Emily has been immersed in the world of performing arts since the age of three, beginning her journey as a dancer. At nine, she discovered her love for musical theatre when she joined a local theatre group, and she has been performing ever since. Her passion led her to the University of Central Lancashire, where she earned a BA Hons in Music Theatre, graduating with first-class honors in 2019.
Following her graduation, Emily worked as a performer for Bourne Leisure, gaining invaluable experience in the entertainment industry. She has continued to perform in local theatre productions and as a professional vocalist, further honing her craft. Alongside her performing career, Emily is a dedicated vocal coach and choir leader, working privately and in various schools across West Yorkshire.
For Emily, performing is not just a career; it's a lifelong passion. Her greatest joy comes from passing on that passion to the next generation of performers. Opening Amber Lights Performing Arts has been the highlight of her career, and she is incredibly proud to call it her own. Emily's vision for Amber Lights is to create a nurturing environment where young talents can discover their potential and shine on stage.
Emma brings a unique blend of experience to her role as Academy Manager at Amber Lights Performing Arts School. Starting her journey in figure skating at the age of seven, Emma performed for many winter seasons at the renowned Blackpool Ice Arena, honing her skills in performance and discipline. Her background in skating, coupled with a strong foundation in music, gives her a well-rounded perspective on the performing arts.
While Musical Theatre performance isn't her primary specialty, Emma's passion for live theatre is undeniable. She has been a devoted fan of musicals for years and loves attending performances with her family, always finding inspiration in the magic of the stage. Since the very first day of Amber Lights, Emma has been an integral part of the team, dedicated to creating a nurturing and vibrant environment for students to explore their talents.
In addition to her extensive experience in the arts, Emma has worked closely with young people and adults with disabilities and special educational needs. She is deeply committed to ensuring that the arts are accessible to all, believing that everyone should have the opportunity to express themselves creatively. This passion drives her to continually seek out ways to make Amber Lights an inclusive and supportive space for all students, regardless of their background or abilities. Emma’s dedication to inclusivity, combined with her experience and enthusiasm, makes her a valued member of the ALPA family.
Gavin has been working at Amber Lights Performing Arts since we opened in 2021. He has been on the stage since he was young and performed all across the country.
Gavin went on to study Musical Theatre at The Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film and Television in Edinburgh. The highlight of his time at theatre school was getting to travel to London's West End to perform his final showcase.
After graduating, Gavin went on to work all across Europe for companies such as TUI and P&O, helping him develop a strong understanding of the performing industry. He has a passion for the theatre and is always trying to expand his knowledge by keeping up with his practice.
Gavin has taught masterclasses and workshops all across Europe and has just graduated as a Primary School teacher, in his first ECT year. He is no stranger to standing up and sharing his expertise with everyone around him.
Nikki is currently the dance teacher at ALPA. She has always loved the performing arts and has been a part of the performing arts world since the age of 3. Nikki has a love for dance which inspired her to take and complete BA (Hons) in Dance at Leeds Beckett University. Nikki is experienced in many different dance styles including Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Ballet, Commercial and Street. She has performed in multiple shows whether that be a dance show or a musical theatre one. Nikki loves being able to share her knowledge and passion for the performing arts and feels incredibly grateful for being able to do that through ALPA.
Olivia is in her final year at New College Bradford, and is currently studying, Dance, Performing Arts and Music. She first got into performing at a young age taking multiple dance lessons a week, as she grew up she spindled a new passion for musical theatre, branching out from her original love of dance. Olivia had no idea where to begin until in 2021 she found Amber Lights Performing Arts, a new performing arts school. From her first day the tutors worked with her to develop her knowledge and boost her confidence in ways nobody else could have. Olivia’s time as a student at ALPA allowed her to express herself in a completely safe environment supported by staff and students who cared for her growth and allowed her to experiment with ways to access her creative side. Eventually after a few years of being at ALPA she also found her love for teaching and passing on her knowledge down to a young generation to give them the same opportunities and realise how fantastic performance is. Recently she found her enthusiasm for the stage featuring in, The Wizard of Oz pantomime, as ensemble and a Lemon Tree (2023), Rock of Ages as ensemble (2024), Frozen as Elsa (2024) and Shrek the Musical as ensemble along with Dance Captain (2024). Olivia wants to gain a degree in Musical Theatre in the coming years and eventually meet her all time dream of becoming a West End performer.