Claire – Co Owner
Claire and her sister Gemma run JA Performing Arts. Claire has many years of experience as a PA/Secretary and has managed our office since 2008.
Claire danced from a very early age taking various ISTD exams in Ballet, Tap and Modern. She trained at The Jacqueline Annis School of Dance through to her teenage years.
Since September 2015 when Jackie retired, Claire and Gemma have been running the school together. Claire and Gemma are very dedicated to the future of JA Performing Arts and have many exciting plans! Claire will always be your first and foremost point of contact for messages, emails and telephone calls – there are not many questions Claire cannot answer!
Claire has two boys with her husband Mark. Zach and Harrison. When not working, Claire enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog Lily and running and attending the gym.
Gemma – Co Owner
Gemma and her sister Claire run JA Performing Arts. Gemma trained at the Jacqueline Annis School of Dance until she gained a place at The Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama in Nottingham. There, she completed a three-year Musical Theatre diploma. Gemma loved her time there and was trained by the industries leading professionals. She then went on to perform in many productions, securing both musical theatre and acting roles. Gemma then worked for Colchester Institute and Essex University, becoming Course Leader for the Dance programme.
Gemma left her position there to focus solely on the running of JA Performing Arts with her sister, Claire. Gemma teaches Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Drama at the school. She has many qualifications from the ISTD and has a Certificate In Education. Gemma is an advocate for professional, technical training and believes students building their confidence and enjoying their time with JA Performing Arts is most important to her.
Gemma and her husband, Simon have two daughters called Beatrice and Ophelia. When Gemma is not teaching she enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog Frank, going to the theatre and cooking.
Jackie – Teacher
Jackie retired from JA Performing Arts in 2015 but guest teaches our adult ballet classes. Jackie has a wealth of teaching experience and started dancing at the age of 9 at the “Ivy Baker School of Dance” in Clacton-on-Sea. In 1968, she commenced three-year performing arts and teaching course at the prestigious “Bush Davies” school in Romford where she gained major examinations in ISTD and RAD Ballet, Tap, Jazz and National Dance.
She went on to successfully gain her Associate teaching examinations in Classical Ballet, Tap and Modern Theatre. After owning a school in Colchester for over 10 years Jackie then opened the Clacton-on-Sea based “Jacqueline Annis School of Dance”.
Jackie re-launched the school as JA Performing Arts to reflect the school growth in the Performing Arts. Jackie retired in July 2015; the School is now run by her two daughters Claire and Gemma.
Rianna Pateman
Rianna is part of our Adult cover Teaching Team!
Rianna has been dancing since the age of 2 training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, commercial, contemporary and acro. Rianna has worked in musicals such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Railway Children and Evita. Rianna has been teaching since leaving MADD in 2017 and always hopes to bring her experience, technique and love for dance to all pupils that she teaches.
Grace is an Acro-qualified teacher and leads our Saturday Acro classes at JA Performing Arts. Grace began dancing at the age of three, studying RAD ballet and moving on to also take classes in tap, hip hop and musical theatre.
Despite previously performing in productions with Colchester Operatic Society and enjoying other genres of dance at JA, her main focus has always been ballet and tap where she has succeeded in major ISTD exams in these genres.
During her time at JA she has also assisted with ballet classes, enabling her to reflect her love and passion for dancing onto younger students.
Grace is also experienced in coaching recreational gymnastics, leading her to now be excited to fulfil her role as our qualified Acro teacher on Saturdays.
Grace has enjoyed her experience at JA so much, that she still enjoys taking ballet and tap classes here!
She now can’t wait to bring out the best in other students, allowing them to achieve new goals in an encouraging, exciting and safe environment!
We are very pleased to welcome Alexandra to our Team!
Alexandra helps to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes at JA Performing Arts School, assisting with the administration and sharing the school’s creativity and achievements online. With years of experience in social media and marketing, she loves being part of such a vibrant, talented community and helping to showcase everything the students work so hard on.
Before her career in marketing, Alexandra was a university cheerleader, competing at events across the UK – an experience that sparked her love for performance and teamwork.
When she’s not being creative, Alexandra enjoys spending time with her husband and little girl, whether that’s exploring London for a fun day out or enjoying peaceful countryside walks together with their dog, Evie.