunningham and Release techniques and worked with choreographers such as Christopher Bruce, Jose Agudo and Arielle Smith.

During her time in London she also toured Britain with Yorke Dance Company performing works by Kenneth MacMillan and choreographed, directed and danced in choreographic work for the Rambert Platform Shows and LDIF19 at the Curve, Leicester.

In 2022 she founded Numinous Dance in Cornwall, running workshops and taking on choreographic commissions that explore the flow state in dance through narrative choreography. Numinous premiered its current work 'Kernow Agan Tre' (Cornwall Our Home), at AMATA this year and will be performing at Hall for Cornwall in September 2024.

In 2023 she joined the New Adventures Overture Cohort and is now the Ambassador for the South West.

In 2021/2024 Sapphire danced in and choreographed for a variety of dance film projects, including the music video for Envy of None ‘Never Said I Love You’; 'Appearance' a dance and spoken word film by local film maker Adam Drake that screened at CAST and Cornwall film festival in 2023; starred in 'The Sentinel' a Cornish short film in conjunction with Falmouth University; and choreographed/performed in multi award-winning film ‘Shamanic Journey’ by film maker Julian Konczak with music by Barry Ganberg (Rambert School). She also danced in BBC's Dope Girls, which releases in September 2024.

Sapphire regularly teaches Contemporary dance & classical ballet around Cornwall, including as a guest teacher for T & A associates and SWDA. She is also currently involved in running Take Flight - an outreach program by New Adventures and Theatre Royal Plymouth for young people to experience Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake.

Sapphire defines herself as a dancer, choreographer and teacher in a phrase she picked up from her time at Rambert School. It was just before going on stage for a solo in her 3rd year and the head of music – who inspired her so much during her training – shared with her the following wisdom: ‘Just give’.

That wisdom has shaped her as a dancer and has become her mantra for doing what she does.

Orla O'Regan, Acro Teacher

I started dancing from the age of 2 doing taking part in baby ballet and eventually going on to take Tap & modern. After taking GCSE dance I finished dance classes at 16. Throughout my time dancing I took part in many shows and displays as well working up through the RAD Grades for Ballet. At the age of 10 I started gymnastics and cheerleading of which I competed in the county and became county champions with my team 3 years running. This then lead to becoming a coach. After leaving school I was offered an apprenticeship with British Gymnastics of which I went on to receive Distinction. Throughout this programme I have also gone on to complete my coaching qualifications and currently hold a Level 3 in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics. I am now pleased to announce that Jason Thomas Performing Arts are now in collaboration with Penryn Gymnastics Centre.

Ben Di'ath, Dance Instructor

Ben attended the London Studio Centre graduating from Intoto Dance Company in 2013. Since then he has worked nationally and internationally performing all over the world as well as West End theatres. Credits include: Pet Shop Boys Royal Opera House, ‘Carmen’ Secret Opera Company, Siobhan Davis at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Celebrity Cruise Line, ‘Cinderella’ 2015, Step One Dance Company, Metta Theatre’s ‘The Little Mermaid’, to name a few.

He gained his BA Hons degree in theatre dance (upper second class honours)

Professional diploma from the London Studio Centre

UKA Ballroom and Latin awards Distinction

Throughout his career he has taught as much as possible, from dance schools, to colleges and fitness studios, delivering classes and workshops all over the country. He is always excited to pass on knowledge and passion to others.

He specialises in Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Commercial as well as teaching Latin American and Ballroom

Tom Hare, Singing Teacher

Tom trained at The Guildford School of Acting with a BA Hons in Musical Theatre and has performed in theatre, film and T.V. across the country. Credits include, Doc Martin (ITV), One Day Two Dawns (HFC), Robinson Crusoe (HFC/Hiss and Boo) and the UK premiere of 'Scandalous!' (Nottingham Playhouse).

Tom has also been a singing teacher and Musical Director for the last 15 years, running classes and workshops for all ages and abilities in Cornwall and London with students gaining entry into top level drama schools. Tom has been teaching at Jason Thomas Performing Arts since 2015 and has seen lots of success stories come through the studio.

Kathryn Charlesworth, Dance instructor

Kathryn trained at a local school in Warrington and attended the Royal Ballet Junior Summer School at the age of 11. She became an associate at Northern Ballet School, Manchester and then trained full time at the age of 16 on the Classical Ballet Course for 3 years. During that time, she reached Advanced Ballet in RAD and ISTD Imperial Ballet, Advanced Modern and Intermediate tap. Kathryn also decided to gain a teaching qualification in ISTD Imperial Ballet.

Professionally, Kathryn has performed with European Ballet and Vienna Festival Ballet touring the UK in ballets such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker , Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia. She was also a guest artist and ballet mistress for Duchy Ballet in 2005. Kathryn also performed at Warner Bros. Movie World in Germany, theatre tour ‘Amar Amalia’ in Portugal and worked with Fred Olsen & P&O cruises where she also became Dance Captain and Assistant Choreographer. She has also performed in many cabaret performances around the UK and has taught for many schools and theatre groups in the North West, London and Cornwall.

Kathryn is a member of the RAD, ISTD and Equity.

Wesley Wairing, Dance instructor

I trained with Pamela De Waal in Paignton, an inspirational lady who not

only was a massive influence in my life but enriched it by opening up so

many opportunities such as dancing with the Moscow City Ballet, the

English National and Vienna Ballet Company. After receiving a full

scholarship, I went onto train at Laine Theatre Arts in Surrey when I was

16. It was there I gained my Musical Theatre Diploma.

After graduating, my first contract was with the Stadium Theatre Company

for P&O Cruises, Oceania and 12 years later prior to me returning to

Devon I once again returned to P&O on the Ventura, Arcadia and Azura

but this time working with the Headliners Theatre Company.

I have been fortunate to have worked as a dancer in nearly all genres of

dance, in London’s West End ‘We Will Rock You’. Additionally to working

on cruise ships I have toured China with Spirit Productions in "Red Hot

Broadway" and South Africa with the "Essence of Ireland" where we

played at the Nelson Mandela Theatre. With both companies I have

toured the length and breadth of the UK too. Television appearances

include; The Bill, Bad Girls, The Dream Team and Miss Marple and

modelling opportunities included working for Calvin Klein, D&G, Hugo

Boss, Quicksilver and Marks & Spencer.

Some of the performers I have been lucky enough to share a stage with

include, Ruthie Henshall, Kerry Ellis, Warren Carlisle and Matt Flint at the

Aldwych Theatre in London's West End. Pop stars such as Blue, Rachel

Stevens, Sugababes and Kylie Minogue. More recently I have worked

with the stars of Strictly Come Dancing including Craig Revel Horwood,

Kevin & Karen Clifton, Kevin's sister Joanna Clifton, Giovanni Pernice and

Georgia May Foote.

Naomi Solomon - Dance Instructor

Naomi grew up and trained in Cornwall before she attended the London Studio Centre where she graduated from the Jazz Company with a first class degree in 2014. Since then she has been working professionally in various aspects of the industry but most notably a touring ballet company where she stayed for 5 years working her way up through the ranks.

Following the pandemic she has gained her PGCE is dance education and spent the last two years working at Urdang in London. Naomi is very excited to be back in Cornwall and working with the next generation of performers

Testimonials

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"Fantastic place to learn to dance. From beginner to advanced, young to young at heart. A class for everyone. Amazing performance opportunities and excellent exam results. The best all round dance training to be had."

- Clare Hunt