The Performing Arts Team
TAMZIN SINCLAIR-SIVINS
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT / DANCE
Tamzin has worked and trained as professional dancer for a number of years and is now Head of Performing Arts at Ashton Sixth Form College, where she has been a teacher of dance for 16 years. Awarded grade 1, outstanding by OFSTED. Examiner for AQA and Managing Director of Torque Dance Company, choreographer for 2faced Theatre Company
She has performed in a wide range of theatrical contexts from club-land, cabaret, burlesque, contemporary and mainstream. She has danced with artists such as Angie Brown (Bizare Inc), Love Decade and Rhythm Quest. Tamzin has experience of teaching dance in a wide range of areas including AS and A level, BTEC and Applied performance courses.
Tamzin particularly enjoys producing and delivering enrichment opportunities and is keen to inspire others to dance. She feels that everyone can enjoy and achieve if the delivery of dance is both imaginative and relevant. Tamzin has experience in a variety of dance styles including a range of Contemporary techniques, Jazz, Ballet, Ballroom and Urban. Tamzin has a BA (Hons) degree in dance from Bretton Hall and has a PGCE from Huddersfield University. She has trained with Janet Smith, Kevin Finnan (Motionhouse), Wayne McGregor (Random Dance) and Beth Cassani. She enjoys performing, creating, choreography and directing performance work. She is particularly interested in teaching and learning, enriching dance students lives, developing qualifications and creating opportunities for people to dance.
SHERIDAN LEWIS
DRAMA / ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL - Aspirations and Achievement
Sheridan studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama and English at Liverpool John Moores University and has a PGCE and MA from MMU. He has worked in the professional theatre in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester and also appeared in a number of drama series on television. As a director Sheridan has worked in the professional and fringe theatre and as a teacher he has directed a huge variety and number of productions, including: The Wizard of Oz, Little Shop of Horrors, Bouncers, Grease, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Our Day Out, Waiting for Godot, Two, Road, Six Characters in Search of an Author and countless others. He is very proud to have seen many of his ex-students progress to university, some of the most prestigious academies including RADA, Central, Mountview, The Royal Scotish Academy, ALRA and Rose Bruford and into successful careers on the stage and screen.
LUKE WARREN
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
Luke started off in the mid nineties as a DJ, playing around the North West at the Music Box, Sankeys, and the Boardwalk. That led Luke on to study Music Technology at City College Manchester, and then at Salford Uni on the Popular Music & Recording degree.
Luke then worked as an assistant engineer at the Cutting Rooms, assisting on sessions with A Certain Ratio, Kurt Brandon, Kings Have Long Arms and lots of other Manchester bands. He then made and released his own electronic/house music and remixed for people including Zed Bias, before starting to teach at a number of specialist music technology colleges in Manchester.
Now owning his own studio, Luke works with a variety of artists with recent work including the mixing of Jun Tzu's album The Troubles, and is currently working on another big Hip Hop project called Son Of Sam.
TOM CARUANA
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
Tom has produced beats for a number of projects over the years. His reworking of hip hop classics have been critically acclaimed, most notably his Wu Tang vs The Beatles mash-up.
Tom moved studied Commercial Music at the University of Westminster. Tom runs his own record label, Tea Sea Records and has produced artists such as Rizzle Kicks, Professor Elemental & Dr Syntax. Tom is currently working on an album with long time band Son Of Sam.
CLAIRE THACKARY
MUSIC
After studying cello at Guildhall School of Music, Claire was Principal cello for English Touring Opera from 1988–2000. She has worked as a freelance cellist with orchestras such as Academy of St. Martin in the Field, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera North. She has played in a number of West End shows. Claire’s now teaches A level music, alongside freelance orchestral work, private instrumental teaching and providing string quartets for weddings and events.
CHRIS EVANS
DRAMA
After studying Drama at Edge Hill University Chris remained there to gain his PGCE with the focus on Further Education. After gaining his PGCE Chris began his acting career. His theatrical debut came in the form of playing the lead role in They Shoot Dog’s since then he has been an actor, director and writer for many other performances ranging from children theatre to experimental immersive theatre. Chris still has contacts at some Touring Theatre Companies that he has worked with and continues to work in the industry alongside his teaching at Ashton Sixth Form College.
DRAMA
After studying Drama at Edge Hill University Chris remained there to gain his PGCE with the focus on Further Education. After gaining his PGCE Chris began his acting career. His theatrical debut came in the form of playing the lead role in They Shoot Dog’s since then he has been an actor, director and writer for many other performances ranging from children theatre to experimental immersive theatre. Chris still has contacts at some Touring Theatre Companies that he has worked with and continues to work in the industry alongside his teaching at Ashton Sixth Form College.
JON ELLIS
PERFORMING ARTS TRAINER / TECHNICIAN
After studying Popular Music & Recording at Salford University Jon put his musical skills to good use by designing sound effects and music for fruit machines. He played bass in the Manchester based band Oceansize that released two albums on Beggars Banquet and toured with such bands as Biffy Clyro and Porcupine Tree. Jon went on to teach Music & Music Technology at The Manchester College before joining Ashton Sixth Form College. Jon loves all things music tech and will often be found making strange noises with boxes with lots of lights on.