The Team
Who We Are
Carla Lucas
KFD Principal
Safeguard Lead & Modern Theatre & Tap Exam co-ordinator
BA (Hons) Level 3 Diploma in Musical Theatre & Performing Arts, Acrobatic Arts Level 1 Certified, Alixa Flexibilty - Level 1, Modern Theatre and Tap ISTD DDI & DDE (Level 3 Diploma in Dance instruction & Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education), Disco Freestyle Associate (AISTD) & Level 2 (Reed Global) in Leadership & Management. Member of the ISTD Early Careers Group.
Carla started dancing at the age of three, training locally from the age of 11 in Ballet, Tap, Modern and Musical Theatre. During her time as an amateur dancer, Carla took part in numerous dance festivals, pantomimes and local theatre group productions.
From the age of 16, Carla studied at the Margaret Howard Theatre College (MHTC). At MHTC she studied ballet, tap, modern, street, hip hop, musical theatre, lyrical, double work, jazz & contemporary. She successfully completed a three year course, gaining her teaching qualifications – DDI (Level 3 Diploma) and DDE (Level 4 Diploma) in Tap & Modern Theatre. Carla also graduated MHTC with a Level 3 Diploma in Performing Arts & Musical Theatre.
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During her time at College she gained experience performing on cruise ships around the Mediterranean and in the Mardi Grass parade at Disneyland Paris.
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Carla has taught for over 15 years. Carla has also gained her AAC1 with Acrobatic Arts (including a back handspring & aerial course). As well as her Level 1 qualification with Alixa Flexibilty. She also holds a CACHE Level 2 in childcare.
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Carla has been a member with the ISTD for over 15 years and more recently (2023-2024) returned to training to take her ISTD teaching exams in Disco Freestyle. Carla has gained both her student teacher & associate with the ISTD in Disco Freestyle, she has since been featured in the August 2024 ISTD magazine with an article on ‘Unlocking your teaching potential’
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Carla has attended CPD training in the following: first aid, safeguarding, mental health in dancers, inclusion in dance, GDPR, health and safety, creating magic in early years foundation classes, rock ‘n’ roll syllabus and DFR congress.
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Carla teaches: Modern, Tap, Acrobatics, Disco, Freetsyle, R’n’R and competition squads and teams.
Carla is our safeguard lead alongside co-principals Emily and Hannah. Carla holds her Level 2 qualification in Leadership and Management, gained through Reed Global. She now looks forward to using her knowledge and skills to train and mentor new teachers. She also looks forward to coordinating exams in Modern theatre and tap for KFD.
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Carla is currently training towards her Rock ‘n’ Roll associate. More recently she has been invited by the ISTD to join their ECG team (early careers group) a group that supports and promotes early career dance teachers at the ISTD something that Carla is hugely honoured and excited to be a part of.
Emily Plumb
KFD Principal & Teacher
KFD Safeguard Lead & Ballet Exam Co-ordinator
ISTD Ballet DDI & DDE (Level 3 Diploma in Dance instruction & Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education) Level 1 & 2 – Progressive Ballet Technique Emily has danced from a young age and went onto train vocationally at Northern Ballet School, studying Ballet, Tap, Modern, Street, contemporary and musical theatre.
Emily has always been especially passionate about Ballet and has danced in Swan Lake and Copelia. Having completed her ISTD diploma in dance education in classical ballet she prides herself in creatively making every class fun and engaging, helping to inspire and encourage a life long love for dance.
Emily has been dancing since she was two years old. After proudly collecting her I.S.T.D (Imperial Society Teachers of Dance) graded and vocational examination certificates, she was lucky enough to be accepted into vocational training at Northern Ballet School (Manchester, UK). During this time she studied Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Street Dance, Musical Theatre and Contemporary dance.
She has now completed her I.S.T.D DDE (Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education) and holds her level 1 and 2 PBT (progressive ballet training) qualification. Emily has been a member with the ISTD for 7 years. Emily has run first dance for many years completing many successful exam sessions and shows locally with her students.
She has mentored teachers at local dance school Kandeez and co-ordinated their ballet exams for over 2 years. Emily cannot wait to start teaching our dancers at KFD. Emily continues has attended CPD training in the following: First aid, safeguarding, Imperial Classical Ballet Grade 2 and 3 set work refresher, Imperial Classical Ballet Grade 4 Set work refresher, Imperial Classical Ballet Improving Student Outcomes, Biomechanics Relating to Turnout, Imperial Classical Ballet Barre work fundamentals and Allegro Vocabulary, ABC Dance Programme, Level 1 PBT, Level 2 PBT, Imperial Classical Ballet Ideas for Preschool Classes & Imperial Classical Ballet- The training of pirouettes.
Hannah Andrews
KFD Principal
KFD Safeguard Lead & CPD co-ordinator
BA (hons) Level 3 diploma in Performing Arts & Musical Theatre, Trinity PPA (Professional Performing Arts Diploma), Level 3 Cheerleading & Tumbling & Level 3 in Irish Dancing.
Hannah’s love of dance and performing started at a young age whilst learning and taking all exams in RAD Ballet and ISTD Tap and Modern. Hannah took part in numerous competitions around the country and performed in many shows within local theatre productions.
From 2010 to 2013 Hannah trained at Amersham and Wycombe College, gaining National Diplomas in Acting, Dancing and Singing. Following this, she trained as a professional dancer at the Stella Mann College of Performing Arts, where she gained the highest level “The Trinity qualification” a level 3 diploma in professional Performing Arts and Musical Theatre. Hannah also attended Irish dancing lessons and currently holds a level 3 Teaching qualification in this. Hannah holds level 1,2 and 3 in Cheer and tumbling with the UK Cheer Association.
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Hannah has attended CPD training in the following: first aid, safeguarding, creating magic in early years foundation classes, rock ‘n’ roll syllabus and DFR congress.
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Since leaving Stella Mann College, Hannah has continued her love for dance and has taught in many different dance schools in genres including Ballet, Tap, lyrical, Commercial, Street and Musical Theatre . She has also taught in the private school “Maltmans Green” where she taught speech and drama and successfully passed 100 plus students through the years with their Lamda exams.
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Hannah Teaches: Commercial, Street, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Tiny Tots, Modern & Tap.
Hannah is our safeguard lead alongside co-principals Carla & Emily and is the head of our teacher CPD, including first aid, safeguarding, insurances & general staff CPD courses.
Hannah will soon be training and working towards her associate with the ISTD in Street dance. She looks forward to bringing in new styles for KFD in the near future.
Katie Marum
KFD Teacher
KFD Tap, Ballet & Modern Teacher
BA (hons) - Level 3 Diploma in Performing Arts & Musical Theatre.
Katie has danced from the age of 3 in multiple styles, including tap, ballet and modern.
Katie was awarded multiple full scholarships to many prestigious colleges – Laines, Millennium and Performers to name a few. Katie went on to study at Italia Conti where she gained a level 3 diploma in performing arts and musical theatre.
Katie completed all of her ISTD grades up to advanced two in all 3 styles (Ballet, Tap & Modern) After Katie graduated college she went on to star in many TV shows/films, these include: Harry Potter and Eastenders.
She has also performed as a dancer at the BRITS on multiple occasions. Katie lives locally with her husband and two girls. She has been mentored by Emily for the last two years and plans to start her training with the ISTD in September 2025.
Katie has gained CPD training in first aid and safeguarding.