Ohana Academy of Performing Arts

To all our students receiving their GCSE results today!

Susan Lily
BA Hons, AISTD, DDI, CICB
Susan is a freelance teacher. Susan is an ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) trained & fully certified dance teacher. She holds a B.A. Honors in Dance and Dance Science from Middlesex University along with DDI Cecchetti Ballet and Associate Modern Theatre & Tap Dance Teaching Qualifications.
In 2007, she moved to New York City to train at the Broadway Dance Centre & Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. There she gained significant exposure and training. She returned home to the UK and worked extensively in various theatre and commercial dance contracts along with teaching at the Weston School of Dance and Performing Arts in her home county of Essex.
Susan is a versatile teacher who is passionate about teaching and sharing her knowledge with her students in a safe, happy and joyous way. We look forward to welcoming her to our faculty to teach on Saturdays as well as choreographing for competitions alongside Miss Charlotte

Our wonderful new ballet teacher that will be joining us from September x
Originally from Wales, Caitlin has just completed her studies at the Royal Academy of Dance, graduating with in BA (Hons) Ballet Education and the Licentiate Award.
She has both assisted and taught at schools across London, classes ranging from toddlers to adults. Caitlin first found her spark in providing for others when conducting both mental health sessions, working with the charity Changing Minds, and creating Lego therapy sessions for ALN children.
Her performing experience includes a contemporary dance film in support of Mental Health Awareness Week, summer schools at Ballet Cymru and participating in the English Youth Ballet.

2 weeks ago we were recovering from@our spectacular summer show and this time last week we welcomed students from 3 different dance schools to our summer school x dance friends are life long friends!

Enjoying the London Sun at Angel x going to see in

Can’t believe it’s been 2 weeks since we did our show!!! Seems like a lifetime ago x we’ve done so much since then!

Thank you for my beautiful flower x and my chocolates it was a pleasure to teach your gorgeous girls this year

A beautiful photo from yesterdays summer school awards x I just adore this kiddo x

Loved teaching the juniors today- we focused on our leaps- getting high off the ground and “flying” through the air! I think these pictures show how they nailed the task! To think that 3 of our juniors don’t actually take any sort of performing arts classes- I think they’ve been fabulous x

Senior contemporary Olivia Van Niekerk

Tap workshop for the Juniors after the morning break x

Contemporary for the Juniors

More contemporary workshops this morning along with some Tap x

Miss bought in her original so of course it was selfie time!!!

Sleeping beauty fairy runs with this morning x

The only way to start Miss Lisa french plaiting everyone’s hair 🤣

Street & Hip Hop with

Stretching with Nicola!!!

Sautés and batterie in Miss Jo’s Ballet class this morning

Show photos are up!!! Love them x thank you so much

Completed! 2 men needed according to the diagram- nope Peach and Beans did it in 3hrs 20mins x

Teachers, chaperones and adult dancers drinkies evening x missing a few wonderful people # # #

Reflecting back to the weekend and the show that almost didn’t happen! 3yrs ago was covid and we lost the majority of the business, it’s been really really tough to build it back up- Miss Ronni Jones and I worked tirelessly to get it back. Then we’ve had some wonderful teachers join our faculty, Miss Charlotte Olivia (who was immense as our assistant stage manager despite having got married the day before), Miss Sarah who has kept me sain and grounded when I’ve been inundated with requests, Miss Georgia Pennie who has been the brightest light and absolute joy to have teaching Street and of course Miss Lucy Paraskeva who stepped in at half term when we realised a lot wasn’t going to plan and working as it should. Lucy rechoreographed the dances that were not up to where they should have been and got those other classes up to standard. Our students deserve the very best and I am proud to have you guys in my family x Miss Lisa and Miss Lorna Campbell-williams- crikey I’d be lost without you both- you do so much for me personally and professionally thank you x my mum who has been running back and forth with the kids when I’ve been ill or teaching extra hours! My husband Daniel Sherwood who has supported me through it all- and then end up with norovirus himself so couldnt attend- gutted x Charlie Franks who has been the most fantastic stage manager ever and really stepped up to be in my pops’ shoes- thank you x all of our chaperones- wow you are the real unsung stars- this show would not happened without you guys, changing a kids, supervising toilet runs, keeping them occupied, doing hair, make-up, running to and from stage- some of you performing yourselves!! Wow! Parents thank you for bringing the students to class but especially those parents that understood the commitment Involved and never once questioned the extra rehearsals or complained. You have made our jobs so much easier x the support you have all shown to us teachers and staff is not taken for granted!

and something way more important than show tech day!!!! Happy wedding day Miss Charlotte x I hope it is dry and beautiful, I hope you have a frigging blast! I hope You roll in tomorrow bleary eyed and hungover (not too much you’ve got 2 dances to do) and ever more in love # # # love you lots Miss Charlotte x x

6am! Must be show tech day! Where are the matchsticks and my tea!!!

This one’s last class with us tonight before she moves to Oxford x they’re gaining a superstar ballerina x

A lovely good luck card from one of our beautiful adult tappers

Teacher friends- anyone else have to compare their shows to west end to get the point across that they’re doing 2 shows!!! It’s 2 shows people! You’ve paid to be part of 2 shows! We want you in 2 shows!

Prop painting!

Yup- beautiful bruise developing!

Tell me it’s showtime without telling me it’s showtime!

As Principal of Ohana Academy I have never been more proud of my team x I have been poorly since Friday- and they were ready to take the dress rehearsal and run it! Super proud of my Ohana Family x .paraskeva

I was hoping to survive until the show- but sadly my body had other plans and I have been struck x Im sorry I had to cancel classes today- think the last time I was this poorly was about 8yrs ago!

Apologies but Saturday 8th July’s classes are cancelled x see you back in the studio on Sunday x

Classes are in the main hall this evening

1…2…3… WAKE UP DISCO DUCK!!!! Jump up jump up, it’s time to dance with disco duck- 10.10am this morning x straight after our baby ballet class.

Costumes keep coming x 1.5 jellyfish made- 1.5 to still do. 8 Octopus legs stitched and wired but now to sew to the tutu x and just 18 days till curtain up and 3 days till the first dress run

Just 18 days till the curtain goes up!

The costume making, painting, stitching, sparkling just keeps coming eeeek!
One and a half Jellyfish made, one and Half still to make. 8Octopus legs made- but 8 still need to be attached to the tutu- waiting for the suckers to arrive

If anyone is curious- it takes 2.5hrs to stuff and wire 8 octopus legs!!!

Standard Tuesday set up for us! Costume making, painting and sparkling!!!