DanceTeacher Hub - Meet the Judges

Maggie Paterson has been a teacher of Jazz and Classical Ballet at Pineapple Dance Studios in Covent Garden for the past 33 years.

Eighteen years ago Maggie founded Pineapple Performing Arts School also based at Pineapple. In her role as Principal, Maggie has given access to hundreds of students from age three to adults to perform in a variety of high profile events, including corporate, charity events and on national TV. She has produced and directed over 35 in house shows at a variety of London Theatres and has also taken students to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival achieving 5* reviews, her latest venture Pineapple Arts Productions, a professional spin off of the school, has produced three professional Urban Pantomimes allowing young dancers, actors, choreographers, musical directors the opportunity to take their first steps of working in the industry.

Maggie also works very closely with outreach programmes and charities. She organises many events for less fortunate children through her work with the Metropolitan Police, Safer Schools projects and Anna Kennedy OBE. She regularly awards full scholarships to those in financial need to attend the school and develop their performing arts skills and many have gone on to very successful careers.

In addition to teaching, running the school and the production company Maggie is a regular adjudicator, judge and tutor for a variety of leading international dance competitions, where she awards Pineapple Performing Arts School scholarships to attend Summers Schools at Pineapple in Musical Theatre and Street Dance. Her judging role includes the prestigious international dance competition 'Expressions' held annually in Florence, Italy by the International Dance Association. She is also a regular judge at Dance Showdown held at Cadogan Hall, Chelsea and Kensington, Dance Fest Blackpool, plus many other UK and international competitions held in Cyprus, Italy and Malta.

Maggie is looking forward to being part of the Dance Teacher Hub judging team.

Ryan has worked within every area of the entertainment industry, most recently as Creative Director working with the Government to representing the UK for national day at Milan Expo 2015.

Ryan has worked with some of the biggest creatives in the world including Matthew Bourne, Arlene Philips, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Joel Schumacher, Peter Darling, Richard Marcel as well as sharing the stage with stars as Marguerite Porter, Adam Cooper, Kerry Ellis, Idina Menzal, Miriam Margolyes, and Adam Garcia. Ryan is the only teacher in the world to have taught the dancers from the hit US TV show Dance moms for Abbi Lee Miller and in the UK, for Jennifer Ellison. Ryan was the choreographer for Season 2 of Dance Mums UK.

Ryan is the founder of ID Dance; a dance examination board offering a syllabi in Contemporary dance with new revolutionary new teacher training programmes supported by many of the UK’s leading dance colleges. You can find ID Dance at www.id-dance.co.uk

Ryan is fast becoming one of the UK’s most sought after choreographers in theatre, TV, film, live events, cruises and pop videos. He teaches at the UK’s top dance colleges and and many dance schools nationwide and has gained extensive knowledge about the needs and wants for the ever changing world of showbiz.

Ryan is most notably known for appearing as a finalist in the top 20 of 'So You Think You Can Dance' series 2 and ‘Got to Dance’. Before this he had a flourishing career in London’s West End but not before gaining his first job at aged 19 in Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake’ to then be appointed as Dance Captain for ‘Grease’ the Musical UK and the European tour, choreographed by Arlene Philips.

Other credits and experience includes: Appearing in the original London cast of ‘Wicked’, within the ENO (English national Opera) ‘Kismet’ London Coliseum, ‘Cabaret’ (Lyric Theatre) by Javier de Fructos. As a featured dancer in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Phantom of the Opera’ movie directed by Joel Schumacher and choreographed by Peter Darling. As a choreographer working with Lebanese and Vietnamese Governments, working alongside an 80 piece Orchestra and their biggest pop star - Duc Tuan. Artistic director for ‘Prince Charming events’ working with and covered by Fashion TV and OK! magazine. Creative director for ‘Celebrity Gleex’, Grease is the Word, SYTYCD and as support act for Peter Andre and Lulu. Choreographer for Mt4uth, Channel 5’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ (shine TV), G*Mania - Video - Don’t Stop Believing. London Fashion Week shows including Ariella Couture, Elliot J Frieze, Jan Bertelsen and Anna Paola. ‘Bloodbath’ musical Edinburgh, ‘Ripper’ musical directed by Vernon Mound, ‘Anthology’ for Irish composer Conor Mitchell. Annie Get your Gun, Market Place Theatre, Ireland. ‘Godspell’ Grand Opera House, Belfast and Rose Theatre, Kingston, London. ‘Fashion Victim’ musical - London Cinema Museum. Two Cruise Productions for 2entertain, Scandinavia. Staging Director for Tourism for Ireland ‘St James’s Palace’ and ‘Shipyard and Docks’ Royal Gala Belfast City Hall. Assistant Choreographer for Michael Flatley and Molly Molloy stadium tour ‘Celtic Tiger’.

Ryan has taught at over 200 academies internationally including Bird College, L.I.P.A, Urdang, London Studio Centre, Stella Mann, Mandy Ellen and Pineapple Performing Arts. Ryan is also an international judge/adjudicator for Encore events, Dance Show Live, Disney Camp and many established UK dance festivals. Ryan is a Patron to Starlight Dance Academy.

Ryan actively dedicates his time to many charities including Music Theatre for Youth, Autism got Talent with Pineapple Performing Arts, the Prince’s Trust, London Taxi Drivers fund for Children and many smaller local fundraisers.

For more information please visit www.ryanjenkins.co.uk and on Twitter/Instagram @realryanjenkins

Matt trained at Laine Theatre Arts. He is a Creative Director/Choreographer for TV, Film & Theatre. Some recent credits include - Strictly Come Dancing (BBC), The Big Movie Singalong (Sky One), Children In Need (BBC), Sweet Charity - In Concert (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Cadogan Hall), Tell Me On A Sunday (Watermill & National Tour), West Side Story (Salzburg Festival), Daytona (Theatre Royal, Haymarket & UK Tour), and ‘Brass’ (Leeds City Varieties Music Hall - Best Musical Production, UK Theatre Awards).

In 2011 Matt won Series 2 of the BBC show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’. He has appeared in 10 West End Shows and has had numerous TV/Advert appearances. Matt also works as a Presenter. Credits include: Olympic Men’s Football & Rhythmic Gymnastics, Wembley (Both for London 2012), Main Stage Host at ‘Move It!’ 2013-15 (London Olympia) & The Dance Proms 2015 (Royal Albert Hall).

Matt is the co-creator of Can You Dance? www.can-you-dance.co.uk, a series of nationwide dance conventions and the creative director of Happy Feet Productions www.happyfeetproductions.co.uk. As well as being a global ambassador for Capezio, Matt is a Patron of The Dance Proms (Royal Albert Hall) & DanceAid.

UK dancer Tom Shilcock trained professionally at Laine Theatre Arts. Tom's career was kick stared after appearing on BBC1’s So You Think You Can Dance (season 2) reaching the top 5 boys.

Since graduating Tom has danced for several artists including Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor, Take That, Cheryl Cole, Rihanna, Rita Ora, Elton John, Gary Barlow, Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox, Jessie J, Meatloaf, Jamelia & Tulisa.

Tom has appeared on TV shows including Stars In Their Eyes (resident dancer) X Factor, BGT, The Royal Variety Show, Brit Awards, Sunday Night At The Palladium, Dancing On Ice, ITV Text Santa and was part of the London 2012 Olympics. Tom also enjoys working on various fashion shows, and has appeared in award shows, pantomimes, hair shows, Christmas events and worked with various brands including D&G, Puma, T Mobile, Talk Talk and Morrisons .

Tom has danced at many major music festivals including Wireless, Summertime Ball, Jingle Bell Ball & Radio 1's Big Weekend. A big achievement for Tom was when he danced for Cheryl Cole & Rita Ora at Wembley stadium to over 100,000 people.

Tom is proud to be recognised for his achievements so far by dance brand Capezio by awarding him with athlete ambassador status and represents the brand globally. His passion for teaching has allowed him to travel and create Can You Dance? The UK's First Touring Dance Convention alongside his close friend Matt Flint. www.can-you-dance.co.uk. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomShilcock