ACROPAD INSTRUCTORS

LIAM SWATTRIDGE

Liam Swattridge L.I.S.T.D. trained at Performers College in Essex graduating in July 2014 with a Diploma in dance theatre. He holds his Licentiate qualification in Tap, DDE in Modern and DDI in Ballet. He is also a qualified teacher in Acrobatic Arts. Liam was part of the England team that took part in the IDO World Tap Championships in 2011 and 2012 . He was lucky enough to captain the team in 2012 and brought home silver medals both years. He has also appeared on Sky 1’s ‘Got To Dance’ with Tap Attack where he got through to the semi finals. Liam has performed at Wembley in the FA Cup Final and appeared in the film ‘Cuban Fury’. He was also a feature dancer in the film ‘Make Way’ and took part in the 10 year gala show of Tap attack last year too. Other performance credits also include the ‘ISTD Dinner Dance’, ‘Move It’ and the 'BBC Dance Proms'. His years of teaching experience have taken him all around the UK, including Italia Conti Tunbridge Wells and D&B theatre school to name a couple and he has continued to expand his knowledge by studying for Licentiate Modern and also the Back Handspring and Aerial course with Acrobatic Arts.

JACK GORGONE

Jack has been coaching for over 10 years in different sectors of sports, dance and fitness. He has experience working with children and guiding them to reach their full potential. Jack started his love for dance at the age of 15 in hip hop, breaking and tricks and continues to enjoy and learn regularly. Jack has been teaching AcroPAD workshops for 5 years now and prides himself in offering the best experience for all attending the workshop.

TAYLOR STYLEZ

Taylor has been dancing for over 12 years and teaching since the age of 16. He is currently the manager of a world known Tricking Academy - Urbantrix Academy located in the Midlands. Taylor is most known as Taylor Stylez as an up and coming music artist. Credits such as BBC street dance stars, Britain’s Got Talent, Sky Ones Got To Dance and Red Bull Bc One.
Taylor Tours all around the UK with Chance 2 Dance performing on stages like the O2 arena, Birmingham Hippodrome, Blackpool opera house and many more!

https://www.taylorstylez.uk/

OLIVIA AUSTIN

Olivia started dance at the age of 2 and from that moment on…decided that was her passion! She started training at Rachel Coad School of Dance in Darlington, North East England and continued her love of dance there until she was 18. Olivia then started Artistic Gymnastics at the age of 7 where she loved combining dance and tumbling in a floor routine. Olivia represented the North East of England several times and gained many artistry awards at competitions around the country for her individual style on the floor. From an early age Olivia achieved a coaching qualification with British Gymnastics and had a passion for creating unique floor and beam routines for individual gymnasts. Following this she became a club judge and judged at many competitions.

Olivia has recently graduated from Wilkes Academy where she was able to continue her love for both tumbling and dance with the help of AcroPAD! Olivia is very excited about what her future holds within the industry and looks forward to teaching the next generation.

NATHAN MCKENNA

Nathan started gymnastics at the age of 5 in Ireland, after being inspired by his first Cirque du Soleil show ‘Quidam’ in Dublin, he knew instantly that was what he wanted to do when he grew up.

Nathan explored his acrobatic abilities in various forms of gymnastics; men’s artistic gymnastics, team gym and trampolining.Nathan went on to win numerous national titles and captain the Irish gymnastics team. Nathan then completed his Women’s Artistic Gymnastics coaching qualification and judging qualification under British Gymnastics.

At the age of 17, Nathan made the switch to musical theatre learning to perform at a local stage school. He would then go to the Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts where he would train for 3 years obtaining a BA Hons Degree in Musical Theatre and become a triple threat performer. Whilst in training Nathan was able to continue his passion for gymnastics alongside musical theatre thanks to AcroPAD teaching at the college.

Nathan’s acrobatic abilities opened many doors for him in his performing career such as being a model and dancer at London and Paris Fashion Week in 2022 for an eco-friendly recyclable fashion brand. Nathan’s other professional credits whilst in trading include being professional ensemble along with covering and playing Prince in Motherwell’s Christmas Pantomime ‘Cinderella’ in Scotland.

Having now graduated Nathan is excited to embark on a new exciting journey onboard the Celebrity Summit being a production dancer for Celebrity Cruise line, where he will entertain guests sailing round the Caribbean, Miami, Canada, New England and many more exciting destinations. 

Nathan cannot wait to work with AcroPAD and inspire the next generation of performers once he is back on land.

COLE DILLEY

Cole initially trained in street dance and commercial styles from the age of 8. He later joined an all-male contemporary dance company ‘RAGE’. He has performed for Richard Alston both in 2017 and 2019, ‘Move it’ main stage with RAGE and Wilkes Academy, The Capezio Championships, and BBC’s ‘The Greatest Dancer’. He successfully auditioned for the renowned Wilkes Academy for the BA Hons in Musical Theatre and is the recipient of the Dancers Inc. Scholarship. During his training, Cole also successfully secured a place in choreographer, Lukas Mcfarlane SEEDS.
More recently Cole has appeared alongside HRVY in ‘The Masked Dancer’ segment of the 2021 NTA awards, the 2022 U.K. National Tour of ‘The Masked Singer’ as the character ‘BADGER’ and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth games closing ceremony (ft. Mahalia, jaykae, Dexy’s midnight runners).
Cole’s latest achievements include ‘The Adventures of Peter Pan’ 2022-2023 Aberdeen pantomime and featuring as the character ‘Wesley’ in a new up and coming film ‘Look to Light’.

Cole began learning his acrobatic skills and tricks shortly after becoming a dancer using a back garden trampoline. This quickly progressed with the integration of gymnastic coaches throughout his time at ‘Dexterity’ dance school based in Northamptonshire.
Cole took it upon himself to learn the ways of tricking to enhance his performance capabilities and over the last 6 years he has become known for his aesthetic tricks and how he incorporates them into Dance.
Cole is a huge believer that tricking and dance go hand in hand and that these skills have played a massive part in his success.

CHLOE ASTLEY

Chloe found her passion for gymnastics at the age of 4 where she competed for the north-west in artistic gymnastics for 11 years. At 15 she transitioned from gymnastics to taking classes at her local dance school, continuing her acro training alongside lyrical and commercial.

She went on to gain a BA Hons Degree in Musical theatre from Wilkes Academy and has been able to combine her love for gymnastics with her dance training at college.

Chloe began teaching gymnastics at 15 and found a passion for inspiring the next generations to achieve their potential.

Throughout her training she has kickstarted her performing career as a backing dancer at the 02 arena on Craig David’s tour, as well as Festivals and corporate events. She hopes to gain a career that see’s her travelling the world with a dream goal of combining all her acro skills as a stunt woman in film and TV.

Ryan Hughes

Ross Dorrington

Ross started his gymnastics journey at the age of 7, where he later went on to compete at the British championships. After leaving to pursue other interests Ross later began dancing at the age of 14 where he kept up his acrobatic skills before auditioning at The Hammond where he completed 3 years of professional training in Musical Theatre. 

Ross went on to perform in Grease the Musical onboard Royal Caribbeans Independence of the Seas. Due to Covid, his contract was cut short and like every other performer had to find work in other fields. 

Ross has recently finished performing in the UK Premiere of Newsies in London, where his acro skills were put to the test. 

Ross has recently joined AcroPAD and is looking forward to getting started and hopefully inspiring the next generation of young performers.

Dan Thatcher

Dan is a movement artist and teacher who started his journey as a homeless youth in South Wales. He discovered he had a talent for free running, tricking, and all things acrobatic, and joined the circus as an acrobat at 16. He trained predominantly in tumbling and tricking, but also explored other movement styles in dance such as breaking.

Dan continued to perform after the circus, working with companies such as the National Theatre, Frantic Assembly, and Tan Dance. He participated in works such as Bodies in Urban Spaces and Troy boys, then decided to pursue a career in dance. He graduated in 2018 with a BA (Hons) in Dance Studies (Choreography) from Middlesex University, there he specialised in floorwork. He also worked with several choreographers during his time in London and performed at events such as Move It and Resolution. He also choreographed his own work in 2020 that received glowing reviews.

Since then, Dan has refined his teaching style and focused on online content creation. He has found success in sharing his movement knowledge and experience with a wide audience.

JESSICA JONES

Jessica started her gymnastics journey at the age of 3 years old and was then selected for a training squad at the age of 6. From the age of 7 Jessica was competing for the north-west and in her later years of training competed for England. Whilst competing in four-piece/ sports acrobatics/ tumbling and trampolining Jessica gained many titles such as Northwest champion, regional champion, County champion, European champ and British champion. Along with many other titles.

Jessica studied coaching Education at Edge Hill University and has also undergone gymnastics coaching qualifications with British gymnastics and UK gymnastics. Growing up as a gymnast Jessica’s love was tumbling and working floor routines, therefore, went into teaching acrobatics to dancers.

Jessica works closely with many colleges and teaches all over the UK, Scotland and Ireland teaching dancers safe and correct practice when learning acrobatic elements as well as enhancing strength and flexibility through training programmes.

Jessica enjoys teaching at conventions such as Move It and CYD spreading her knowledge within acro.

Jessica Is a world champion acrobatics choreographer. Her group JJ Acrobatics has appeared on BBC1 The Greatest Dancer.

AMAL FAWZI