Meet The Team

MEET THE TEAM
ALL OF OUR TEACHERS ARE DBS CHECKED AND FIRST AID TRAINED

MARIE SPANOU - Director & Choreographer

Marie Teaches across all groups.

DANCE QUALIFICATIONS:

BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts @ Barnet College
BA Community Dance Degree @ Middlesex University

OTHER TRAINING, DANCE TRAINING & DANCE EXPERIENCE:

Studied Greek Dancing for 7 years
Performed across England with Greek dancing group
Performed in many dance shows and musicals during studies
Behaviour management training
Has completed training in working with young people with Autism, Downs Syndrome & ADHD
Has been teaching dance in various community settings and with a varied range of groups since 2008
Has been teaching dance in schools as part of their daily studies, enrichment programs & after school clubs since 2008
Has coordinated and Produced many dance shows and musicals
Has coordinated and delivered a wide range of community projects for youth groups in youth centres and on estates

KIM STANNARD - Dance Teacher

Teaches for Fortitude Dance Company on:
Tuesdays - Performance Dance Crew
Tuesdays - Blockfit Adult Fitness Class
Thursdays - Performance Dance Crew
Saturdays - Ballet For Fun & Street Dance

DANCE QUALIFICATIONS:

National ATCL Diploma in musical theatre at Expressions Academy
IDTA Associate dance teacher
ISTD Supreme Award Honours
Block Fit Fitness Instructor

OTHER TRAINING, DANCE TRAINING & DANCE EXPERIENCE:

Worked as Dancer/Aerialist on day/night cruises in Europe
Danced and competed across the country at championship level (A.DFP)
Has been teaching dance classes for 10 years for various community and professional groups
Performed in Move it, working with choreographers – Tom Shilcock, Melody Squire, Jordi Guitart
Works as a Cooperate Dancer for various companies in the UK and Europe
Worked as a backing dancer for Stereo Nation
Danced in a Music video for Benny Dhaliwal
Worked as a Choreographer for Rock Challenge – Winning 1st place in regional heats
Worked as a dancer/performer/entertainer – Hoburne Park
Has choreographed for Barnet Schools dance festival

JAMIE MASON - Dance Teacher

Teaches for Fortitude Dance Company on:
Mondays - Allstars Competition Crew

DANCE QUALIFICATIONS:

Extended BTEC Diploma in Dance @ City & Islington College

OTHER TRAINGING, DANCE TRAINING & DANCE EXPERIENCE:

Trained in Commercial & Hiphop dance
Choreographed shows and performances for many companies in both the community and professional sector
Danced for artists such as Neon Jungle
Performed for Kiss 10 FM, Isle Of White Festival, Asos & Puma fashion shows and the Malta Music Awards.
He is the Co Founder of PDK Entertainment who provide services such as choreographers, performers and compete in various dance competitions.
Currently dancing in the Westend hit show Thriller Live

DAMINI DEPALA - Dance Teacher

Teaches For Fortitude Dance Company on:
Tuesdays - Admin Assistant
Thursdays - Performance Crew (Ages 5-8)

DANCE QUALIFICATIONS:

Teacher training @ Fortitude Dance Company

OTHER TRAINING, DANCE TRAINING & DANCE EXPERIENCE:

Has been dancing since the age of 4 training in Street, Contemporary, Jazz, Jive
Performed for The Barnet Dance Festival for many years
Trained and performed with Fortitude Dance company in dance shows and festivals

NALINI DEPALA - Admin Assistant

Works for Fortitude Dance Company on:
Tuesdays - Contemporary & Blockfit
Thursdays - All Groups

"I currently work, as a Teaching Assistant in Manorside Primary School. I started working with Marie's company, Fortitude, two years ago. My three children have been performing for Fortitude since it began and they thoroughly enjoy it. I love dance and I am so happy that I have been given this opportunity to work with such a wonderful team"

DANIELLE HECTOR - Dance Teacher

Teaches for Fortitude on:
Tuesdays - Contemporary

DANCE QUALIFICATIONS:

PGCE in primary teaching with PE specialism
BA Music degree (York university) including musical theatre units
Completed numerous ISTD dance examinations in ballet, modern and jazz

OTHER TRAINING, DANCE TRAINING & DANCE EXPERIENCE:

Choreographer for the Barnet dance festival for 10 years
Also performed in numerous dance festivals
Teaching dance for 10 years at various schools, community groups and dance companies
Choreographed and performed in shows including performances at the Royal Albert hall
Performed at a Mardi Gras show at her majesty’s theatre
Attended Sue Nieto’s theatre school and trained in numerous styles.
Part of the university of York dance society competing and performing across the county

CAITLIN O'KANE - Admin Assistant & Dance Teacher

Teaches for Fortitude on:
Saturdays - Admin Assistant
Caitlin also teaches as a cover teacher across all the groups.

DANCE QUALIFICATIONS:

ISTD Associate Dance Teacher
Attained Honours in all of her ISTD examinations including the Peggy Spencer Award
Fortitude Dance Teacher Training Academy
Fully certified Yoga Teacher

OTHER TRAINING, DANCE TRAINING & DANCE EXPERIENCE:

Dancing since the age of 5
Danced competitively across the country at Championship Level until the age of 18
Has worked with all age groups and has choreographed show pieces for events such as the Barnet Schools Dance Festival.
Has also created routines for competitors at ISTD competitions.

JONNY VIECO - Dance Teacher

Teaches for Fortitude Dance company as a freestyle workshop teacher.

DANCE QUALIFICATIONS:

BTEC Performing Arts @ Arts Depot
Level 6 Diploma in Musical Theatre @ WAC Arts

OTHER TRAINING, DANCE TRAINING & DANCE EXPEREINCE:

Trained in a range of styles throughout the years such as Hiphop, freestyle, Commercial, Ballet, Contemporary, Horton, African, jazz, Drama and Physical theatre
Has performed in music videos for artist such as Karen Harding & Neon Jungle
In 2015 choreographed the dancers in the music video for the summer smash hit, Joe Stone - The Party.
Competed in various dance battles and competitions across the England and Europe
Is currently working as a dance teacher and choreographer for various youth groups and in schools
Performs regularly with his own dance crew PDK
Has performed as at the Isle Of Wight Festival and for MTV, BBC and Sky Sports
Has opened the show for the credible rap artist T-Pain
Has appeared in many adverts

NADIA ZEROUAL - Dance Teacher

Teaches for Fortitude as a cover teacher across all the groups

DANCE QUALIFICATIONS:

Teacher training @ Fortitude Dance Company

OTHER TRAINING, DANCE TRAINING & DANCE EXPERIENCE:

Has been dancing since the age of 4
Performed in the Barnet Dance Festival for many years
Performed in various musicals through secondary school
Trained in various styles of dance such as Street, Contemporary, Jazz, Jive for four years with Fortitude Dance Company and performed in many dance shows & festivals

VISHAL DEPALA - Dance Teacher

Teaches for Fortitude as a cover teacher across all the groups.

DANCE QUALIFICATIONS:

Teacher training at fortitude Dance Company
Bronze Arts Award

OTHER TRAINING, DANCE TRAINING & DANCE EXPERIENCE:

Has been dancing since the age of 4
Trained in Street, Contemporary, Jazz and Jive.
Performed for the Barnet Dance Festival for several years
Trained and performed with Fortitude in shows and festivals since the age of 6.