Kitty Langan Studio
Performing Arts School
About Us
Do you
aspire to sing on the London stage? Perhaps your dream is to perform
in theatres and auditoriums across the globe? Waiting in the wings to
help you achieve your dream is Swindon's newest singing &
dancing school, Kitty Langan Studio. With a fully equipped
singing & performance studio combined with excellent tuition by
Katie Kirby & staff you have access to fantastic coaching right on your
doorstep in Swindon.
Do you aspire to sing on the London stage? Perhaps your dream is to perform in theatres and auditoriums across the globe? Waiting in the wings to help you achieve your dream is Swindon's newest singing & dancing school, Kitty Langan Studio. With a fully equipped singing & performance studio combined with excellent tuition by Katie Kirby & staff you have access to fantastic coaching right on your doorstep in Swindon.
Katie Kirby - Principal
Singing, dancing and acting since the age of 5, Katie knows exactly how it feels to be young, talented and in search of stardom. A wealth of experience and invaluable knowledge of the industry makes Katie the perfect role model for any budding performer - from experienced sopranos and tenors, to karaoke queens and hairbrush hit performers.
With this in mind, Katie launched the Kitty Langan Studio in Greenmeadow, Swindon in January 2011. Borne from a desire to give Swindon talent the national recognition it deserves, the school will take on any student from the age of 6 months upwards. If you’ve got the passion, dedication and are willing to learn, Katie has the experience (and patience!) to help reach your goal.
Katie’s
diverse and exciting career has taken her from winning ‘Swindon’s
Pop Idol’ at the age of 13, to centre stage performances such as
Aladdin’s Genie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s Veruca Salt,
Chicago‘s Velma Kelly and Marilyn Monroe. Working
with performers young and old, Katie is no stranger to rehearsing,
choreographing and performing in high profile productions – with an
enviable drive and determination to make anything and everything
work. Having taken part in competitions and showcases both
locally and nationally, Katie is passionate about bringing the same
excitement of her experiences to her students at the Kitty Langan
Studio.
“I want to see the school grow day by day, year by year, ultimately achieving enough members to be taking the school to local and national competitions, in order for our students to win awards and trophies for their excellence. Swindon is an exciting place to be for any performer – not just singers, but dancers and actors too." The Kitty Langan Studio has a lot to offer and with the help of our members, we can make people who are high up in the industry pay attention to the schools in Swindon. I'm so passionate about taking Swindon's talented young stars to the national arena. I learn from even the most challenging of students, it's the only way to grow as a teacher, performer and friend.”
Francis is a self taught dancer. Growing up in Plumstead Common in South End London he wasn’t fortunate enough to receive professional training so he took a lead from ‘Les Twins’ who inspired him to create unique choreography both solo and within a group.
Dancing has been a passion for him and the group; ‘Trin3rgy’, for a long time. The group was formed almost 10 years ago. ‘Trin3rgy’ are a Theatrical dance group, who mix comedy with routines. Since 2007 the group have performed all over London: from parks to picnics, to performing at Catford Broadway Theatre, Troxy Theatre, Sadlers Wells, Royal Albert Hall before jetting off too Brazil to shoot a dancing video with Actor Adam Deacon and successfully auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent to be considered for the live Semi-Finals. These days Francis dedicates his time to teaching young children that share the same passion he does from such a young age.
“Kids are our future! I am so grateful that Kate has given me this amazing opportunity to be involved in Kitty Langan Studio - I absolutely love teaching these kids. They all work so hard and aim to please which is why I get so much enjoyment from my job”
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.”
Emily's dance journey started at the age of three at Swindon Academy of Dance where she continued until the age of 18 achieving advance levels of RAD Ballet and ISTD Ballet, Tap and Modern. During her youth, Emily performed in many competitions around the UK and annual shows at the Wyvern Theatre, as well as studying with the Royal Ballet Associates and performing with the English Youth Ballet.
Having been awarded Triple Distinction in Performing Arts BTEC National Diploma, within which time choreographed and directed stage shows, Emily furthered her Dance career at University. Emily studied a BA Hons Dance Degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University, achieving a 2:1 whilst developing her knowledge in Dance technique and safe practice, pedagogy, Dance history and analytical studies.
From university, Emily stayed in Cardiff and developed her role as a teacher and has since worked with an array of students in a variety of settings. Classes have involved teaching classical and creative Ballet in private and community settings, as well as Tap, Jazz and Contemporary technique to both children and adults. In addition, Emily has taught and been a part of creative Dance projects with companies in the community and schools, where the elderly and people with disabilities were at the forefront. Over the last several years Emily established her own Dance school in Cardiff focusing on children’s mental health and well-being as well as their creativity and fitness.
Recently Emily relocated back to Swindon and is now looking forward to bringing her knowledge and love of teaching to Kitty Langan Studio and helping students to thrive through Dance.
"Teaching dance has become such a passion of mine because I get to see students thrive and develop as dances and as people. Dance can bring so much joy into people’s lives as well as other benefits and I love being able to share those experiences. I have watched Kitty Langan Studio grow from the beginning and I am excited to join on that journey!”
Lyndsey
Logan – Class Teacher
Lyndsey joined her first dance school at the age of 9; Miss Kels Dance Academy, after doing a performance at Swindon Dance with her Primary school dance club. That was where Lyndsey discovered the stage was her favourite place.
At the age of 11, Lyndsey started taking singing lessons at Kitty Langan Studio and eventually began taking dance classes there too. At KLS Lyndsey has had the opportunity to dance and sing at the London Palladium and Her Majesty’s Theatre over the years. She has also entered a global dance competition in Paris, taken part in the Disneyland Parade and on performed to a worldwide audience on the Videopoilis stage at Disneyland Paris too.
Lyndsey has performed in every KLS show from the very beginning back in 2011 including; the annual performances, Cabarets, and Musical productions such as Hairspray where she played the role of Velma Von Tussle and Annie where she played the part Grace. Over the years Lyndsey has performed in various festivals around Swindon also.
In recent years Lyndsey has competed in competitions not only in England but at Disney Land Paris too. Received awards from 4th place to 1st with her singing and dancing. Lyndsey has also competed in competitions closer to home like south west stars in Minehead and Dynamite Dance in Kent & Bristol. One of Lyndsey’s proudest moments would have to be when she auditioned for The Voice in London.
Lyndsey has come full circle at KLS now being a teacher and she’s very excited for her new adventure in helping the up-and-coming Kitty’s flourish in the Kitty Family.
“I’m so excited to be teaching at Kitty Langan Studio.
I’ve come full circle here from being at the very first performing arts lesson to now teaching myself. I grew so much as a person here and I’m excited to be on the other side of that and see others grow from the classes here”
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!"