About ALADD...
The Alyson Livesey Academy was founded in January 1989, with just a handful of children. The school grew from strength to strength frequently appearing at major venues across the country, including the Palace Theatre, Manchester and even the London Palladium! In 1997, Alyson opened an additional branch in Whitefield (where we are today) and a further branch in Bolton. In February 2000 the whole school amalgamated and settled at the Whitefield premises.
We offer a variety of classes for all ages and abilities and our students get the opportunity to take part in professional productions alongside regular examinations with RAD, ISTD and Acrobatic Arts. Read all about our different classes here.
Alyson Jayne Livesey
RAD TC Dip, AISTD Dip, RTS, NBS Dip
Principal
Alyson began dancing at the age of 3 and at 16 won a place at the highly renowned Northern Ballet School. After a very demanding and successful three years she graduated with all her dancing and teaching qualifications.
Whilst the Academy grew, Alyson was also lecturing at a number of full-time colleges around the North, teaching students at a professional level, preparing them for teaching exams and professional contracts. It was only a few years later when the Academy expanded that Alyson gave up these posts to concentrate on her own school, which is now celebrating 28 years in business.
As principal and teacher of a busy school, Alyson will always try to keep up to date to offer the best to the students of the Academy. After qualifying as a certified teacher of the Acrobatics Arts syllabus Alyson was very excited to introduce Acro to the school in 2016. Alyson is a guest adjudicator for dance festivals and competitions and coaches elite gymnasts in ballet and dance to enhance their performance for competitions.
Our Staff...
Charlene Williams
Dance Teacher
Charlene started dancing at the age of four, at the Alyson Livesey Academy of Dance. At sixteen she went to Preston Dance College where she studied a full time dance and teachers of dance course. In 2002 she graduated as a fully qualified dance teacher. She then went on to dance at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
In 2003 she successfully auditioned as a show team cast member at Centre Parcs Oasis Whinfell Forest. After 2 consecutive contracts she successfully auditioned for a touring production of Riverdance in Majorca, Spain.
In 2006 Alyson Livesey formed a show team to travel to Pakistan to perform a number of routines for the Basant Festival. Whilst there, Charlene performed to thousands of people including the President.
From 2006 she settled in England and started teaching for ALADD on a permanent basis. Charlene worked as a professional dancer at The Birdcage nightclub in Manchester performing in cabaret shows until it's recent closure.
Zoe Munteanu
Dance Teacher
Zoe began dancing at the age of 3 and trained, reaching advanced level in R.A.D ballet, and I.D.T.A modern and tap.
She performed in 3 professional pantomimes between the ages of 14-16, before accepting her first professional job at 17 and heading to Japan for 6 months.
She then began to work for Sea Cruise UK for the next 8 years dancing in Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Portugal as Head Dancer, before moving onto the cruise ships with the same company working as a singer\dancer on Louis Cruise Lines, Salamis Cruise Lines and Club Cruises.
In 2004, after meeting her musician husband John, she made the move to vocalist and joined his band.
For the next 8 years, they worked for the majority of the major Cruise Lines, including Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Holland America, P&O, Princess and Crystal Cruise lines as a musical duo and a five piece party band. In-between contracts she went back to Sea Cruise Ltd as Assistant Choreographer to help install shows onto the ships.
In 2013, they settled back in Manchester and Zoe obtained her teaching qualifications becoming a member of both the I.D.T.A and the I.S.T.D.
She also, together with her husband runs a very successful entertainment agency, “Wave Entertainment”, providing musical artists to major Cruise Lines in the U.S.
Dave Lloyd
Drama Teacher
Dave began his training at the age of 3 at the North Cheshire Theatre School, where 30 years ago he first met and was taught by Alyson. He then spent 15 years studying both drama and dance. During his time training he had numerous theatre and television appearances.
In his late teens Dave worked as a dancer for the Manchester Giants basketball team where he regularly performed to audiences in their thousands. Dave formed a production company and they enjoyed success throughout the UK with touring shows and residencies.
Dave has now worked at the Academy for 15 years teaching Drama and loves every minute of it.
The last few years have seen Dave back on stage performing again, this time as a stand up comedian. He is now a regular comic on the circuit and has worked alongside many of the UK’s most saught after and well known comedy names.
Tilly Hayes
Dance Teacher
Tilly commenced her training at the Alyson Livesey Academy of Dance & Drama at the tender age of 18 months old, coming to dance classes with her mum. She took part in her very first show at the age of 2. Upon realising that her passion was dance and performance, she began to take part in as many classes as she could and in 2015 moved away from home to commence her training at full-time professional level.
Tilly trained at Preston College Dance Academy for two years and during this time she completed her vocational dance exams to an advanced level and also completed her ISTD dance teaching exams. During this time, Tilly was selected to perform on the main stage at 'Move It' dance convention in London 2017. She then moved to Tiffany Theatre College for her final year of training, where she began to work with numerous industry professionals. She made her professional debut as a dancer for Dua Lipa at the Brit Awards in 2018 and then went on to work for Sea Cruise UK in Greece. Tilly's most recent contract was aboard the MV Grand Celebration, sailing around America and the Bahamas, as a singer/dancer.
She enjoys coming back to teach at ALADD between contracts.
Laura Feenan
Visiting Teacher
Laura has always loved dance and drama and was a student at the Academy from the age of 10. After completing her degree at The Arden School of Theatre, she worked as a teacher for ALADD alongside pursuing her acting career in Manchester.
In 2018 Laura gained a place at the prestigious Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and recently graduated with an MA in Music Theatre. She recently made her professional debut in a new musical 'Voices from Across the World' at The Cockpit, Marylebone. Laura is one half of the creative team behind 'I Can Do That! A Miscast Cabaret' which is a cabaret series in London.
Whilst Laura is based in London, she still loves coming back to teach at ALADD when she is back in the North!