Meet the team
Jo-Anne Torre
Principal
Jo-Anne Torre is a highly qualified professional dancer – passing exams with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) andthe Imperial Society for Teaching Dance (ISTD) in Ballet and Modern Theatre. Jo-Anne is a qualified teacher through the IDTA and is also an Affiliate Member of the Australian Teachers of Dancing (ATOD). Jo-Anne is a full member of the IDTA, ABD and Acrobatic Arts. She is also qualified to teach the Progressing Ballet Technique Programme and Ryan Jenkin's new amazing ID Contemporary Dance Syllabus where she undertook intense training. She loves learning new things that she can bring to her students and this passion will never fade. Jo-Anne has danced since the age of 4, attending Gillian Quinn School of Dance; not only was Jo-Anne a dancer but was a keen ice skater, winning many trophies and entering many competitions throughout the UK. She has worked alongside Ant and Dec, Lulu, performed at the Sunderland Empire, worked in Japan and Hong Kong for 3 years where she was part of a professional dance troupe working in 5* hotels and has been part of the fantastic Parade at Euro Disney. She is also a qualified aerobics instructor and teacher of exercise/gym trainer and taught classes for over 10 years. Jo-Anne is also a qualified childminder and teaching assistant, she loves to inspire children and believes through expression of dance and music this can be done.
Sarah Dene
Schools Coordinator
Sarah works heavily behind the scenes of the dance school; dealing with new enquires, parent emails, payments, invoicing and uniform. Sarah works "front of house" during our weekly classes and is your first friendly face you will see through our doors!
She will be happy to answer any questions you may have! sarah@decotedance.com
Jess Graham
Teacher and Project Coordinator
Jess has trained in various dance styles throughout her dance career. Graduating from Dance City’s’ BA (Hons) programme in 2016, she has worked with various choreographers throughout her dance training. Jess’s passion for teaching and the development of young people began through her degree and since then has been teaching dance of all styles full time across Decote Dance, Dance City's full-time BTEC Diploma and Centre for advanced training programmes. Jess has recently taken on the role of Decote’s Project Coordinator as well as her teaching role for the school.
Sam Cook
Teacher
Sam has danced from the age of 3. She took regular exams in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Freestyle. At the age of 18 Sam auditioned for a Performing Arts College and was offered a scholarship on their 3 year Musical Theatre course. Whilst at College she got chosen to perform at ‘Move It’ a dance convention in London, she toured the country performing in Can You Dance events and has performed in various shows at The Royal Opera House in York. Sam is qualified in teaching freestyle dance, gaining a distinction in her exam. Continuing her studies she has become a qualified personal trainer and gained her BA (Hons) in Professional Practice in Arts (Musical Theatre) part time with Middlesex University.
Leigh Henderson
Teacher
Leigh trained at Northern Ballet School and went on to perform as a soloist and in the Corps de Ballet with Manchester City Ballet Company, she then went on to perform in musical theatre throughout the UK and Europe. Highlights of her professional career were playing the role of Eliza in the original, critically acclaimed production of The King and I at Leicester Haymarket with director Paul Kerryson and choreographer David Needham and performing “The Timewarp” at Oldham Coliseum with Richard O'Brien.
In recent years Leigh has delivered Bob Fosse workshops at Sunderland University, been head of dance for Dance Intensive, co-directed/choreographed “Little Shop of Horrors” for North Tyneside musical youth group Signature, taught ballet at Dance City Newcastle as well as GCSE dance at Monkseaton High School. She also choreographed Grease and Avenue Q for Day8 Productions.
Hannah Hussein
Teacher
has been dancing since the age of 3, she trained at Marron theatre arts until the age of 18. She is highly trained in IDTA tap, ballet, modern/jazz, theatre craft, commercial and contemporary. At the age of 18 Hannah worked her 1st professional job on the ocean majesty cruise liner, cruising all over the world. After the success of that job Hannah then appeared in various shows all over the world, summer seasons in Spain and the Canary Islands, winter seasons in various pantomimes in different UK theatres. She even travelled as far as Hong Kong where she spent 6 months in a fabulous showgirl spectacular in Macau. She has appeared in many commercial and RnB music videos, and various Bollywood films, which expanded her dance experience even more. She then become a qualified competitive freestyle teacher and freestyle adjudicator, and travels up and down the country going to dance festivals, world championships and competitions with highly talented dancers.
Megan Butler
Student Teacher
I started dancing at the age of 3, but have been a student at Decote Dance since 2010. I trained in lots of different styles including ballet, jazz, commercial, contemporary and tap. I have also performed in many dance shows and pantomimes over the years. I volunteered at Decote Dance, helping in the younger classes before being offered a job teaching. I have spent the last 4 years teaching a range of styles including cheer dance, junior funk, tap, ballet and jazz which I have loved. I received an A in Dance and A* in Performing Arts at GCSE and have also completed my Bronze Art Award in dance. I received a distinction in Grade 7 Ballet. Most recently I have been involved in Newcastle University Dance Society, alongside my degree I have been teaching the Jazz competition team meaning not only do I get to compete against other Universities, but my choreography is also seen all around the country. Teaching dance is a massive passion of mine.