Originally from Northumberland, Poppy started her Classical Ballet training at a young age, studying all Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) graded and vocational exams up to Advanced 2 level. She continued her training at the RAD on the Ballet Education Degree programme in London. This gave her the opportunity to train in a wide variety of teaching settings, including with multiple private ballet schools, and professional community platforms. Alongside this, Poppy achieved the Licentiate of the RAD qualification with distinction, providing her with detailed knowledge of the RAD syllabi and ballet teaching. Continuing her studies, she gained a MFA in Dance and Embodied Practice at the University of Roehampton in 2023, and is a Level 4 Cancer Exercise Specialist.

Poppy has been teaching at Southwest School of Ballet since 2022, and after working with Karen for many years, she is excited to take on the role of Principal in 2026. Alongside this role, Poppy continues to teach across London, including at RAD to deliver ballet classes for the cancer community. 

Karen first came to Southwest School of Ballet in 1994, not as a teacher but as a parent looking for a good ballet school to enrol her 5 year old daughter in for her first ballet classes. Having just returned to the UK after living in Canada and then Australia with her young family, Karen’s talents were soon recognized and she was “snapped up” by the school where she quickly became a popular and much loved teacher. Vocationally trained at the Arts Educational Schools in both London and Tring, with teacher training initially at the College of the Royal Academy of Dance, Karen then undertook the 3-year distance learning Teaching Certificate Programme, which allowed her to continue teaching at the same time. Not only has she been teaching here ever since but in early 2002 Karen took over as Principal of the School. Since then, Karen has always been fully committed to provide, guide and nurture the children and wider community of Putney, Sheen and Barnes throughout their ballet education