Principal - Ms Rosie Parker
RAD RTS, AIDTA Ballet, AIDTA Tap.
After starting classical ballet, modern and tap aged three in London, a family move to Warwickshire led Miss Rosie to begin ballet classes with Mrs Norris herself at the then “Rutleigh Norris Ballet School”. From a young age her wish was to emulate and follow the high standard of teaching and work ethos offered by Mrs Norris and her staff. Miss Rosie completed all RAD ballet Grades with Distinction and continued to pass the Vocational Grades, ultimately achieving her Advanced 1 certificate whilst also continuing to study Tap and Contemporary Dance.
After enrolling with the Royal Academy of Dance onto their two-year Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies, Miss Rosie’s ambition to become a Teacher within the Rutleigh Norris faculty became reality in 2010. She has subsequently completed two further teaching certificates with the IDTA (awarded with Distinction) allowing her to teach Tap to a high standard. She also holds the IDTA’s Anatomy and Physiology Diploma.
In 2016 she took over as Principal of the Dance School following the retirement of Mrs Norris. The passion for dance and the serious pursuit of excellence remain as the first principles of the School thus following the tradition so much appreciated by students, parents and staff.
Away from the dance school, Miss Rosie is a keen gardener, enjoys going on foraging expeditions with her partner, and spending time with their two elderly rescue cats.
Senior Teacher - Ms Geraldine Meehan
RAD RTS, AISTD Modern Theatre, AISTD Ballet, AIDTA Ballet, AIDTA Modern Theatre, BA (Hons) PGCE.
Miss Geraldine trained from the age of twelve with Edwina Norris at the Rutleigh Norris Ballet School, Pamela Tidmarsh at the Lehmiski School (IDTA Ballet and Modern Theatre) and with Hilary White (ISTD).
Miss Geraldine completed her final training certificates for the ISTD with the Examiner Joan Hardy at ISTD Headquarters. Both ISTD and RAD Teaching Certificates were awarded with Distinction. IDTA (Ballet) – Distinction. IDTA (Modern Theatre) – Highly Commended.
Miss Geraldine also has a BA (Hons) Degree from the University of Birmingham in Drama and Theatre Arts (Dance) and a PGCE from the University of London in Dance and Drama. Whilst in London she studied part-time at LSCD.
Her work has taken her to various State Schools in Birmingham and London with responsibility for Performing Arts and Fine Art. Time was spent teaching for the Rambert School of Ballet during the 1980s when Angela Ellis (Rambert’s daughter) was Principal.
She is a mentor for the RAD CBTS and has, successfully, mentored several candidates through the programme.
Miss Geraldine enjoys going to the theatre, reading and travelling. She loves animals – particularly cats – is a strict vegetarian and is deeply interested in green issues and the protection of the environment.
Senior Teacher - Ms Debbie White
RAD RTS
Miss Debbie trained with the School from an early age and achieved RAD, IDTA and Imperial Intermediate.
She also holds the IDTA Anatomy and Physiology Diploma alongside her RAD Registered Teacher Status.
Miss Debbie has been teaching RAD Ballet at the Dance School since 1998, concentrating on Grades 4 and 5 and Vocational Syllabi, she is a loyal member of staff adhering to the principles and traditions of the School.
In her spare time Miss Debbie follows sporting activities, especially rugby and Bath Rugby is her favoured team.
Teacher - Ms Chloé Stringer-Hall
RAD RTS
Miss Chloé started dancing at the age of 3 and soon fell in love with everything ballet. She progressed through both Graded and Vocational RAD exams (including both Advanced Foundation and Grade 8) at Rutleigh Norris, and also has achieved her IDTA Intermediate ballet exam.
Miss Chloé graduated from the University of Liverpool with a first class honours degree.
At university Miss Chloé carried on dancing and organised dance classes for the charity Mencap for adults with disabilities.
Since 2019 Miss Chloé has been and currently teaches at four ballet schools across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and the West Midlands.
In 2021 Miss Chloé passed her Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies and is now a fully qualified ballet teacher with The Royal Academy of Dance.
Teacher - Ms Lydia Stock
RAD RTS, ARAD, PGCE, Acrobatic Arts, Level 1 Gym Coach
Miss Lydia has trained at Rutleigh Norris since the age of three, completing her Pre-Primary to Grade 8, and her Intermediate Foundation to Advanced 2 Vocational exams at a high level. She also trained as a gymnast participating in regional and national competitions.
Through demonstrating and supporting the teachers at Rutleigh Norris for many years, Miss Lydia completed her IDTA Anatomy and Physiology Diploma. As well as this, she passed her Royal Academy of Dance Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies working in partnership with Miss Geraldine, a senior teacher at the school.
Miss Lydia is also a Level 1 Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Coach at a local club, teaching elite young athletes as well as recreational gymnasts. Setting high standards for future hopefuls for British Gymnastics. Furthermore, she has just completed her second year of her BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS, aspiring to become a successful Primary School Teacher, alongside continuing her Ballet and Artistic coaching, hoping to follow in the footsteps of inspirational teaching staff at RNSD and Revolution Gymnastics Club.
In her few moments of spare time Miss Lydia enjoys going to the ballet, attending and watching sports events such as the Gymnastics World Cup – held in Birmingham 2018 - and seeing live music.
Teacher - Ms Beth Waller
RAD RTS, ARAD
Miss Beth started dancing at the age of three with Rutleigh Norris and has completed Pre-Primary to Grade 8 as well as Vocational grades to Advanced 2. During this time she began volunteering as a class demonstrator, where she discovered her love for teaching dance. In the past few years Miss Beth has also fallen in love with Tap and is currently studying for her Advanced 1.
In 2022 she passed the RAD’s Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies, with the help and mentorship of Miss Geraldine, and is now a fully qualified ballet teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance.
During the day, Miss Beth also enjoys working in a bakery, baking lots of delicious treats.
