Academy of Arts
Meet The Team
Sophie Elizabeth Walters is the owner and principal of the Academy.
​
Throughout her twenty-two years of dance, Sophie has been trained in a variety of styles ranging from the Classical Ballet, Ballroom, Line Dancing, Rock 'n' Roll, right through to Hip Hop and Waacking.
During her training, she became Freestyle Champion at the age of 12, where she broadened her styles by dancing with the Maralyn Harris School of Dance, training in Syllabus Ballet, Tap and Modern.
Street Dance Coach
Contemporary Coach
Under 16's Champion Elite Street Crew 2023
Under 14's Champion Atom Street Crew 2023
During her time at the Royal Wolverhampton Secondary School, she was privileged to be asked to perform at the Major of Wolverhampton's Parlour every year for five years.
Later, she attended the Thomas Telford School and achieved Triple Distinction in BTEC National Diploma for Performing Arts, which led her, through Contemporary Dance, to London to attend the Univeristy of Roehampton. Earlier in 2015, she graduated from the University with her Bachelors Degree in Dance after her four years of training.
Whilst in London, Sophie had the privalidge of dancing with common groups and individuals, such as the Waacktitioners, where she learnt the dance style, Waacking.
Her ambition to teach, has driven Sophie to open her own Academy and allow others to have the same dancing opportunities.
The expansion of the Sophie Elizabeth Dance Academy will contain dance classes for all ages, knowledge for injury and injury prevention from her Bio-mechanical Training and also the development of Dance through individuality.
Contemporary / Acro / Musical Theatre Coach
Over 14's Contemporary Champions 2021 - 2023
Under 14's Contemporary Champions 2023
Mr Martyn Ian Davies;
- Distinction Graduate in Performing Arts
- West End Dancer for TOYS & Norma Jean The Musical - Events Manager, Leading Director and Choreographer at Pontins & Haven Holiday Parks
- Multiple Cruise Ship Contracts Around Mediterranean Sea with Costa Cruises
& Queen Mary2 Cunard World Cruise
- TV Commercials
- Pantomime & Private Events
-Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
- Angel - Kinky Boots 2022
- Mr Mistoffelee's - Cats 2022
- Coach - Grease 2023
Choreographer - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Martyn has been with SEDA for 4 years now, taking the Under14's Contemporary Group from Novice to Championship finals! He has now began creating for a new younger competitive group as the under14's have moved into Under 16's and a new generation of dancers has progressed!
Martyn is Extremely high energy and provides fun-loving classes!
Miss Hannah Stevens
Studying dance and performing arts for 17 years, Hannah has trained in multiple genres ranging from freestyle, to street, to classical ballet, jazz, contemporary and lyrical, an Alumni graduate dance student of Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA). She has been awarded many titles such as Under 10 World Champion in freestyle dance, Under 12 Welsh Champion in slow Contemporary dance and Lyrical Champion of WLDF competitions Under 18s, whilst also performing in numerous musical theatre productions at The Prince of Wales theatre. She has attained distinction qualifications in The Craig Revel Horwood Award of Theatrical Branch and Trinity School of Performing Arts Award, alongside top level distinction grades in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Contemporary.
Lyrical / Jazz / Ballet / Freestyle/ Adults Coach
Under 14's & Over 14's Lyrical Coach
Over the course of her training, Hannah now specialises in the Lyrical genre of dance, of which she has a particular passion for that she hopes to inspire others with.
First Aid
Safeguarding Officer
Licenced Chaperone
Momma Bee - (Bernice)
Is our on site First Aider and Safe guarding officer. Bee is professionally trained in both areas and is fully knowledgeable and equipped to handle situations which may arise within the Academy.
Bee is confident in her fields and takes charge within these areas to assure parents and children of their safety and confidentiality.
Bee is a great asses to our team and supports the children both physically and emotionally. No matter the situation, be internal or external, Bee will always stand up for the children and their parents, building rapore and trust.
Momma Bee is definitely the one to rely on to handle anything.
​
Bee is one of our licenced chaperones for SEDA and takes pride lookig after the children both at dance and at Events.
​
Momma Jo
Is our Events Manager & Chaperone for SEDA. Jo helps with organising events, ticket sales and prep, paperwork, as well as a licenced Chaperone for the Company. There are times that Parents are unable to attend events and therefore Jo is one of our Chaperones who looks after the children.
Jo is a very kind and considerate person and loves to het organised within the Academy, assisting wherever she can.
Jo is a very sociable person as well as being very approachable. Jo will help out with any tasks necessary as well as input ideas within SEDA.
​
Jo also helps out with costumes, thinking of ideas and supplying printing work.
​
​
Events Manager
Licenced Chaperone
Creative Director
Lady Becka:
is our Creative Director. Becka manages the ideas for costumes and event theme layout, sketches the costumes and creates them for the Company.
​
She has created Scarefest Costumes for Alton Towers Performances as well as planning and dressing the annual themed productions within our Academic Year.
​
A very talented lady with a passion for expression! No task is too small and no expectation is too great.
​
Becka loves working with their dancers, their indivdual needs as well as liasing with the coaches and parents to provide the best look.
Momma Lisa:
Is our in house photographer. No matter the event, Lisa has her camera and captures vivid and dynamic action shots of the dancers both at events and within the studio.
These images we use for our advertisements and keep sakes for the company.
Lisa is training to be a professional photographer, sing our dancers as her muse to capture the best possible image.
Lisa loves to get in there at the front of the dancers, encouraging them to perform their ultimate best so that it can be captured through the lens.
In House Photographer
.jpg)
Madame Michelle
Is our Promotional Manager for SEDA.
Michelle is extremely hands on, creating content for our FaceBook, Instagram and Google Page.
​
Michelle creates posts which represent us not only a company, but as a family. Also, giving creating content ideas for the Coaches to act upon within lessons.
​
Michelle has been a part of SEDA since the launch in October 2015, supporting the dancers, coaches and parents with content, important information reminders and adverts.
​
​
Promotional Manager
Licenced Chaperone
Master Jonny:
Has been a part of SEDA for a short time, but feels like he has always been around. Partner to our Sir Marty, Jonny has shown dedication to the dancers and the Academy through his support and input.
​
Jonny says, "I have two left feet and can't dance to save my life, but I will get involved wherever I can and will have fun and a laugh in the process".
​
Jonny is our third licenced chaperone.
"I love chaperoning as it enables me to see the enjoyment and progression the kids get every week. Competitoins can be stressful but seeing all the hard workthe kids put in and watching it pay off is the biggest reward anyone can ask for. SEDA has become an extended family to be me and now I couldn't imagine my life without all the kids, parents and the coaches!"