Teaching Staff

Kerry Whitfield — Principal & Teacher

After 17 very fulfilling years training and working in London and abroad, Kerry returned to her Yorkshire roots in 2013 to open Yorkshire Rose Academy of Dance.

Born and raised in Norton, North Yorkshire, Kerry started her training at her local dance school - Kirkham Henry Performing Arts. Following time spent as a JA (Junior Associate of the Royal Ballet) and York Scholar, she continued her training at the world famous Royal Ballet School, White Lodge for a further five years. She then gained a Diploma of Higher Education in Theatre Dance at London Studio Centre.

Kerry has appeared as a singer and dancer in many productions including Seussical The Musical (Arts Depot), Godspell (UK tour), Cinderella (New Theatre, Cardiff), A Journey Of Jazz (Sadler’s Wells), Classical Spectacular (The Royal Albert Hall), numerous performances with The Royal Ballet School, and production shows onboard Holland America cruise lines at sea. Whilst Kerry no longer considers herself to be working as a “performer” her days in the spotlight are not completely over. She is a member of SK Dance Company and has performed in numerous local performances as well as featured as a dancer in the film ‘Mister Mayfair’.

In 2010 Kerry graduated the Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma with a distinction at the Royal Academy of Dance, and holds Registered Teacher Status with the RAD. Whilst in London she taught a range of dance genres and styles to children and adults at various schools, including teaching at Pineapple Dance Studios, Dance Attic and at the RAD headquarters. She also acted as a mentor for the RAD BA (Hons) Ballet Education (BABE) students. Kerry continues with her mentoring role in York and also teaches at the RAD’s International Summer School and UK workshops.

Having gained her qualification in 2012, Kerry teaches a number of Zumba classes for adults and kids and is a self-confessed Zumba addict. In 2013 she was selected to perform at Twickenham Stadium with the Zumba head office at the Chime for Change concert (Beyoncé and J-Lo happened to be performing there too!). Zumba is a fantastic dance / fitness release for Kerry during her busy week and enables her to teach Zumba to participants ranging from 4yrs old right through to (currently) 85yrs old.
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After leading the Associate centre in Newcastle, Kerry continues as a cover teacher for The Royal Ballet school although her focus is now on growing Yorkshire Rose Academy of Dance.
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In teaching Kerry believes in building strong foundations. “Teaching the basics well plus having students understand how their different body parts work, really sets dancers up for good progression.” She has a genuine passion for dance with a desire to help people grow and develop as both dancers and artists. “For me dance is life, and I truly believe it teaches so much more than dance itself. It gives students many wonderful life skills that they carry with them in whatever path they take. Seeing my students thrive is an absolute joy.”

Kerry Whitfield is a Registered teacher for the Royal Academy of Dance, The Royal Ballet School, International Society of Teachers in Dance and Zumba fitness. She is also certified in First Aid and Child protection and holds a valid DBS check. Certificates upon request.

Cheryl Reid — Class Teacher

Cheryl teaches a wide range of disciplines, including Dance, Drama, Gymnastics, Acro, Pilates, Yoga and Mindfulness.
With experience teaching all of these different things, her classes are based on technique, passion and are well rounded to suit all abilities. Cheryl believes that technique and strength make a solid foundation to a happy dancer and will always include activities in class to make sure dancers are getting the most from their classes.
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She brings knowledge from each discipline into all of her classes, giving students the knowledge to have fun in class learning, but also to train safely at home. Guiding them to look after their bodies and have the most effective and safe practice.
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Cheryl has been teaching for YRAD since 2017. She currently teaches Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Street Dance and Acro. She will also hold Yoga & Mindfulness workshops to teach adults and children how to deal with stress a little easier.
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“I love working with the students at YRAD, they are all so passionate, kind and hard-working. They make sure I have one of the best jobs in the world.”
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Cheryl runs her own business teaching Pilates, Yoga & Mindfulness The Radical Health Co. in Malton and the surrounding areas classes.
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Cheryl Reid is a registered teacher for Acrobatic Arts and holds qualifications for teaching Street Dance and Contemporary through iD-Company. She is a 200hr RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) and holds qualifications in coaching Mindfulness. She is First Aid Trained, a level 3 Mental Health First Aider and holds a valid DBS certificate.

Rachel Morris — Class Teacher

Rachel has been dancing since she was 3 years old. At 18 she went to train at the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts College and whilst there was chosen to perform with Kerry Ellis at the London Palladium, played the lead role of 'Cassie' in A Chorus Line and landed her first job with Qdos Pantomimes.
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Since then Rachel has worked professionally for more than 10 years. Most of that time was spent at sea with Carnival Cruise Lines where she travelled the world performing in shows six nights a week. She has also performed in numerous tours, pantomimes and corporate shows all over the UK including the world famous ‘Thursford Christmas Spectacular’.
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Rachel has now settled in North Yorkshire and is passionate about using her talents to inspire the next generation. She has a Saturday School Frances Lyn Theatre School and a book keeping business both located in the Ryedale area.

Rachel Morris is First Aid Trained and holds a valid DBS certificate. She is also a qualified ISTD teacher.

Megan Elvidge — Class Teacher

Megan began her dance training at Aycliffe Dance Academy where she took classes in Tap, Modern, Ballet, Cheerleading, Street Dance and Acro. Whilst training she developed a passion for teaching and took on the role of an assistant teacher allowing her to gain skills she uses in teaching practice today. Whilst there she performed in many productions which included being a senior dancer for Pantomimes by the company Enchanted Entertainment.

At age 18 Megan left home to start her Dance Degree at York St John University and graduated in 2019 with a 2:1 in dance. Having studied and practiced Contemporary during her 3 years there, she realised the importance of how movement feels and bodies move, and so tries to incorporate that into her teaching. Devising work at University allowed her to explore creativity and ignited a big passion for choreographing. She performed in many of the numbers she choreographed along some that she co-created with fellow students.

Whilst Studying in York Megan took a placement at Yorkshire Dance where she helped with the organisation for their community dance festival ‘Fresh 2019’.

Megan has performed at York Theatre Royal’s ‘Dance it up North’ several times where she has performed work made collaboratively with dance companies such as David Mckenna and Northern Rascals. She also performed at York Theatre Royal’s ‘For the Fallen’ – a show looking at the hardships of the world wars on all involved.

Megan now looks forward to developing her teaching and performing further and is excited to be working with the students at YRAD.

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Megan holds a valid DBS certificate and is First Aid trained.

Katie Robey - Class Teacher

Katie is trained in a wide range of disciples, including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Commercial, Musical Theatre and Acro. After starting dancing at age 4, Katie fell in love with expressing herself through movement and spent all of her free time singing and dancing.
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During Katie’s childhood she focused on Musical Theatre, before joining the Swaby Dance Centre where she started to fall in love with Ballet and Jazz. Katie trained at the Chantry School of Contemporary Arts as part of the associate programme as well as being a part of British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT) in 2013 and 2015.
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After GCSE’s, Katie moved to Chester to attend full-time professional training for three years at The Hammond School. She is currently a Psychology student at York St John, with the aim of supporting dancers with poor mental health. Whilst studying she is also the Team Captain for YSJ Dance Society, and has won many trophies and medals both in group and solo numbers.

Whilst perfecting technique and performance, Katie recognises the importance of having mutual respect between the teacher and student, and aims to create a supportive and safe environment in her classes. She LOVES performance and helps the dancers at YRAD to feel their most confident self, allowing them to reach their true potential.
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Katie is first aid trained and holds a valid DBS certificate.

Stuart Piper - Guest Teacher

Stuart (Stu) is a Drama Teacher, Director, Screen Acting and Talent Coach, while currently training to teach more subjects. He was previously an Agent, Producer and Actor earlier in life.

In his varied career, he began as a child and then adult actor in the West End, on national tour, on television and film. He then moved into theatre production, producing and general managing West End shows and events, before becoming an Agent, representing actors and creatives for 15 years in theatre, musical theatre, television, film and radio.

His acting credits included on screen Absolutely Fabulous, the BAFTA & Emmy Award winning The Politician’s Wife and Tom’s Midnight Garden for MGM while his theatre credits included Annie Get Your Gun, Bugsy Malone, Scrooge and Snoopy The Musical in the West End. His stage producing credits included co-founding The Whatsonstage Awards shows, Death of a Salesman starring Brian Dennehy and Nicholas Hoult in New Boy and his Exec Producing credits on film includes The Time Of Their Lives starring Pauline Collins (Amazon) and Mrs Lowry & Son starring Timothy Spall (Netflix).

In his time as an agent, Stuart helped many artists find life changing opportunities in musical theatre (from representing Aimie Atkinson in SiX, Alice Fearn as Elphaba in Wicked, Amy Lennox in Kinky Boots, Janie Dee in Follies, Tyrone Huntley in Jesus Christ Superstar, Christine Allado in Hamilton) and on screen (Amy Nuttall in Downton Abbey, Victoria Yeates in Call The Midwife, Samantha Womack in Kingsman: Secret Service) as well as leading the talent management teams for Syco with ROAR on Britain’s Got Talent for 8 years and The X Factor for 3 years. He loves taking this experience and applying it to his teaching and talent coaching, and helping mentor those students who wish to persue a performing career professionally, either now or in the future, while using his skills to, in others, build confidence and creativity.

Stuart moved to York in 2021 to live closer to his son Charlie, and to enrol at York St John University to undertake formal teacher training.

For YRAD, Stu is the lead director of our Summer Schools. He also helped to connect us with Bijou Talent (Agency), with whom he runs online screen acting classes.

Stu even returned to the stage himself starring in leading roles with local Amateur Dramatic Companies. In 2022 he recorded a podcast pilot Transforming with "The Iceman" Wim Hof and super influencer Neil Henry, and he can be heard singing Heaven on their Minds from Jesus Christ Superstar with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Stuart is certified in First Aid and Safeguarding Children, and holds a valid DBS check.

The Team