Meet the teachers

The Principal – Katharine Mitchell ARAD, RAD TC DIP

Katharine’s roots are in Crediton where her family still live and who until recently ran a local business which extended though three generations and over 100 years.

Having been educated in Exeter, Katharine returned to Devon in 1997 after a dancing career which has seen her perform and study at some of the UK’s foremost dance schools and benefited from the tutelage of a number of nationally renowned teachers.

Katharine has over 20 years of teaching experience and has a proud record of her pupils achieving a 100% pass rate in RAD dance examinations during this time.

  • Started dancing from the age of 3 yrs.
  • Trained with Olga Cooper (FRAD) up to the age of 16 yrs.
  • Passed RAD Advanced 2 ballet exam at the then record age of 15 yrs.
  • Spent three years training at the Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts covering all aspects of dance and the performing arts.
  • Danced professionally for five years including various TV appearances including the House of Elliot.
  • Studied at the Royal Academy of Dance, London gaining the RAD teaching qualification.
  • First teaching role at the Bristol School of Dancing; taught for 6 years under the guidance of Angela Redgrave (recent recipient of RAD lifetime achievement award) – choreographed for annual shows, festivals and professional performances.
  • Established the Southville school of dance (subsequently sold to Bristol School of Dance)

Sophie Stevens – Jazz, Modern, Acrobatic Arts & Street Dance

Sophie joined the Katharine Mitchell School of Dance at 3 years old! During her years as a pupil, she performed at the Northcott Theatre in a production of Mother Goose, with Boy Blue Entertainment in Pied Piper and with the English Youth Ballet at the Torquay Princess Theatre in Giselle.

She made her first professional dancing debut in Starstruck at Babbacombe Theatre in 2016 and then went on to complete her 3-year dance degree at the renowned London Studio Centre, where she was able to expand her knowledge and love for commercial dance and fitness.

In 2018 she travelled to Los Angeles for intensive training at the Millennium Dance Complex and finished her final year at LSC in 2019 on tour with the Jazz Company. Since finishing her studies, she has worked with music and movement with the BBC, future work with agency Skin London, and had several modelling opportunities.

Whilst continuing her career in dance and fitness she is delighted to be teaching with Katharine Mitchell School of Dance and passing on her love for dance, fitness and performing to the next generation.

Sophie  is a qualified Acrobatic Arts instructor.

Georgia Steer – Musical Theatre, Ballet exam tuition

Georgia started dancing with the School at the age of 3. At just 10 she also joined CODS, performing in many shows over the years including Oliver, Made in Dagenham and Sister Act (which she also choreographed). Alongside this, she has performed in the Autumn Chorals, singing in the alto section. Whilst at QE she was cast as the lead, Velma Kelly, in their production of Chicago and successfully auditioned and performed with the English Youth Ballet in a production of Coppelia at Torquay’s Princess Theatre.

She is currently studying for her RAD teaching qualifications, in the process of gaining her Advanced 1 Ballet award and providing extra tuition for ballet students due to take RAD exams.

She is excited to start Musical Theatre with current and future students, keen to impart her knowledge, joy and enthusiasm for the genre.

Gemma Richardson – Cover Teacher and Festival Choreographer

Gemma started dancing at aged 4, and trained with me from the age of 6, when her talent and passion for dance flourished. During her years as a pupil, she performed with the English Youth Ballet at the Torquay Princess Theatre in Giselle, took part in Chance to Dance, annual QE musicals and competed at dance festivals.  At 18 she secured a place at the Italia Conti Academy for Performing Arts in central London, where she trained for 3 years, gaining a Diploma in Performing Arts. Since then she has lived and worked in London and made TV appearances in ITV’s The Voice, BBC’s Children in Need and Channel 4’s Complaints Welcome.  A keen teacher and choreographer, I am delighted to welcome Gemma back to the school.