Ben Cole - Company Director

Ben started having Dance lessons at the age of six and moved into Musical Theatre a few years later. After gaining a distinction in his BTEC in Performing Arts he moved to Coventry University to take a BA degree in Dance and Theatre. In September this year Ben will begin a PGCE in Dance Teaching at the prestigious R.A.D in London.

Ben has performed on stage with theatre groups across the midlands, most recently taking the role of Mike, in 'A Chorus Line'. He has already gained extensive experience teaching in schools, currently working on projects in Sandwell, Dudley and Coventry with children of all ages teaching both Dance and Drama up to GCSE level.

After being on stage for many years, Ben is now treading the boards on the production and arts management side. Ben is keen to continue to gain directing and choreography experience with other local companies and through his founding of this company also.

 

Kalvin Lamey- Artistic Director - Performance Troupe

Kalvin has been dancing since he can remember and over the years has won many awards and competitions in many different dance genres. He is currently an adult champion in  freestyle disco and taking his teachers exams.

After attending Solihull College, where he was taught by Hayley on his BTEC, Kalvin continued his training at Bodyworks School of Dance in Cambridge where he gained a real passion for the contemporary side of dance and is keen to make this his field.

He also attended Italia Conti for a further year of training before embarking on a summer season dancing in Majorca earlier this year. On his return from Majorca he landed a role in Casualty which was aired in October.

Kalvin was a finalist in the recent Arlene Phillips programme for the BBC 'Dance X', which involved surviving live heats week after week singing and dancing as part of a new pop group. This has opened many exciting opportunities for him.

Jonathan Dudley - Producer/Choreographer - Youtheatre

 Jonathan is currently training at the prestigious Mountview Academy Of Theatre Arts, London in Musical Theatre. By working alongside some of the industrys finest he is thrilled to bring these skills to Aberrantheatre.

His credits include Featured dancer/solist in Worcester Pantomime Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, backing dancer for newly signed recording artists and cabaret acts. Dance Captain and Soloist, Magical Motown. Choreography includes We Will Rock You (Grand Theatre), Disco Inferno (Arena Theatre) and last years succesful youth production of Godspell.

He can now be seen choreographing shows around the Midlands area. Jonathan also works as a freelance Dance and drama facilitator for Aberrantheatre and also other local stage schools.

 

Hayley Ketteringham-Coton - Dance Facilitator

 All Hayley's work is fuelled by her enthusiasm for teaching and her passion for dance. She is widely experienced in all different styles, having danced all her life. In 1998 Hayley established her own Dance School based in Halesowen, HYPA, which is now producing two full scale productions a year and caters for children and adults of all ages. Hypa have just enjoyed their 10th Anniversary production, which involved collaborations with martial artists and teaching a group of rugby players a contemporary piece in the space of a few weeks.

When Hayley isn't tied up with the Dance school she offers her services as a freelance dance teacher to schools in Dudley and Worcestershire under her other company name, Unity Dance and somehow still manages to find time to work with us.

Having completed her BA (Hon) in Dance and Professional Practice she went on to gain her PGCE in Further Education. On finishing her education she was immediately offered the position of Head of Dance at Solihull College, a position she held for two years, whilst also delivering dance to Halesowen College.

Hayley is also particularly experienced in working with children with special needs, an aspect of the job she thoroughly enjoys and finds particularly rewarding.

                                                                          

                   
 
                                                      Claire Kramer - Dance/Drama Facilitator

Claire grew up in Wolverhampton and discovered her love of dancing at a very early age. After many years attending dance school and joining local theatre companies, Claire completed her training at the Arts Educational School in London. Not only was she successful in gaining a place there, she was also awarded a scholarship from Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Claire went on to perform with touring cabaret acts after finishing her training at Arts before returning to the Midlands as her permanent base.

Nowadays Claire can be seen again performing on local stages and choreographing for Companies across the Midlands, passing on her valuable experiences of the professional industry.

An active member of the Performance Troupe, this year Claire has started teaching both dance and drama with us in local schools and was involved in our project with New Horizons Childcare.

Last year Claire enjoyed the challenge of choreographing 'A Chorus Line' and taking the part of Val. With the arrival of her first child in May this year, Claire will be straight back to choreographing the midlands amateur premiere of 'Boogie Nights'.

 

 

Ben Kennedy - Musical Director

Ben graduated from UCE Birmingham Conservatoire in June 2005 and is now working as freelance musician. Since Graduating he is now working at the Conservatoire as a visiting member of staff both with the School of Vocal and Operatic Studies, and as an official accompanist.

With the Vocal Department, Ben conducted the Conservatoire's highly acclaimed production of the hit musical Jekyll and Hyde. His role as an accompanist involves playing for masterclasses, workshops, auditions and performance classes as well as accompanying a large number of students in their end of year and final recitals.

His work in Musical Theatre encompasses conducting and being Musical Director for a variety of shows and also working as a pit keyboard player throughout the country. Additional performances include work as an orchestral pianist with the CBSO and also the Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to performing work, Ben also arranges, engraves and transcribes music, and his recent two piano reduction of Joseph Schwantner's Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra is due to be publised worldwide at the composers request.