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

• 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:
T​uesdays - Performance Dance Crew 
Tuesdays - Blockfit Adult Fitness Class
Thursdays - Performance Dance Crew
Saturdays - Ballet For Fun & Street Dance
Saturdays - Full Circle Performing Arts

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

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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

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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. ​​

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​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.