Your Future

Ray Quinn

Raymond Quinn began his dancing career at the age of six at Chiltern School of Dance & Drama under the guidance of his mentor and manager Mrs Colette Byatt. Following national recognition for his role as the bullied schoolboy, Anthony Murray, in Brookside, Ray transferred to MDDC to pursue his musical theatre career.

Ray began singing at the age of nine with Mrs Suzanne Taylor and continued his singing training with Suzanne throughout his time at MDDC.

After the long and arduous journey that saw Ray as runner up in the 2006 X Factor Ray has seen his stage and TV career flourish, with credits such as Baby Ballroom.

Ray played “Doody” in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre in the heart of London’s West End before joining ITV’s Dancing on Ice. where his dancing talent, and natural gift for performance, are currently wowing audiences.

DANCEBlog updates:

“Our little Ray of sunshine…“
Wobbling on Ice
Bette, Ray and the Guyliner
Ray Quinn “better than chocolate fudge cake”

See videos of Ray Quinn’s performances in Dancing on Ice here.

Danny Last

Danny trained at MDDC gaining his teaching qualifications before graduating in 2005. Since appearing on “Strictly Dance Fever” he’s starred in the “Simply Ballroom” UK and US tours, also performing in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, South Africa and the West End on the way!

In between tours Danny has been a backing dancer for Geri Halliwell and his other TV credits include Richard & Judy and This Morning. More recently he’s completed filming for the Simply Ballroom DVD also starring Anton Du Beke, Erin Boag, Julian Clary and Leslie Garret.

Performing in panto each season since graduation his credits include Aladdin, Dick Whittington and Cinderella. In November 2008 Danny came back home to tread the boards at the Liverpool Empire in Our Benny.

Using his teaching abilities in Warner Resorts and being World, European and British Line Dance Champion it seems that all the world really is a stage!

See more of Danny here

Sarah Hulse

Sarah started dancing at three in the Donnash Stage School in Helsby. She loved dancing and performing so much she decided to make a career out of it. Sarah graduated from MDDC with a diploma in Professional Dance Performance and Teacher Training in July 1999 and headed off to a contract in Tenerife.

Sarah’s love of dance and travel has seen her perform in Brazil, China, the Caribbean, Madagascar and the Seychelles amongst others with the Costa fleet of cruise liners. Now Sarah divides her time between teaching and training new recruits in Italy for the Costa fleet, performing on the various ships and her homes in Kent and Northern Italy.

“MDDC have a high standard of training and a number of graduating students have gone on to a successful career in Costas”, said Sarah.

Her hope for the future include “helping students bridge the gap between college and the real world”.

Check out Sarah’s sound advice on our DANCEBlog.

David Jonson

Since leaving college in 2000 David Jonson worked in a wide variety of performance roles before moving into choreography. Now with his own production company E.L.A Productions, he has also secured a recording deal with his first single due for release in the UK, Germany and the US in October 2009.

“It’s great to get the record deal - it’s all thanks to Suzanne Taylor’s training.“

You can find out more about David by clickling either of the links above. Connect to David on his Facebook Page: David Jonson Music

Fay Masterman

Since graduating in 2006 Fay has complete the Royal Academy of Dance CBTS 2 year course, to obtain full RAD teaching status.

She has also obtained full status with the IDTA in Ballet, Tap, Modern and Freestyle, on top of the qualifications she achieved at MDDC in ISTD CDE Modern and Tap.

Immediately after graduating Fay started her own dance classes with just 3 pupils at the local village hall.

Since then the dance school (The Dance Factory) has grown into its own premises, has over 175 pupils, a theatre school (The Theatre Factory) and a shop.

“I have to thank the wonderful teachers and tutors who inspired me to be the teacher I am today.“ Fay Masterman

Melanie Hunt

Melanie Southern (nee Hunt) left MDDC way back in 1995. After three “wonderful” years, Melanie graduated and went onto several dancing jobs in the UK, Greece, Spain and Italy.

She worked as a dancer in holiday camps and hotels for a few years before landing in Blackpool where she met her future husband.

Now married with twin boys, Melanie is working as a dance teacher but she just can’t stop her feet from treading the boards too and can often be seen performing in and around Blackpool, most recently in Blackpool Tower.

“I loved college so much and have lots of happy memories. Although it was hard work, it was worth it.“ Melanie Southern