Meet the Team
Inspiring the next generation through the joy of dance
Karen Blackburn
MA RAD (RTS)
Founder/Creative Director/PrincipalTeacher
Karen received her formative training at The Phyllis & Hilda Skinns Ballet School (Hull) and with Louise Browne (York Scholars). At the age of twelve, she was the British Junior Ballet Champion, a silver medalist at the All England Dance Finals (Sunshine Festival) and runner-up at the IDTA Miss Dance of Great Britain.
Upon graduating, she furthered her professional training at the Urdang Academy of Ballet & Performing Arts. She performed as a classical and contemporary dancer for several years, touring nationally and internationally.
As a freelance choreographer, she has devised award-winning pieces for many UK dance schools alongside ensemble pieces for youth theatre company productions. In addition, she created the first-ever summer season show at Alton Towers with commercial works for Dansez, Euro Disney and Adidas.
Karen is a Royal Ballet School Affiliate Teacher and a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, Rambert Grades, and Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).
She is an adjudicator with the British and International Federation of Festivals (BIFF)and chair of the dance adjudicators council. Karen is part of the All England Dance (AED) Artistic Committee Team and an adjudicator for All England Dance. Karen is also a Certified Adjudicator for Acrobatic Arts.
Karen is passionate about holistic, student-centred training that focuses on creativity and individuality. By providing a positive dance experience, she aims to develop self-esteem and empower young people. She holds an MA in Dance Research for Professional Practitioners.
Jo Kilminster
AISTD
ISTD Modern & Tap Teacher
Modern & Tap Teacher
Jo trained at the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, where she gained her ISTD Tap & Modern (AISTD) Teaching qualification and her Diploma in Dance and Musical Theatre. Since graduating, Jo has worked as a freelance teacher and choreographer in many leading establishments and conducted workshops and summer schools throughout the UK.
During her years of teaching and choreographing, her pupils have consistently achieved outstanding results in examinations and prestigious competitions, including All England, Janet Cram and Marjorie Davies Tap Awards. Many pupils have gone onto vocational theatre colleges and are now working in the West End, touring theatres at home and abroad, and working in TV and film.
Maria Gregory
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (1st)
Rambert Grades Teacher, RAD & ATAP Ballet Assistant Teacher
As a young student, Maria was a London Senior Ballet Associate, Central School of Ballet Associate, and Royal Ballet School Junior Associate. She achieved Distinctions in RAD Ballet Advanced 2, ISTD Modern Advanced 2 and ISTD Tap Advanced 2. Maria graduated from the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London with a First in BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree and is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance (ARAD).
Throughout her training, Maria received a gold medal at the All England Finals, the Ruth French Musicality Award with the Royal Academy of Dance, and was an ISTD Janet Cram Awards Finalist from 2010 to 2014. Maria is also a Rambert Grades Teacher and assists on the KBDA Royal Ballet Affiliate Training and Assessment Classes Programme (ATAP).
Acting training and theatre credits include Posy Fossil, Ballet Shoes (London Children’s Ballet, Peacock Theatre, London), Juvenile Ensemble, Pasha Kovalev – Life Through Dance, Woking; Guildhall School of Music and Drama (Junior Guildhall Drama), Dance Captain and Swing at the Lakes Story Ltd Production of Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit.
Hannah Moseley
BA (Hons)
Early Years, Acro & Street Dance Teacher
Hannah began her dance journey at a young age with ballet. At eight years old, she joined the Karen Blackburn Dance Academy (KBDA), where she developed her skills across various dance styles. As a teenager, she actively contributed to the academy, volunteering as a student helper for the Saturday Mini Jewel Dance Foundation and Acro classes.
Throughout her time at KBDA, Hannah won numerous awards as part of the competition team for solos, duets, and group performances, including lead roles in several KBDA Showcases. In 2021, Hannah left for university, where she pursued a bachelor’s degree with honours in Childhood and Youth Studies, graduating in 2024 with a 2:1. She continued her dance journey during her university years as part of the Winchester Wolves, the university’s competitive dance team.
With over five years of experience working with children of all ages, Hannah is strongly committed to supporting and empowering young people, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds. During her university studies, she specialised in mental health and emotional well-being, focusing on children with special educational needs and disabilities. As a neurodivergent individual, this area is especially important to her, and she is passionate about promoting accessibility and inclusivity within the academy.
Daniel Corthorn
Boys Dance Programme, Contemporary & Senior Ballet & Pas de Deux
Dan trained at The Royal Ballet School and Laine Theatre Arts.
While in training, Dan was awarded the Phyllis Bedells Bursary (2013) and Solo Seal (2016) from The Royal Academy Of Dance.
Before Joining NEBT, he danced in Cats The Musical at Dubai Opera House with Michael Clark Company for their Australian and European tour to a simple rock ‘n’ roll song, which was also filmed for BBC4, and performed as a dancer in ABBA VOYAGE.
Daniel was lucky enough in 2019 to choreograph and perform at London Fashion Week for Malan Breton’s Fashion Show. He also has his own DanceWear brand, ‘DANSWEAR,’ to offer more variety to male dancers.
Daniel has been with NEBT for the 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons and was part of Genesis's creation process.
James Hall
MA PGCE (Hons) ATCL (Musical Theatre)
Musical Theatre Teacher
James specialises in musical theatre and the teaching of singing and performance techniques. His thorough approach means that he creates a relaxed yet professional atmosphere for students, musicians, casts and creative teams and challenges them to explore a range of strategies and tools to get the best out of their voice and performance. He ensures students maintain their individuality, creative musicality and performance integrity.
As well as fundamental singing techniques, James also focuses on interpretation and acting through song to enhance the performance of songs for all styles. James offers assistance with audition preparation and applications for vocational colleges and professional courses. Previous pupils have gone on to study at Arts Educational School, Mountview, Guildford School of Acting, London Studio Centre, ALRA, The Urdang Academy, Italia Conti, The Oxford School of Drama, The Brit School, University of Chichester, and others have gone on to perform professionally around the country and in West End shows.
James’ skills and experience as an MD include accompanying rehearsals, sight reading, leading vocal warm-ups and workshops, playing keys in orchestra pits, conducting ensembles, Keyboard and Mainstage programming, creating arrangements and composing award-winning music.
Roberta McClelland
BA (Hons) LRAD RAD RTS
RAD Ballet Exams, Classical Coaching and Guest Workshops
Roberta trained with the Gillian Cartwright Schools of Dance on the Isle of Wight, was a Senior Associate of the Royal Ballet School and was a finalist for Young Dancer of the Year in 1999.
She trained professionally at the English National Ballet School London before continuing her study at the Royal Academy of Dance, where she graduated in 2005 with a 1st class degree in the Art and Teaching of Ballet from Durham University.
Miss Roberta is now a freelance ballet teacher at The Karen Blackburn Dance Academy. She is an appointed distance learning tutor on the RAD CBTS and DDTS programmes for trainee teachers and conducts courses on behalf of the RAD CPD and training departments throughout the UK and abroad.
Miss Roberta has previously tutored on the RAD BABE, PDTC, PDPTC and LRAD courses and freelance teaching at Arts Educational School and Urdang Academy in London. Miss Roberta is also an examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance
Deborah Ward
MA FHEA AISTD
Contemporary Dance Guest Teacher & Choreographer
Upon graduating from Elmhurst Ballet School, Deborah continued her academic studies, gaining a BA Hons Communication Studies – Dance from the University of Leeds and an MA in Dance Studies at De Montfort University and then received a scholarship to pursue her contemporary dance training at the Jose Limón Institute in New York. Deborah is currently a PhD candidate at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is researching contemporary narrative ballet works through a feminist narratological lens.
As a dance educator, Deborah has taught internationally at conservatoires in Taiwan, Slovakia, Lithuania, and America. With a focus on Contemporary Ballet and Limón-based technique, she has taught across the UK for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and as a guest lecturer at Edge Hill University, Elmhurst Ballet School, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Rambert School for Ballet and Contemporary Dance.
As a choreographer, Deborah has presented works internationally in both educational and professional settings. Youth Dance projects have taken her work to the Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival and UDance Regional and National Platforms.
Her touring dance company, Ballet Folk, has a narrative focus and is embedded in folk traditions and music, with recent premieres staged at Cambridge Folk Festival and Counter Pointe in New York.
Sally Brenner
AISTD (Dip)
Greek Teacher & Choreographer
Sally Brenner is a graduate of Arts Educational Schools, London, fully qualified to teach ISTD Classical Ballet and ISTD Classical Greek. After graduating from ArtsED, Sally danced professionally in Germany for 14 years. She has taught classical Greek at the Ruby Ginner Awards, ISTD Greek Workshops and the BRIT School.
Sally is passionate about choreographing classical Greek. Her pupils have successfully won the All England Finals, ISTD Classical Greek Festival finals and the Ruby Ginner Awards and took ISTD Greek exams up to and including Advanced 1 level. Sally currently teaches Greek technique classes and festival choreography.
Marsha George
Silver Swans Adult Ballet & Tap & Modern Guest Teacher
Marsha trained at the Northern Ballet School in Manchester, mastering RAD Ballet and ISTD Ballet, Tap, and Modern. She appeared in BBC and ITV shows and performed in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games. Upon graduating, she was cast in the UK and international tours of Saturday Night Fever, performing in Korea, Taipei, and Daegu, followed by a role in the UK tour of Mary Poppins.
Marsha completed the Royal Academy of Dance’s Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma with Distinction and was invited to join the RAD faculty, where she taught RAD Ballet, Adult Ballet, and Song and Dance, as well as RAD Summer Schools in Dartington, Singapore, and London. She also gained her ISTD DDI Tap qualification.
Her teaching career extended to the U.S., where she worked with RAD USA, launched the Silver Swans program, collaborated with the Denver school district, and taught at an award-winning dance studio, preparing students for competitions and recitals. She was awarded a prestigious scholarship to the American Ballet Theatre’s Project Plié teaching program in New York.
Passionate about teaching, Marsha is dedicated to nurturing students of all levels, helping them reach their full potential while working alongside distinguished teachers.