Our Team
Sandra Danby
Founder
Sandra began her professional dance career at just eleven years old, securing contracts at the Scala Theatre and the Derby Hippodrome. Her early success led to appearances on the Carol Levis Junior Discoveries Talent Show, as well as pantomime roles including Girl Babe in Babes in the Wood alongside Marty Wilde. She went on to perform in Goodie Two Shoes and Robinson Crusoe.
At sixteen, Sandra joined Billy Smart’s Circus, where she performed aerial ballet forty feet in the air without a safety net. She later returned to theatre, dancing in the touring West End cabaret Limelight, performing at venues including Eastbourne, the Isle of Wight, and the Pier Pavilion in Cromer.
Alongside her performing career, Sandra began teaching at the age of eighteen, opening the Miss Sandra School of Dance in Brentwood, Doddinghurst, and Ingatestone. These three schools later merged to become what is now known as San-Marie Stage School.
In 1994, Sandra retired from teaching, proudly passing the school to her daughter, Lisa-Marie. Her career reflects a lifelong dedication to dance, performance, and the nurturing of future generations.
Lisa-Marie Jobson
Principal - ISTD DDE, UTD examiner (degree status), AIDTA
Lisa-Marie’s journey in the world of performance began at the age of six, when she made her professional stage debut in Hans Christian Andersen alongside Tommy Steele at the London Palladium. By eleven, she had secured a full-time place at Italia Conti, later continuing her training at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, studying dance, drama, and singing.
Her career spanned film and television, with credits including P’Tang Y’ang Kipperbang, Secret Places, Grange Hill, Razzmatazz, All American Amusement Arcade, and Jury. She also appeared as Daisy in A Woman of Substance alongside Deborah Kerr and Jenny Seagrove.
At seventeen, Lisa-Marie joined the cast of 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, followed by Ziegfeld at the London Palladium. She later performed as a Bluebell Girl in the Royal Variety Performance, attended by the Queen Mother and the Duchess of York. Her career also took her overseas, dancing on a Caribbean cruise ship, before returning to the UK as Dance Captain and Assistant Choreographer on the UK tour of Underneath the Arches starring Bernie Winters.
At twenty-one, Lisa-Marie completed her final teaching examinations with honours. In 1994, she became Principal of San-Marie Stage School, overseeing its continued growth. She later joined the council of the United Teachers of Dance, contributing to the syllabus for Major Tap and Adult Tap examinations. In 2005, she was awarded the Valerie Anne Harris Award for her outstanding contribution to the UTD.
Alongside running San-Marie, Lisa-Marie founded Smartypants Agency in 2008, achieved her Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education with the ISTD in 2012, and continues to support young performers through teaching, examining, and talent representation.
Julie Flint
Head of Ballet, Contemporary and Modern
ISTD DDE, UTD examiner (degree status), MRAD, AIDTA
Julie began her dance training at San-Marie Stage School at the age of eight, where she developed a strong passion for performance. During her training, she took part in numerous examinations, medal tests, and competitions across a wide range of styles including tap, ballet, modern jazz, song and dance, acro, character, national, and musical theatre.
At sixteen, Julie entered the professional dance world, performing in London’s West End and at prestigious charity events attended by members of the Royal Family and MPs. These included the annual Policeman’s Ball at venues such as The Dorchester, The Park Lane Hotel, The Savoy, The Hilton, and The Café Royal.
Her theatre credits include the Norman Wisdom Jubilee Show at the Gaiety Theatre in the Isle of Man, a summer season at Wellington Pier in Great Yarmouth with Jimmy Cricket, Aladdin at Theatre Royal Norwich, and Fantasia at The Cockney Club in London.
Julie’s love for Can-Can and Pas de Deux flourished during her time in Hello Hollywood Hello at the MGM Grand Hotel in Nevada. After further specialist training in Paris, she progressed to become a Can-Can soloist, Second Principal, and later Principal dancer. She performed internationally across Europe, the USA, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Julie retired from professional dancing at 39 and returned to San-Marie as a teacher. She now teaches ballet, tap, modern theatre, acro, and contemporary, bringing extensive professional experience to her students.
Chloe Tinker
Head of Tap - ISTD DDE.
Chloe began her journey at San-Marie at just three years old, where she discovered her love for dance. She went on to complete exams in Tap, Modern, and Ballet, consistently achieving high results.
From the age of eight, Chloe performed with Southend Youth Theatre in productions including Bugsy Malone, The Wiz, Honk!, and Billy Elliot. At nine, she made her West End debut in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre. Alongside theatre work, she appeared in television projects including voiceovers, adverts, game shows, and a magazine cover.
Through the San-Marie Display Team, Chloe performed at venues including Her Majesty’s Theatre, Disneyland Paris, and onboard MSC cruise ships. At sixteen, she trained at Masters Performing Arts, where she discovered her passion for commercial dance. She performed at Move It at ExCeL, Twickenham Stadium, and London theatres, and was cast as Sally Bowles in Cabaret in her final year.
After graduating in 2017, Chloe went straight into her first professional contract at Disneyland Paris. She holds her DDE Unit 4 in Imperial Classical Ballet and is qualified to teach ISTD Contemporary. Chloe is delighted to now be teaching at San-Marie, where her journey began.
Ellamae King
Head of Acro
ISTD DDE
Ellamae has been a student at San-Marie since the age of three and continues to perform in the school’s annual shows. She is a positive and supportive role model, particularly for younger dancers in the Little Stars classes, where she hopes to inspire students to continue their San-Marie journey.
She was a valued member of the Select Team, achieving success at numerous competitions, and has also performed as part of the Display Team at a variety of venues.
Ellamae is a qualified Acrobatics teacher and holds certifications in Tap and Modern up to Advanced 2 level, as well as Ballet at Intermediate level. She is currently working towards her Advanced Contemporary qualification and is completing her DDE Ballet teaching exams, having passed her practical examination with an impressive mark.
Ellamae is proud to be part of the San-Marie teaching team and is committed to sharing her passion for dance with every student she teaches.
Leanne Mager
Head of Little Stars
Leanne began dancing at San-Marie at the age of five, where her love for dance quickly flourished under the guidance of Lisa and Julie. From her very first classes, San-Marie became a special and formative place in her life. Now a mother of two, she is delighted to see her daughters developing their own love for dance at the same school.
Leanne trained in the UTD syllabus, completing Elementary Modern, Intermediate Tap, and Advanced Ballet. She was a valued member of the San-Marie Display Team, performing in competitions and shows in London, Disneyland Paris, Spain, and onboard MSC cruise ships.
Leanne is happiest when teaching young children and is delighted to work with the Little Stars. She creates a fun, nurturing environment where every child feels confident and encouraged, inspiring a love of dance from an early age.
Lara Boyd
ISTD DDE
Lara began training at San-Marie Stage School at the age of three and has been performing ever since. During her time at the school, she took part in numerous ISTD examinations, competitions, and performances across styles including ballet, modern, tap, and commercial dance.
At nine, Lara was cast as Little Cosette in Les Misérables with RARE Productions, performing alongside her sister. This sparked her passion for musical theatre, leading to further productions including Footloose, Honk!, High School Musical, and Legally Blonde.
Between the ages of thirteen and seventeen, Lara performed in four pantomimes, where her leadership skills led to her appointment as Dance Captain on two occasions. She later returned to teach junior ensembles at the Towngate Theatre.
Lara is studying for a degree in Dance and Musical Theatre and has been selected to perform at the Move It Dance Convention on the Opening, Freestyle, and Main Stages. She holds her DDE in ISTD Tap and is currently sharing her experience and passion with San-Marie students during a gap year from college.
Melody Barton
Senior Teaching Assistant
Melody has been a student at San-Marie since the age of six, where her love for dance and performing truly began to flourish. She continues to perform in our annual shows and is a valued member of the Display Team, having taken part in numerous performances across the UK as well as on MSC cruises.
At the age of eleven, Melody joined the Select Team and went on to compete in a wide range of competitions, showcasing her versatility across multiple dance styles including tap, modern, acro, ballet and contemporary. She performed in solos, duets and group dances, earning medals and trophies in recognition of her achievements.
Melody speaks fondly of San-Marie as a second home, where she has formed life-long friendships. She hopes that her passion for supporting and encouraging others will inspire younger students to continue their own journey at San-Marie.
She is currently working towards her qualification as an Acrobatics teacher and holds certificates in Tap Advanced 2 and Ballet Intermediate Foundation, with Modern Advanced 1 soon to be completed.
Melody is extremely proud to be part of the San-Marie family and is passionate about sharing her enthusiasm for teaching, helping students grow in confidence and skill—just as Lisa and Julie once supported and guided her.
