People

Sophina Afzal

Sophina trained at Urdang.

Currently, Sophina is a teacher and choreographer at SK Dance, part of the Shameem Karim School of Performing Arts. Her experience extends beyond teaching, having worked extensively as a performer in TV, Music Videos and Theatre, with credits including, Tracy Beaker Returns, Vera, BGT, McDonald’s, Danone Active, Barclays, Red Driving School, KFC, Jay Sean, Akon, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

In the realm of choreography, Sophina has made significant contributions, in recognition of her exceptional work, she was honoured with the Barbara Sharples Choreography Express Award in 2023. She has choreographed for the Move It Main Stage, Capezio Championship and CYD Super Convention. Her creative work at championships and festivals highlights her dynamic range and creativity.

Austyn Farrell

Austyn trained in Leicester at LCPA studying in professional dance and musical theatre. After graduating in 2013, he joined the cast of ‘Thriller Live’ in the West End.

He has since performed with many recording artists including Mabel, Rita Ora, Little Mix, STEPS, Todrick Hall, Stormzy, Cheryl Cole, Louisa Johnson, Ne-Yo, Mika, Birdie, Fleur East and Take That.

His TV credits include ‘The Masked Singer’, The Masked Dancer’, ‘The X-Factor’, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, ‘Jack Whitehall’ (Netflix), ‘BGT’, ‘BGT Champions’., ‘The Voice UK & Ireland’, ‘A League Of Their Own’, ‘Alan Carr, Chatty Man’, ‘James Corden LATE LATE show’, ‘The Lodge – Disney Channel’, ‘Saturday Night Take Away’, and more.

He has toured with ‘Thriller Live’ (Australia & New Zealand), ‘Just Dance’ (USA), ‘The X-Factor’ (UK), Steps ‘Party On The Dance Floor’ (UK) and Steps ‘Summer Of Steps’ (UK).

Austyn has always had a passion for choreography and his most recent work includes BBC ‘God Shave The Queen’s’ Drag Race (UK Tour), ‘Alyssa, Memories of a Queen’ Alyssa Edwards (West End)

You can catch Austyn on Instagram/tiktok @austyn_farrell

Travis Kerry

Born and raised in the midlands UK. He started his journey in theatre in 2013 following a passion for the Arts he trained for 3 years at EPA. His professional career has taken him through a variety of Theatre, TV and more..

Currently he is appearing as the Dance captain of the West Ends newest show- MJ The Musical. Recently he was also Dance captain in the West Ends smash hit musical HAMILTON!

Travis began his professional journey when he was 19, when he moved to London for Aladdin The Musical West End. Since then he has gone on to appear in and workshop shows such as : Hamilton, MJ, EVITA Regents Park Open Air, Legally blonde, Antigone, 42 balloons, National Theatre, Cake – the Marie Antoinette playlist and Bronco Billy.

He has also appeared in a variety of film & TV such as: Disneys Disenchanted (enchanted 2). Mamma Mia 2 Here We Go Again! Matilda (Netflix) And campaigns with : Rexona (Sure) , COCA-COLA , Zara, Amazon, Marvel, John Lewis, JD and more.. Also appearing as headline rapper in the opening ceremony of the Saudi games 2023.

He places significant focus on dynamics & detail, with an eye for creativity. He believes you should never stop learning to grow as an artist. With every single tool you are given during your training, it’s down to you as the performer to use it to your maximum and always put in 100% effort!

Natalie Relf

Natalie trained at Laine Theatre Arts gaining a full 3 year scholarship. She also formally trained as an associate with the Royal Ballet and the Central School of Ballet. Since graduating Natalie has gone on to work onboard luxury cruise lines for the last five years, such as celebrity cruises and carnival cruise lines. Between contracts Natalie has taught at various dance academy’s offering workshops in all styles, guest teaching and freelance. Whilst training she also gained her DDI in ISTD classical ballet. Natalie is also working towards her RAD teaching degree, and most recently taught at SPAA performing arts academy in Dubai, Sharjah.

Regan Shepherd

Regan spends half of his time in front of the camera, and half behind it. Having continually worked as a performer and as a creative Regan strives to have a creative/performance balance in his career and is thrilled to be working with Northeast College of Performing Arts.

Performance credits include: The Eurovision Song Contest as Miss Demeanour / Hannah Waddingham (BBC), Funkin’ Cocktails as The Funkin’ Queen (Advert), PlayOJO as Madame OJO (Advert), Midsomer Murders (ITV), Christian Louboutin’s Holiday Countdown as Crafty Carole (Advert); Pirates! (West End Workshop); Fully Blown (BBC Three); MoneySupermarket.com; Epic Squads (Advert); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (UK Tour); Priscilla Queen of The Desert (UK & New Zealand); Vampirette The Musical (Manchester Opera House); Miss Demeanour (Various Events); SYTYCD (BBC); Saturday Night Fever (P&O Cruises).

Creative credits include: Backyard Cinema Christmas Spectacular (The Troxy, London); Home Alone with Joel Dommett (ITV 2); Harry Hills’ Tea Time Show (SKY TV); Fully Blown (BBC3), The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Netflix / StudioCanal); The Sweet Smell of Success (Royal Academy Of Music), Various Pantomimes for UK Productions and Evolution Productions working with Shirley Ballas, Claire Sweeney, Alison Hammond and The Nolan’s.

Jessica Tate-Potts

Jessica trained at LCPA in Leicester where she gained her knowledge and guidance to excel into the industry. Jessica has worked within the TV, Musical Theatre and Cruise Liner industry. Her credits such as; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, KH Hair Show, Alan Carrs Chatty Man and Carnival Cruise Lines. Where she began working within the Casting and Booking department and now has settled back home in England where she teaches around the UK in prestigious schools and sharing her knowledge onto the children and young adults.

Jessica is excited to be a part of her next BIG chapter with the NorthEast College Of Performing Arts.

David Wood

David Wood started dancing back in Cyprus, where he grew up.

He then returned to his home country of England and trained at the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, Surrey. He received a full scholarship for his time in training as well as winning the Boys Ballet and Improvisation Cups.

As a dancer, choreographer and artistic director David has had an extremely successful international career.

As a choreographer he helped create the original ‘Spice Girls World Reunion Tour’ as well as their’ London 2012 Olympics’ appearance. Worked closely with Geri Halliwell on the ‘NFL footy show’ Australia, ‘Breast Cancer Care’ appearances and ‘Singing In The Rain’ stint for Children In Need.

Created TV commercials for Levi’s, MTV and Coca-Cola. Devised and presented fitness DVD workouts for Martine McCutcheon’s DanceBody, Dirty Dancing, and the UK launch of the Nike Rockstar workout.

He appeared on Dance Mums UK With Jennifer Ellison and staged the Iranian Googoosh Music Academy as well as the zombie killing cheerleaders scene in E4’s Misfits.

He has put together conferences, fashion shows and events for the likes of New Look, Clothes Show Live, Top Shop, Reebok, The Body Shop, Johnson & Johnson, Iceland stores, Garnier L’Oréal, Morrisons, Asian Lifestyle, GAME and many more.

He toured the world with artists like Lionel Ritchie, Gloria Estefan & Miss Diana Ross. He appeared in music videos for the likes of Kylie Minogue’s ‘Can’t Get You Outta My Head’ and ‘Spinning Around’, Holly Valance’s ‘Kiss Kiss’ and Billie Piper’s ‘Day & Night’.

Also worked closely with Boyzone, All Saints, Atomic Kitten, Dina Carroll, Sheena Easton, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Vanessa Mae, Anna Vissi and many others.

He has performed in The Brit Awards, MTV Music Awards, Eurovision Song Contests,Royal Variety Performances as well as other TV shows such as Top of the Pops, CD:UK, Stars in Their Eyes, The Generation Game, Good Morning TV etc.

Fashion shows for the likes of G-Star in Berlin, Lacoste in Paris as well as the full poster campaign and catalogue, Ray-Ban in Amsterdam etc. He appeared in the movie La Passione alongside Shirley Bassey dressed as an Egyptian transvestite! As well as featured in TV commercials for Lacoste, Kwik Fit, Parmalat Fruit Juice, Halifax, and DFS.

In theatre and cabaret he performed at The Royal Albert Hall for ‘Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Celebrations’ alongside Antonio Banderas and Bonnie Tyler, ‘La Nouvelle Eve’ in Paris, cruised the world with the Nippon Maru Cruise Lines and even played Prince Charming for Disney Productions and promos both in London & Paris.

His theatre choreographic credits are the pantomime musicals Beauty & The Beast (Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre) Peter Pan (Belfast Opera House), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo), Aladdin (New Theatre Cardiff), Cinderella (Theatre Royal Plymouth), Sleeping Beauty (Grand Theatre Wolverhampton), Jack & The Beanstalk (Liverpool Empire), Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates (Belfast Opera House), Mother Goose (Belfast Opera House ) and Dick Whittington (Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo). As well as cruise ships and holiday companies such as The New Flamenco, Butlins & Thomson Gold Resorts.

David currently splits his time working and living between Europe and Australia.