Catherine Pickering

Trained in London with Laura Wilson (Ballet) & Gillian Gregory (modern, Jazz & Tap). She also learnt the Graham technique at LCDS. After a dance career in musical theatre, films and 2 modern Dance companies Catherine set up her own school here in Colchester in 1989. Catherine has also taught Modern, Jazz, and Tap at Middlesex & Surrey University and a number of vocational dance schools in London. She has choreographed dance pieces for schools, professional theatre companies, and special projects using lottery money. She has also taught tap & Contemporary dance at a number of international summer schools over the years.

Fanny Harniess

Born in Colchester, Fanny began her dance training at the age of nine at Bush Davies School in East Grinstead. She spent her professional career dancing in the theatre and opera productions and educational tours across the country. She began teaching in 1982 for the Essex Youth Theatre covering ballet, modern, general fitness and choreography. After gaining a degree in Literature from the University of Essex in 1988 she resumed teacher training for professional dancers at the Royal Ballet School. Since graduating in 1990 Fanny taught for Suffolk Scholars Ballet Training Scheme and the Italia Conti Associate School and ran her own school for two years. She is now delighted to teach ISTD Modern Jazz, Cecchetti Ballet and now for the first Pilates technique for the Catherine Pickering School of dance.

Nancy Usher

Nancy Usher, who originally hails from South Africa, will be teaching weekly ballet and contemporary dance classes from the school's studio at the Headgate Theatre. Nancy's background includes teaching many different styles of dance to groups throughout South Africa, Europe and the UK. She has worked professionally with touring dance companies in South Africa and the Netherlands, also performing in the former Soviet Union. More recently, Nancy danced with Pneumata Dance Theatre in London and the Chelmsford Ballet Company.