About us

Vestry School of Dance & Performing Arts was established in 1996 by Lyndsey Ward.

Welcome to Vestry School of Dance. Classes are held six days a week at various venues around Walthamstow and Chingford, East London. Ages range from 18 months to Adults.

Classes are held in Classical Ballet, Tap and Modern, Contemporary/Creative Dance, Acrobatic Arts, Commercial Dance, Musical Theatre, Acting and Singing.
Awards/Exams are held annually and shows are performed every two years for Juniors and the Senior School.

Teachers
All Teachers employed by the school are professionally trained at many of the countries leading colleges and are ex-professional dancers/performers with many years of experience in their relevant fields.
All teachers are DBS checked.
A first aid certified member of staff is on site at all times.

Our Teaching Staff 2025

Miss Lyndsey Ward

Miss Lyndsey Ward

Principal

Biography and Qualifications

Miss Lyndsey Ward; Principal: RAD RTS, AISTD DIP, AIDTA, Acrobatic Arts Certified, Registered member of Rambert Grades, Registered Chaperone Lyndsey trained at the Urdang Academy and London Studio Centre. She has taken vocational exams in all the major exams including: The Royal Academy, Cecchetti Ballet, Russian Ballet, IDTA Ballet, Modern, Tap and ISTD Modern and Tap before dancing professionally on both stage and TV. She was The West Midland Senior Ballet Champion and a finalist in Miss Dance of Great Britain. Lyndsey has been a practical teaching supervisor for the Royal Academy CBTS course and has mentored for their BADE practical placement. Lyndsey was Artistic Director of the Birmingham youth dance company for 20yrs She has taught as a freelance artist at many schools in Waltham Forest and was the specialist GCSE dance teacher at Trinity Catholic high school in Woodford for 10 yrs.

Miss Tracy Au

Miss Tracy Au

Vice Principal

Biography and Qualifications

RAD RTS, ARAD, RAD solo seal, Certified Level 3 PBT teacher, Silver Swan Licensees, Acrotix Certified, Registered member of Rambert Grades

Tracy began her Ballet training at the Jean M Wong School of Ballet in Hong Kong and was awarded a scholarship to study Ballet at the Zhejiang Vocational Academy of Art. Tracy was awarded the ‘Dame Margot Fonteyn Scholarship’ to train at the English National Ballet School. Tracy has danced with both the English National Ballet Company and the Hong Kong Ballet Company. Tracy has achieved the Royal Academy of Dance Solo Seal Award, which is the highest Vocational Ballet examination. Tracy is an experienced RAD registered teacher, Silver Swan Licensee Teacher, Level 3 PBT Certified Teacher, and Acrotrix Certified.

Mr Ethan Brookes

Mr Ethan Brookes

Teacher

Biography and Qualifications

Ethan started Ballet in local dance schools, when he was 16 years old he was given a full scholarship to train at The Royal Ballet Upper School and The English National Ballet School. Upon graduation, he joined the National Ballet of Ireland as a soloist and was promoted to principal dancer later with the company before joining English National Ballet. Ethan performed in many productions including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, A Christmas Carol, Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, and La apres midi d’un faune.

Miss Becky Hacet

Miss Becky Hacet

Saturday Admin

Biography and Qualifications

Becky has been dancing since the age of 3.

She trained at The Stella Mann Academy.

Gaining Vocational qualifications in Ballet, Tap and Modern upto Advanced 2 level.

She has teaching qualifications in all 3 genres.

Miss Becky Levett

Miss Becky Levett

Teacher

Biography and Qualifications

Becky has been dancing since the age of 4.

She trained at Wilkes Academy in Musical Theatre. 2015-2018.

Becky has competed in hip hop/ commercial troupes for competitions such as Star Power and KDC.

Her background covers all styles of dance and she has taken exams in ISTD, IDTA and RAD up to advanced 2.

Becky has worked for Warner Leisure as part of the production cast and then returning as dance captain and choreographer.

Miss Ruth Lynch

Miss Ruth Lynch

Teacher

Biography and Qualifications

Ruth started dancing at Vestry at the age of 3yrs. She took classes in all genres of Performing Arts and has taken exams up to Advanced and Grade 8 in RAD Ballet and ISTD Tap/Modern plus Musical Theatre and Drama LAMDA . Ruth completed her professional training at the MTA College. She has performed in 8 “Hackney Empire” Pantomimes as part of the Child’s and ADP ensemble and made her professional debut in 2022 as “Priscilla” the goose in “Mother Goose” at the Hackney Empire, she was been nominated for an OFFIES “Best Newcomer” award. Ruth is starring as “Spirit of the Ring” in the 2023 production of “Aladdin” at Hackney to rave reviews.

Miss Becky Goodey

Miss Becky Goodey

Teacher

Biography and Qualifications

Becky started her dance training at the age of 9 in Chelmsford, Essex. She studied all genres of dance and has taken ISTD exams up to Advanced 1 in Ballet and Modern, along with Advanced 2 in Tap. She holds ISTD teaching qualifications in Ballet, Tap and Modern and is also a STOTT Pilates Level 3 instructor.

Teaching is Becky’s passion, she is committed to creating a positive, inspiring environment where students can grow in confidence, discipline, and creativity. Her goal is to nurture each dancer’s potential while instilling a lifelong love for dance.

Miss Sophie Whittle

Miss Sophie Whittle

Teacher

Biography and Qualifications

Sophie started her dance training at the age of 2 in Worthing, West Sussex where she enjoyed studying all aspects of theatre and performance. This love of performing won her a place at Rose Bruford College where she graduated in 2009 with a BA(Hons) in European Theatre Arts. Since graduating, Sophie has pursued various projects including attending the Edinburgh Fringe with Rory Bremner’s adaptation of Brecht’s ‘A Respectable Wedding’. She has appeared in panto as well as toured the UK with various musical theatre productions including Oliver and the Wizard of Oz. Sophie began her formal dance teacher training with Vestry School of Dance in 2013 becoming a teacher in 2014. Sophie also works full time for the London Ambulance service.

Miss Marta Swierczynska

Miss Marta Swierczynska

Teacher

Biography and Qualifications

MA in Contemporary Dance (EDGE) (2019 – 2020) – London Contemporary Dance School. Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst, Leipzig, Germany (September 2021) – dancer in an improvised performance of spoken word. Secret Art Gallery, London (June 2021) – dancer and choreographer for a site-specific performance, exploring lack of touch during COVID-19 pandemic as part of a gallery exhibition. EDGE Dance Company (2019- 2020) triple bill, works by Alleyne Dance, Igor & Moreno, Riccardo Buscarini. Living Scapes (2020) by Emanuela Passadore, dance video. Joulie Fox – Don’t Be Shy (2020) dancer and choreographer, music video. Into the Labyrinth (2019) by Christopher Tudor. ArtsDepot. Akathistos (2019) by Sian Hopkins and Cantata Dramatica. Voices for Change, St Stephen Walbrook. Chilè – Rhythm of Joy (2018) dancer and choreographer, music video. Happiness and Joy (2016) Anna Watkins and Lisa Rowley.

Miss Laura Baker

Miss Laura Baker

Teacher

Biography and Qualifications

BA (Dance Education), RAD RTS, PBT Certified.

Laura trained at Aberystwyth Arts Centre Dance School from the age of three. Laura was the inaugural winner of the Arts Centre’s Sir Ian McKellen award for her artistic promise and passion for the Arts. She continued her professional training at the Royal Academy of Dance, graduating with a 1st class honours degree and registered teacher status (RTS). Whilst studying in London, she gained invaluable experience teaching for various reputable ballet schools, and assisting for English National Ballet School’s Juniors programme. Laura is also a Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Certified Teacher and has studied the Classical Dance Australia vocational ballet syllabi.

Miss Helen Green

Miss Helen Green

Teacher

Biography and Qualifications

Miss Helen Green FISTD.

Helen trained at The Bush Davies school and then Bird College. After several years of touring in Europe Helen returned to teach at the Bird College. She became an ISTD examiner in 1998, a member of the ISTD Tap Committee in 2003 and an International Examiner in 2005. She will work with us on Thursday.