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Sam Benson

Director

Sam trained at performers college & then went on to gain her ISTD licentiate teaching qualification under Linda Sweetzer & Elizabeth Harrison. Sam then went on to become an approved teacher training tutor for the ISTD.
Sam founded Dance Connection in 1994, since then the school has flourished & many ex-students are studying at vocational dance colleges & working in the industry. In 2019 DC opened their own purpose-built studios & also took on the role of heading up team GB performing arts for the IDO UK. Sam is looking forward to celebrating DC’s 30th anniversary in 2024.

Leah Pearcy

Artistic Director

As a child Leah trained at Dance Connection and at the age of 18 went on to train for 3 years at The Margaret Howard Theatre School specialising in Musical Theatre & Teacher Training. After graduating Leah worked as a professional dancer with a corporate cabaret group and has been part of the teaching faculty at Dance Connection for the past 18 years.
Leah worked alongside Sam in 2019 heading up the Team GB Performing Arts team who competed at the IDO World Showdance Championships in Germany.

Grace Hickman

AISTD / Acrobatic Arts

Grace trained locally as a child and then went on to train at Read Dance and Theatre College where she graduated with a distinction in level 4 Trinity College Diploma in Musical Theatre. Whilst at Read College Grace sang in charity concerts, appeared in the graduate showcase and also danced at Move it! Grace then trained for a year at Wilkes Academy before joining Dance Connection in 2016. She went on to complete her ISTD Diploma in Dance Education at Janet Marshall dance studios in 2020. This year Grace gained her Acrobatics Arts Qualification and now heads up all the Acro classes at Dance Connection.