Mrs Meadwell and FOOTSTEPS
FOOTSTEPS is founded on a long tradition of dancing classes held at Avenue Hall in Raynes Park, West Wimbledon, London SW20.
The Principal, Mrs Maryrose Meadwell, qualified as a teacher with the RAD, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the ISTD, before following an extensive career in the theatre as a dancer, actress and choreographer.
She was a freelance teacher for a number of years before coming to Avenue Hall in 1980. At that time the classes were part of The Jean Hart Academy of Dancing. Mrs Meadwell took over the Raynes Park Branch from Miss Hart in 1983 and renamed the classes FOOTSTEPS.
The school currently provides tuition for pupils ranging from 21/2 to 18, with classes in Ballet (RAD) and Drama at Avenue Hall and at The Ursuline High School Dance Studio in The Downs nearby.
Ballet pupils may take Grade & Vocational examinations with The Royal Academy of Dance, which sets the highest standards of ballet training. We have 100% pass rate and many students have seen their hard work and talent rewarded with a Merit or Distinction result.
Drama pupils take the examinations with LAMDA, most achieving Merit and Distinction grades.
FOOTSTEPS has won many awards at Drama Festivals, including the Premier Award for the highest mark at the Kingston Festival every year for seven consecutive years.
Many FOOTSTEPS pupils take classes in both dance and drama, and are thus able to integrate the different disciplines to become versatile all-round performers. Former pupils have gone on to further training at Arts Educational, Elmhurst Ballet School, Italia Conti, The Laban Centre, Laine Theatre Arts, The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and the Royal Ballet School, and to work in film, TV and Theatre.
