Anthony Clifford Studios
01708 754959 – 783576
Anthony Clifford Studios
01708 754959 – 783576
Tap Modern FISTD Imperial Ballet Associate Artist of Royal
Opera House CTD, LAMDA Gold.
Diana started her dance training locally from the age of 4 and then was accepted for training full-time at the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts on their Musical Theatre Course where she trained for 3 years. She then danced and sang professionally across the world in musical theatre productions at Sea for Princess, Saga and
P&O cruises including parts as “Peggy Sawyer” in 42nd Street, and “Meg” in Phantom of the Opera. It was at sea that she met her husband Mark and they set up the school together from scratch in 1994.
Diana is qualified with the ISTD in 7 Genres, Imperial Ballet, Tap, Modern, Ballroom, Latin-American, Disco-Freestyle and National and has Fellowships in Tap and Modern, Licentiate in Ballet and DDE in everything else. She has taught both
children and adults, from beginners to Advanced 2 to distinction level.
She is an approved Tutor for DDE and enjoys teaching the next generation of future Teachers in all units 1-5. She also teaches the Drama, Singing and Musical Theatre. Most
recently she was extremely proud to be trained as an Associate Artist of the Royal Opera House Chance to Dance Project. This has meant working with members and lead Artists of the Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet Company and school and working in state Primary Schools to promote and teach ballet to children in year
3. She even got to dance and perform herself alongside her children on the Royal Opera House Linden Stage!
Having taught for over 30 years, her Ex-pupils can now be found competing, dancing and teaching professionally too, in the West End as leading roles, across the country and on cruise ships. She has trained the National winner of the ISTD Victor Leopold Cup for Tap and her pupils have been asked by ISTD to premiere the new tap syllabi and to appear on the Set Grade videos for Ballet and Tap Grade 3.
Many of her students however even if they do not go on to performing careers are now so fond of their times spent at ACS that they are bringing their own children back to dance here.
Diana was extremely proud to be the winner of the “Imperial Award for outstanding contributions to Dance Teaching in 2012.
ACS had 2 dance numbers accepted to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in the first ever Dance Proms. The Studios have also won their section of Dance School of the year 4 times and in 2020 were crowned Over-All Winners against thousands of schools from across the world!
Diana and Mark have two grown children Joe and Chris who continue the dancing, singing and Acting tradition and now have a little grandson who seems to be itching to get on his dance shoes!
Mark Anthony LISTD Modern DDE Tap, Latin, Ballroom, Disco-Freestyle
Mark’s original dance training was at Walsall Academy of Performing Arts in his home town the the West Midlands where he obtained his ‘vocational’ examinations in Ballet, Tap and Modern dance. During his training he appeared with the London City Ballet in ‘Carmen‘ and ‘Swan Lake’.
After college he worked in as a professional dancer for nearly 10 years. TV appearances included ‘The Bill’ and ‘The Perfect Hero’ and he also toured with National productions of ‘Oklahoma!’, ‘Guys and Dolls’ and ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ where he played the part of Daniel.
His performing career included numerous shows, pantomimes and tours as a dancer,/singer/actor both in Europe and across the UK and later when employed on cruise ships he performed throughout the American Continent. He had many roles during this period including singing as Raoul in ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and the MC in ‘Cabaret’. He enjoys choreography and is especially proud of his Janet Cram students. He specialises in the modern boys work and was a guest tutor giving jazz and musical theatre master classes at Abbs Cross Academy. Mark, just like Diana teaches a whole range of ISTD classes from children to adults Modern, Tap, Jazz, Latin, Ballroom and Salsa. He enjoys still Teaching Ballroom and Latin at Sea for P&O and Saga Cruise lines and has also lectured in Salsa at The Royal Ballet IDS Summer School as well as hosting and teaching the Royal Opera Houses’s Family Tea Dance taking place at ROH in the wonderful Flower Hall ,Covent Garden with their live orchestra. Mark has Licentiate in Modern and CDE in Modern, Tap, Ballroom, Latin American and Disco-Freestyle.
