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Lucy Lovick Dance Studio

Our Team

Meet our teachers, our ballet pianist and the front-of-house team who know every dancer matters.

Our school values

Learn. Love. Develop. Shine.

  • Learn

    Expert, structured teaching in every style, from first steps to the vocational grades.

  • Love

    A lifelong love of dance, in a studio where every dancer is known and cared for.

  • Develop

    Skills, confidence and friendships that grow class by class, year by year.

  • Shine

    On stage, in the exam room and in everyday life.

Meet the people behind LLDS

Our LLDS team

Our LLDS team are highly experienced and qualified teachers, delivering quality tuition with great pastoral care.

Miss Lovick, founder and artistic director

Founder and Artistic Director

Miss Lovick

Laine Theatre Arts graduate, ISTD Licentiate and lifelong advocate for helping young dancers find the joy and beauty of dance.

Miss Lovick trained at Laine Theatre Arts, graduating with the College Diploma and ISTD teaching qualifications in Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre and Tap dance.

Her professional performing career took her to Spain and Italy, working in television and theatre as a dancer, singer, actor and choreographer alongside leading directors, choreographers and producers.

She is a Licentiate of the ISTD and continues her professional development as a dance educator. Her training includes Acrobatic Arts, Progressive Ballet Technique, Lisa Howell Level 3 Pointe work and Level 2 Flexibility. She is also a member of the Dance School Safeguarding Association.

Miss Helen Cheesman, principal

Principal

Miss Helen Cheesman

DDE Modern and Tap, MA Musical Theatre and PBT. Teacher of Ballet, Modern, Tap, Street, Commercial and Singing.

Miss Helen manages the studio and teaches across many genres. She trained at Bird College and Mountview Academy of Performing Arts, where she gained a Master of Arts in Musical Theatre Performance. She also holds a BA Hons from the University of Exeter and was part of its winning dance and pom team at the National University Dance Championships.

As a young performer, she was a member of the National Youth Music Theatre and National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. She trained in Irish Dance and performed at the World Irish Dance Championships in Belfast in 2008 and London in 2014.

Having overcome injury, she is passionate about safe dance practice and strong technical foundations for every LLDS dancer.

Miss Melinda Traves, head of ballet

Head of Ballet

Miss Melinda Traves

MAE, BFA, RAD, RTS and ISTD. Teacher of Classical Ballet, Pointe, Pre-pointe and Ballet Repertoire.

Melinda Green Traves earned a Master of Arts in Education, specialising in Dance Teaching, with Distinction from the Royal Academy of Dance and University of Bath. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from The Boston Conservatory and trained at the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts and Boston Ballet School.

She holds Registered Teacher Status with the RAD, is an ISTD Affiliate Member and a Silver Swans licensee. As a professional dancer, Miss Melinda performed with the New York Dance Theatre and toured across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Far East as a dancer, singer and dance captain.

Miss Melinda has taught and choreographed for LLDS for over 10 years. She also offers online and in-person private ballet tuition for specialised training, exam or assessment preparation and dance studies.

Miss Emily Smith, head of acro and ISTD dance teacher

Head of Acro and ISTD Dance Teacher

Miss Emily Smith

DDE Ballet, Modern and Tap, Acrobatic Arts and professional musical theatre training.

Miss Emily trained at Laine Theatre Arts and graduated in 2014 with a professional diploma in musical theatre. While at college, she worked at the Laine student school and completed her DDI qualifications with the ISTD.

For nine years she travelled the world as a Dance Captain with Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruise Lines. She completed a BA Hons in Musical Theatre at Middlesex University in 2022.

Her credits include Hunyak in Chicago for RCCL, Stephen Schwartz's Magic To Do and Born to Dance for PCL, Broadway to the Bay with Andrew Wright, the CBBC Ten Pieces Prom at the Albert Hall, the UK Olympics Wimbledon Tennis opening for AMCK and Beauty and the Beast for Jordan Productions.

Miss Amy Thomas, adult class co-ordinator, yoga and ISTD dance teacher

Adult Class Co-ordinator, Yoga and ISTD Dance Teacher

Miss Amy Thomas

DDE Ballet, Modern and Tap, with professional performance and international commercial dance experience.

After graduating from Millennium Performing Arts in 2013, Miss Amy's first dance role was in the local Catford Broadway pantomime.

She went on to perform with Princess Cruises and worked in international commercial dance across film, theatre and corporate and private events with Bolly Flex and That Entertainment Company.

With seven years of teaching experience, Miss Amy brings her passion for dance and yoga to LLDS. She is dedicated to helping adults and children find happiness through movement.

ISTD Dance Teacher

Miss Jo

DDE Ballet, Modern and Tap.

Miss Jo has taught at LLDS since the school began 18 years ago. She is also the proud owner of her own school in North Kent, but still finds the time to teach for us every Friday.

She is an avid marathon runner and has two wonderful rescue greyhounds.

Miss Amelia, street teacher

Street Teacher

Miss Amelia

LLDS graduate, trained at Urdang Academy.

Our own LLDS graduate, Amelia studied at LLDS from the age of 4 before going on to Urdang Academy.

She has toured the UK with Annie and Billy Elliot, and is happy to return to her dance home to bring Street classes to our dancers.

Miss Phoebe, ISTD dance teacher

ISTD Dance Teacher

Miss Phoebe

London Studio Centre graduate specialising in Contemporary.

After graduating from London Studio Centre, Phoebe followed her passion for teaching, and we are delighted to welcome her to the studio five days a week.

Her specialist genre is Contemporary, and she has introduced a new Saturday Contemporary company to our varied timetable. Her other passion in life is painting sea life.

Miss Pia, guest teacher and choreographer

Guest Teacher and Choreographer

Miss Pia

BBO Level 3 Assistant Teacher.

Pia started dancing at LLDS aged 3, and after graduating she successfully auditioned for the BA Hons Dance degree at London Studio Centre. She comes back to the studio as often as she can to teach at summer schools and workshops.

A talented choreographer, she most recently choreographed the opening piece for our Summer Show 2026 at the Broadway Theatre.

Mrs Rebecca Maskell, ballet pianist and preschool specialist

Ballet Pianist and Preschool Specialist

Mrs Rebecca Maskell GGSM

Guildhall-trained musician, preschool specialist and live pianist for our preschool ballet classes.

Mrs Maskell trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She managed and taught Monkey Music, nationally renowned preschool music classes, for over 25 years while raising her four children, one of whom is now a successful actor.

She works closely with Miss Lovick to explore music and song with young children, developing musicality through pulse work and imagination. In her pastoral role she helps children feel comfortable and secure at the studio.

Rona Jackson, studio reception manager

Studio Reception Manager

Rona Jackson

Miss Rona keeps a close eye on every child and helps make sure everyone is safe, happy and welcomed at the studio.

Miss Rona holds an NVQ Level 3 in Early Years Care and Education, an enhanced DBS and first aid training. She also attends adult tap classes and enjoys performing in LLDS shows.

Her daughter Katie joined the dance studio in 2010 at just three years old and continued at LLDS through to age 18.

From our dancers and families

Real stories from our dance community

"To Miss Lovick, thank you so much for the past 15 years. You provided such an amazing safe space where I could express myself and have fun. I will truly miss and cherish LLDS. It will be in my heart forever."

K-Cyan, Head Girl 2024

"Dear Miss Lovick, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all your help and support ever since I joined LLDS. I have loved coming to dance every week and will miss the atmosphere and community of LLDS dearly. Thank you."

Leonie, Graduate 2024

"To Miss Lovick, thank you so much for teaching me this year, as well as letting me assist alongside you in the younger classes. You are such a great teacher."

Saskia, Graduate 2022
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