NBS

The Faculty

The standard of training we provide is rated as 'Outstanding' by OFSTED – testimony to the skill and dedication of the entire Northern Ballet School faculty.

Download the latest Ofsted NBS Report

Patricia McDonald FRAD, LISTD - The Principal

Patricia McDonald has been training dancers for professional careers in classical ballet and commercial theatre for many years. She is a Fellow of The Royal Academy of Dance, for which she was a vocational examiner for over 20 years. This has given her a broad knowledge of professional dance training and standards worldwide.

Since 1977 she has led the school through a continuous process of development to reach its present internationally recognised status. She is supported by a dedicated team of highly qualified and talented teachers and musicians. Each is an established specialist in one or more of the fields of dance, music and drama.

The staff - Bringing together experience and expertise

Some of the staff have had years of professional performance experience. They constantly draw on this to prepare students for the physical and mental demands of their chosen career. In addition, all staff have particular technical expertise and theoretical knowledge. This allows them to give students a deeper insight into the range of dance styles and disciplines that underpins a creative approach to dance. They also have the physiological expertise to help prepare would-be performers to deal with the physical and mental demands of the dance profession.

Supporting our teaching staff is a full team of administrators, technicians and other staff that keeps the day-to-day school programme running smoothly.

A large faculty sharing a single aim

Everyone at Northern Ballet School works together to help our students become the performers the theatre dance industry around the world demands – artistically accomplished, technically skilled, well educated and confident. All these are the hallmarks of an NBS graduate.

The Faculty are:

Patricia McDonald
FRAD LISTD
Founder Principal

Philip Radcliffe
BA (Hons) Arch, Dip TP
RIBA, MRTPI
Administrative Director

Tracey Baxter
Jazz Teacher
Choreographer

David Bradford
MusB(Hons)
Vocal Studies Tutor

Eric Carpenter
Cert Ed. QTS
Head of Jazz Theatre Dance
Boys Tutor

Sarah Dickinson
BA (Hons)
ARAD (Advanced Teaching Diploma)
LISTD AISTD FIDTA
Dance Teacher

Jenny Eley
BA Lib & inf, Cert Ed.
Librarian

Helen Francis
ABSM ARCM LRAM
Vocal Studies Tutor

Jacqueline Gray
Cert Ed.
NBS Teaching Diploma
RAD Teaching Cert., FISTD AISTD
ISTD Examiner
Dance Teacher

Simon Gray
(ex Scottish Ballet)
Dance Teacher

Hayley Johnson
RSA SNVQ
Pilates Instructor

David Johnson
Drama Teacher

Barbara Marsden-Smith
Cert Ed.
FISTD
ISTD Examiner
CDE Modern and Tap
Dance Teacher

George King
BMus (Hons)
Vocal Studies Tutor

Simon Lea
B.Mus (Hons)
Accompanist

Kate Lewis
Registrar

Kerry Livingstone
MA (Ballet Studies), BA, BA (Hons)
LRAD, AISTD
Course Co-ordinator

Gavin Meredith
BA (Hons) MMus
Accompanist

David Needham
Cert Ed. QTS
AISTD, ANADT
Head of Productions
Dance Teacher, Choreographer

Peter Parker
(ex Principal, Northern Ballet Theatre, Ballet du Rhin)
Dance Teacher

Shannon Parker
(ex Principal – San Francisco Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre, Ballet du Rhin)
Dance Teacher

Crispin Radcliffe
Assistant Course Co-ordinator

Sarah Radcliffe
ARAD, RAD Dip. PDTC
Tutor

Lisa Rowlands
ARAD
RAD Teaching Cert.
Dance Teacher

Darren Suarez
BA (Hons)
Contemporary Dance Teacher

back to content top