Helen Weekley
DIRECTOR / CREATIVE PRODUCER
Born and bred from Redcar and Cleveland Helen trained at Redcar College in Performing Arts and Music and was singing professionally from the age of 16. She then went onto Northampton University gaining HND in Music Production and BA in Music and composition. During this time Helen trained in dance and drama to become a triple threat performer. In 2006 the Princes Trust helped Helen open her own performing arts school called the Backstage Academy which was based in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Cambridge where many children became performing stars of the future. In 2008 she became head of department for Performing Arts in South Holland which soon exploded and by 2010 she had opened her own studios in Kings Lynn fully accredited to deliver BTEC courses independently up to degree level.
Holding regular performances at prestigious venues she developed her own shows specifically designed to enhance her educational opportunities for her students and she became a Creative Producer and has now
written, choreographed, directed and produced over 20 juke box dance theatre musicals. In 2012 Helen became a Princes Trust Ambassador and performed with Cheryl Cole at the Jingle Bell Ball where she worked alongside Will I Am and his dance crew from America. During this time sadly Helen was nursing her mum through cancer and by 2013 she passed away. Helen then suffered from severe mental health until she relocated back home to Redcar where she rebuilt her life with her 3 children and found that the artforms were her saviour.
Without performing as a means of expression Helen wouldn't have coped so she worked very hard to open the not for profit Imaginarium Creative Studios with the idea to help others enhance their health, mental health and emotional wellbeing through the arts. Helens career and training is vast including both performing and production arts and she is a wealth of knowledge of her industry after working with some of the top professionals including IDMC Gospel Choir, 2Faced Dance, Autin Dance Theatre, ZooNation and LIPA just to name a few. If there’s one thing Helen has learnt from her career is that the North East is definitely the up and coming place to be for the arts. We have so much to offer as Tees Valley and this is just the beginning.
NICHOLAS JACOBS
DANCE TEACHER
Nick has been performing from the tender age of 4 years old and has always been involved in theatre and dance. After graduating from Edge Hill University with a BA in Drama, Dance and Physical Theatres Nick took great delight touring theatre all around the world - He brings a gentle and calming side to his teaching principles and loves to use quirky choreography to challenge all levels of dance.
Nick is excited to get everyone dancing around their living room and helping to find their movement style!
We are proud to present Nicholas Jacobs as our new contemporary dance teacher and professional performer in our Deflection Dance Theatre. Nick is an amazing Performer and he is set to be key to our dance department and plays a major role in our education programmes and specialising in SEND.
KENZIE FIELD
TEACHING APPRENTICE OF DANCE
Kenzie has been a dancer, trickster and triple threat Performer from the age of 5 when he started to naturally perform contemporary dance from observing Backstage Academy collaboration with 2faced Dance Company who inspired Kenzie to pursue his dance work fusing together urban and contemporary dance styles.
Kenzie is a well accomplished skateboarder and aims to go pro!
Linking in his tricks, flips and boarding kenzie is a unique Performer who inspires our students well. He is an apprentice Performer in Detonation Warriors meaning he not only trains in performance but also learns how to teach, facilitate, create and lead. He is the teaching assistant and trainee dance teacher for dance fusion, street and
contemporary dance. Kenzie is also an apprentice dancer in 'Deflection Dance Company' and part of the education programme.
MEGAN PADGETT
TEACHING APPRENTICE OF DANCE
Megan Padgett, aged 18 is currently awaiting to go to York St John University after completing with the highest grades performing arts and production arts at Middlesbrough College. Meg has been a Detonation Warrior for 1 year and has seriously taken to her training becoming a triple threat performer very quickly.
Meg will be going to university in September but meanwhile she is continuing her training with the warriors and is apprentice dancer in contemporary dance alongside 'Deflection Dance theatre' and education programme.
PAUL IVISON
TRAINEE DRAMA TEACHER
Next up is trainee drama practitioner/director and teaching assistant for musical theatre and creative drama Paul Ivison aged 21, currently studying his degree in performing arts.
Paul has been a Detonation Warrior for 2 years and has become a very strong triple threat Performer excelling in dancing, singing and acting. Paul is an outstanding actor and inspiring teacher to our students.
He is a Performer in 'Deflection Dance Theatre' and part of the education programme. Paul is currently completing his examinations at the Imaginarium in Musical Theatre, Popular singing and Acting with the London College of Music to lead onto becoming a fully trained teacher of LCM examinations.
After his degree.... Who knows because the sky is the limit for this guy! Mega talented!
IMOGEN JONES
APPRENTICE TEACHER OF PERFORMING ARTS
Imogen has trained with Detonation Warriors for 2 years and is now the new warrior apprentice Performer which means she not only trains in performing but also how to teach, create, facilitate and lead. Imogen is also teaching assistant and trainee dance teacher for dance fusion, street and contemporary dance.
She is a triple threat Performer excelling in singing, dancing and acting.
Imogen will be completing her exams in musical theatre, popular singing and acting at the Imaginarium with the London College of Music over the next 2 years. Once qualified she can progress onto teaching her own classes and creating her own work. Imogen is an apprentice dancer in 'Deflection Dance Theatre' and part of the educational programme
