Kitty Langan Studio

Katie Kirby - Principal

Becky Ludlow - Class Teacher

Becky started Ballet classes at the age of 3 gaining a distinction level at her very first exam. Soon after, Becky started taking Jazz classes at Swindon Dance. Becky soon got the Jazz bug and never looked back. Performing her first show at the Wyvern made all the dreams seem real. Becky began taking Tap and Jazz classes at ‘Sullivan School of Dance’ whilst also dancing at school & performing in pantomimes and shows. Alongside all of her showcases, Becky continued to achieve distinctions in Tap and Jazz exams which then led her to play the lead role in the show ‘Grease’ at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Becky then auditioned for the ‘Youth Talent Programme’ at Swindon Dance and was later awarded a place where she continued to learn Jazz, Contemporary and Ballet, whilst also performing solos in her school shows.

Becky then moved away to continue 5 years at the ‘Youth Dance Academy, Centre of Advanced Training’ , professionally progressing in Jazz, Contemporary and Ballet. Becky excelled herself which allowed her to pursue working with top choreographers such as Tim Noble (MTV), Bawren (Tavaziva) and teachers from the Royal Ballet and London Studios. Becky loved performing centre stage at the London palladium, Sadler’s Wells and the O2 Arena, representing the UK in the ‘World Skills’ event.

At the age of 19 Becky decided to share her love for Dance and became a qualified ‘Zumba’ and Exercise to Music instructor. Becky is thrilled to now be sharing her knowledge and passion with, not just adults, but aspiring young people, oozing talent that wish to take to the stage.

“Students at Kitty Langan Studio are full of talent and enthusiasm and I love that! I love that I have the chance to help them perfect their skills and energy, assisting them on their way to becoming whatever they dream! Dance is all about technique, poise and positive attitude…but most importantly FUN! I hope I can spread my energy across the board, assisting the students side by side. I eat, breath and live dance!”

Karrie Harris – Class Teacher

Karrie started dancing at a very early age at Dizzy Feet Dance Academy which was a freestyle disco dance school. She danced with them until she reached 18 and in that time she had competed in many competitions and weekend festivals all over the country, bringing many trophies home for everything ranging from solo dances to team routines.

She then went on to study A Levels at Cirencester College and continued to dance with Dizzy Feet in her spare time. She also took a dance course at the college came out of her first year at Cirencester College with a Distinction** in dance, along with passing all her A levels.

She finished dancing with Dizzy Feet when she auditioned and gained a place at Liberatus School of Performing Arts in Swindon, where she went on to train for three years. During this time she learnt a lot about myself and changed from timid and shy into an outgoing, enthusiastic person. Liberatus was mainly a dance focused school, they also taught drama and singing and this is where she discovered my passion for singing. Throughout the 3 years, open days were held where students showcased what had been learnt in classes to the new prospective students. One of these open days was when she first sang in front of an audience! “It was scary, but absolutely amazing at the same time”. After that she was cast to sing in the end of year show which the students choreographed routines themselves and turned them into pieces, with the help of the teachers. Show term was always very tough, especially towards the end; long days and even nights sometimes spent rehearsing in the studios to perfect the pieces and make the shows come to life. We stayed away in Bristol for a week at a time where we would rehearse for up to 15 hours per day until the show began on Friday and ended on Sunday. “I am so grateful for these experiences as they really helped me grow in confidence and mature. They also gave me a real insight into the teaching side of performing arts”.

For the past two summers she has helped out my ex-ballet teacher with her dance summer school as well as teaching at Stagecoach making sure the children are supported, having fun and helping them if they are have any wobbles.

“I find it difficult to call teaching ‘work’ when you love your job so much. Sharing my experiences with kids eager to learn is what the industry is all about and I hope to continue teaching alongside performing for years to come.”

Eleanor Bird – Class Teacher

Eleanor first started singing at the age of seven, after joining her primary school choir. This sparked her interest in performing arts and prompted her to join her school drama club. In her year six production, Eleanor was given the role of 'Joseph' in 'Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'. 

As her confidence in her ability grew, she joined Julie Scott's Academy of Performing Arts and began to acquire more lead roles in productions, such as 'Penny' from 'Hairspray' in the Julie Scott's Academy show in 2009. 

While she was in secondary school, Eleanor performed in three 'Summer Youth Project' productions at the Wyvern Theatre and was given a principal role in the 'Our House' production in 2013. During this time, she also performed as the lead role in two shows with Dorcan Performing Arts Group and trained with Swindon Dance for two years. 

When Eleanor turned sixteen, she spent a year at New College studying BTEC Performing Arts. This helped her to refine her performing skills and gave her the opportunity to teach for the first time, as she was the assistant choreographer in the Christmas pantomime. 

She completed the course with full marks in her assessments and finished with a Distinction*. Now, Eleanor continues performing arts as a hobby, continuing lessons at Julie Scott's Academy. She also volunteers as a 1:1 in ballet classes for children with additional needs while she is at university in Bristol. 

"Nothing makes me happier than being able to teach something I am passionate about at Kitty Langan Studio. Seeing their confidence and potential continue to grow makes me incredibly happy and full of pride!"

Charley Lawrence – Class Teacher

Charley started dancing at the age of four when she began training at Julie Scott’s Academy. Here she attended Jazz and Musical Theatre classes and throughout her years here she took on more classes including Street, Freestyle and private singing lessons. Her love for performing at a young age also kept her auditioning for the Wyverns Summer Youth Project, which she took part in for 6 years, and received principal dance roles in her later years.

At the age of 14, Charley was encouraged by her teachers to pursue her dance training further, so she then began taking Ballet classes at Swindon Dance to help broaden her dance knowledge and technique. She trained at both schools until she auditioned for Liberatus School of Performing Arts and gained a place at the age of 15.

Charley trained at Liberatus for 3 years and graduated with an HND Diploma in Performing Arts and completed her Intermediate ISTD exams in Ballet and Modern. During her time here she was lucky enough to be trained by some of the best teachers in the UK and others from around the world. From this she was trained in a very wide range of dance styles and also attended weekly singing and drama classes.

Since Graduating Charley has been helping and supporting a few dance schools across Swindon by covering classes to stay close to what she loves. She has also returned to Julie Scott’s Academy to keep up her own technique and training and fulfil her love to dance. She is now very excited to take on classes of her own and to share her knowledge and passion for dancing with the next generation of dancers.

“Being able to share my passion and being even a small part of shaping the next generation of dancers is a dream come true. I aim to inspire young dancers to follow their dreams and help guide them in the right direction no matter how big or small those dreams may be.”