Our Teachers
Lucie Wilson
Principal
Lucie Wilson is the principal of WBBS and Ascot Academy of Dance. With a background in both teaching and performing, Lucie is passionate about creating an inspiring and supportive environment for aspiring dancers.
Lucie joined WBBS as a student when she was just 3 years old and never left! She found a passion for teaching when she used to assist the younger classes. Lucie believes that ballet is about more than just technique; it’s about building confidence, fostering creativity, and forming a close-knit community.
Cara Drower was a huge inspiration to Lucie and mentored her through all her teaching qualifications, first with her DDE ISTD and later with her further teaching qualifications, Licentiate ISTD.
As principal Lucie is committed to inspiring the next generation of dancers and sharing the joy and discipline that ballet brings to life.
Jane Scholl
Honourable Mention
Jane Scholl was trained at the Hampshire School alongside Sir Anthony Dowell, Maina Gielgud and Mrs Hampshire's daughter Susan, then The Royal Ballet School and The Rambert School. While in Paris she spent 10 years as principal choreographer to a local theatrical company. Her daughter joined West Berks Ballet School in 1989 and Jane became so enthused that she herself started taking classes again. She studied for and passed her Cecchetti Vocational examinations and is fully qualified with the Cecchetti Faculty of the ISTD. Jane has been Principal of WBBS since 2002.
Claire Bowden
Musical Theatre Specialist & Dance Teacher
Claire Bowden’s dance journey began at WBBS, where she trained for 14 years before pursuing full-time studies at London Studio Centre. At LSC, Claire earned a BA (Hons) in Theatre Dance and a Diploma in Musical Theatre and became a qualified ISTD teacher in both Modern Theatre and Tap dance. Claire’s professional career spans a broad range of experiences. She toured with the Seedtime Company in their production of The Wiz and performed in Guys and Dolls at London’s Royal Festival Hall, paying tribute to the Olivier Award-winning choreographer David Toguri. Her versatility extends to cabaret and variety shows with Mountain Entertainment. In addition to her stage work, Claire was the lead singer with function band Misbehavin’ for six years and continues as one half of the piano/vocal duo Misbehavin’ 2. She is also a regular guest singer and compere with the Heritage Light Orchestra and sings at private events including Newbury Racecourse and the Royal County of Berkshire Annual Show. She has performed many leading roles in local amateur productions such as Eliza in My Fair Lady, Laurie in Oklahoma!, Lady Marmalade in Disco Inferno, Babs in Acorn Antiques and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, and she has worked extensively as a Choreographer and Director for Kennet Amateur Theatrical Society, Newbury Nomads and Newbury Musical Theatre Society. Her passion for teaching is evident in her role as a dance educator across several schools in West Berkshire. As such, Claire is responsible for choreographing annual performances at notable venues like Arlington Arts, the Newbury Corn Exchange, and Reading Hexagon, often working with casts of up to 180 students. Returning to WBBS in 2002, Claire introduced modern, jazz, and tap classes to our school, and later rebranded these as “MT&T” to reflect her dedication to Musical Theatre. Her commitment to excellence is showcased in the ambitious full-scale musicals she produces every other year, including The Wiz, Shrek, and Matilda. Since 2011, she has also led ever-popular WBBS summer schools, where participants perform a show in just one week, with past productions featuring favourites such as The Lion King, Aladdin, Mary Poppins, and Oliver. Claire’s extensive expertise and infectious enthusiasm make her a driving force of musical theatre education and performance, inspiring and guiding the next generation of performers.
Gemma Cole
Ballet
Gemma has been a keen dancer all of her life, joining WBBS in 2002. Gemma completed a BA in Dance Studies at Roehampton University in 2012 and came straight back to WBBS to assist Claire with the Modern and Tap classes and teach at all of the Summer Schools. In 2022 Gemma graciously took on the role of ballet teacher for the youngest ballerinas in the school to start a new chapter in her teaching career. She is a keen actress and regularly choreographs for the local amateur dramatic society, KATS and if you sometimes can't recognise her... she does change her hair colour quite a lot! Gemma is very excited to be given the opportunity to teach with such a prestigious school and can't wait to see what her future holds with WBBS.
Cara Drower
Honourable Mention
Cara Drower After 12 inspirational years teaching pupils of all ages at WBBS Cara has found her dream house by the seaside in Folkestone and will no longer be teaching those classes. Cara will concentrate on training future Cecchetti teachersworking towards their DDI and DDE qualifications .
Cara was Head of Dance at The Arts Educational School, Tring Park for 18 years. She was on the faculty of The Royal Ballet School Teacher Training Course for 6 years. She is a Fellow of the Cecchetti Faculty of the ISTD, a major examiner, holds Maestro Cecchetti Final Diploma. And is a frequent guest teacher in the USA and Canada.
Gillian Robinson
WBBS Founder
Gillian Robinson was trained at the Royal Ballet School Lower and Upper Schools and danced professionally at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and with London's Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet).
She has passed the Advanced examinations of the Cecchetti Society, the Royal Academy of Dancing and holds the Maestro Cecchetti Final Diploma. She is a highly qualified and registered teacher, holding the Fellowship of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (Cecchetti) with distinction, and has been teaching dancing since 1972. She has taught in the Canada and France as well as the UK. Although now retired from full time teaching she continues to work as a major examiner with the Cecchetti Faculty of the ISTD and is a regular guest teacher and coach at our school.
