LAINE ACADEMY

Nicki Danika-Pain began her performing career as a child before undertaking her professional training at Laine Theatre Arts, where she gained her Diploma in Musical Theatre alongside her teaching qualifications in ISTD Modern and Tap. Following graduation, Nicki enjoyed a successful career as a professional dancer and choreographer, working across stage and screen. Her passion for nurturing the next generation of performers ultimately led her back to Laine Theatre Arts, where she has dedicated her career to developing young talent. With over 20 years of teaching experience spanning both pre-vocational and higher education, Nicki is now Director of Laine Academy and Course Leader for the CertHE in Musical Theatre. She is passionate about providing outstanding training that combines technical excellence with creativity, confidence and a genuine love of the performing arts.

Mathilde graduated from Laine Theatre Arts in 2024 with a BA (Hons), Diploma in Musical Theatre and DDE teaching qualification. She teaches Baby Ballet, Pre-Primary and Primary Ballet, Primary Modern and Tap at Laine, while also working on the marketing and social media for Laine Academy.

Alongside her work at Laine, Mathilde is pursuing a career in presenting and content creation, combining her passion for entertainment and digital media. Her presenting credits include hosting West End Live 2026, working as the first official TikTok backstage reporter for the Britain’s Got Talent Live Final and interviewing celebrities at major film and television press junkets.

She is also the creator and presenter of Meet Me at Stage Door, an interview series where she chats to West End stars about their careers, shows and life on stage.

Nic is an alumnus of Laine Theatre Arts and was a recipient of a full Betty Laine Scholarship.

Whilst at Laine Nic was awarded the role of head boy, and upon graduation was recipient of the college cups for singing, drama, musical theatre, and most promising graduate. Nic graduated with his ALAM in Acting from LAMDA, and with Honours for his Laine Theatre Arts diploma.

Nic has appeared extensively in the West end and Internationally.

Performance credits include:

The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, The Cowardly Lion in Andrew Lloyd Webbers The Wizard of Oz, Javert in Les Miserables, The Monster in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein,

Big Jule In Guys And Dolls, Jud Fry In Oklahoma,The Beast in Disneys’ Beauty And The Beast, Rapunzels Prince in Into The Woods, Munkastrap in CATS- Moonface Martin in Anything Goes, The Wreck in Wonderful Town, Big Davey in Billy Elliot, The Man in Whistle Down The Wind,

Squelch in Love Never Dies, Drake In Annie, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Valentin in Lautrec, Del Copeland in The Beautiful Game, Big Mac in Only You Can Save Mankind, Jamie in My Fair Lady, GI in Miss Saigon, The Bellhop in Lend Me A Tenor, The Emcee in Cabaret, The Voice of the Ringmaster in Barnum, Hamlet, King Lear, and numerous workshops.

Pantomimes: Ugly Sister in Cinderella, Fleshcreep in Jack and The Beanstalk, Prince in Cinderella, Prince in Sleeping Beauty, Sultan in Dick Whittington, Dance Captain and Ensemble in Aladdin and Dick Whittington.

Television Credits: Kingsize Taylor in CILLA for ITV, EastEnders, The Bill, Grange Hill, Spatz, Subculture, Sunday night at the London Palladium, The Olivier Awards, The Brit Awards, The Royal Variety Awards, Children in Need, Blue Peter.

Directing Credits: Resident Director on School of Rock (West End) Assistant Resident Director Guys and Dolls (West End) Assistant to the Director The Railway Children (London).

National Youth Music Theatre: Bugsy Malone- Whistle Down The Wind- Annie.

Cruise: Vocalist-NCL-Jean Ann Ryan

Film: Soloist- De Lovely-(MGM) Vocalist- Les Miserables (Working Title).

Concerts- Les Miserables 25th Anniversary at the O2, The Phantom of the Opera 

25th Anniversary at The Royal Albert Hall, Andrew Lloyd Webber- A Celebration at The Royal Albert Hall.

Albums: The Beautiful Game- Original cast recording. Love Never Dies World Concept Album.

Mia trained at Laine Theatre Arts, where she graduated with a First Class BA (Hons) and Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre in 2024.   Alongside her training at Laine, Mia completed both her practical DDE Modern and Tap exams.  Most recently, she was a featured Tap Dancer in the ISTD’s new Advanced 1 Tap Syllabus Video, where she was tutored by ISTD Lead Lecturer and Mentor Alison Forrester.  Having assisted with Laine Academy since 2021, Mia is excited to be continuing her teaching journey as the Modern ISTD teacher and bringing her continued passion of dance and performing to the students.

Credits: ISTD Advanced 1 Professional Video (2025), “HELLO DOLLY!” (2025 - Workshop, Stephen Mear), “The Lightening Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” (2025 - Workshop, Lizzi Gee), “COMPANY - Jenny” (2024, Laine Theatre Arts), “Sleeping Beauty” (2023, PHA Pantomime) and “Groundhog Day” (2023 - Workshop, Lizzi Gee)

Emma has loved dance from an early age, and trained professionally at English National Ballet School, where she studied, performed and choreographed ballet and other dance genres. She took part in several choreography projects, and her works were selected for performance at The Wallace Collection and The Britten Theatre. Emma performed on stages such as Sadler’s Wells Theatre, The Roundhouse and The London Coliseum, and in her final year she danced with English National Ballet in Swan Lake.

Emma’s training has provided her with a strong classical foundation, disciplined technical standards, and a deep understanding of performance. She is RAD-qualified and has significant teaching experience across a wide range of ages and levels, from nursery to vocational. Emma has a passion for nurturing students to achieve their best, and enjoys sharing her knowledge and passing on her love of dance. She is committed to creating a positive, inclusive and encouraging learning environment, and delivering high-quality, inspiring dance education.

Alex is a London-based performer, choreographer and movement director originally from Hull. Their work is rooted in a strong technical foundation and a deep understanding of theatre & musicality, allowing them to choreograph jazz, commercial, contemporary, musical theatre, or a fusion style with clarity and impact. Alex has choreographed for stage and screen, creating choreography and movement direction that is both dynamic and character-driven. Their choreographic credits include Beauty & the Beast (UKP), Flashback, Holiday Spectacular (Celebrity Cruises), and New York Nights(Cirque Bijou). As an assistant and associate choreographer/director, Alex has worked on productions such as Nutcracker Noir (Gary Lloyd) and Rehab: The Musical (Smart Entertainment). Alongside their creative work, Alex is also an accomplished performer, with credits including Nutcracker Noir, Rehab: The Musical, Peter Pan, productions for Celebrity Cruises and Mercury Records. Alex also teaches at multiple schools institutions in and around London.

Alongside his teaching, Jak has performed in a variety of stage productions at venues including the National Theatre and Richmond Theatre. He has also gained experience in television and feature films, giving him first-hand insight into the realities of working both on stage and on screen.

As a teacher, Jak believes every student is unique and tailors his approach to help each individual grow in confidence, creativity and performance ability. He is passionate about developing strong acting technique and craft within an engaging, supportive and playful environment, enabling students to flourish as confident, expressive performers.

Nellie is a singing lecturer and musical director working both professionally in the industry, and in Higher Education settings, training the next generation of performers. Specialising in the Estill pedagogy, Nellie has previously held lecturing posts on the BA(Hons) Professional Dance and Musical Theatre course at Bird College, BA(Hons) Musical Theatre and Dance course at Performers College Birmingham, and is presently Head of Second Year on the BA(Hons) Musical Theatre Performance course at Creative Academy. Nellie is currently training for her certification in manual vocal massage therapy, with the Voice Care Centre, alongside her studies to complete Level 6 Music Teaching in Education. She is the director of a graduate-to-industry transition programme, The Music Training Exchange, simultaneously operating as a music school, providing recent grads with the education and stability they need to thrive in industry. Each Christmas, she returns to Cambridge for her residency as Musical Director with KD Theatre Productions. Nellie is excited for more wonderful learning at Laine this year!

Lauren is a professional dancer and choreographer with training in Commercial, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap and Jazz. She graduated from Creative Academy with a First Class Honours degree in Dance.

Her career has taken her around the world, performing in France, the Maldives, Nigeria, India and Saudi Arabia, including the prestigious King’s Cup Final. Lauren’s professional credits also include a Netflix drama series, ITV’s Dancing on Ice, and music videos for George Ezra and The Struts.

Passionate about inspiring the next generation of dancers, Lauren specialises in commercial dance, delivering energetic and engaging classes that develop technique, strength, stamina and performance quality. She is dedicated to creating a fun, supportive and motivating environment where dancers feel confident to challenge themselves, express their individuality and enjoy every step of the learning process.Lauren’s choreography is powerful, high-energy and performance-focused, combining sharp, dynamic movement with commercial style.

Fran began his training in Genoa with both national and international teachers before moving to London in 2002, where he continued his professional development in contemporary dance and physical theatre, ballet with the late Roger Tully, and trained in Dance Mastery, an innovative movement system created by Konstantin Pavlidis.

Fran has performed with the Lindsay Kemp Company, National Dance Company Wales, Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre, Unstructured Light, Smallpetitklein, the London Ballet Company, the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Nationale Reisopera (Netherlands), Hamburg Staatsoper, and Teatro Nacional de São Carlos (Lisbon). Throughout his career, he has worked on a wide range of productions and projects with both national and international choreographers.

He has also worked as Assistant Choreographer, Dance Captain and solo dancer, on productions for English National Opera, Hamburg Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Nacional de São Carlos (Lisbon), and the Azerbaijan State Academic Ballet in Baku.

As a choreographer, Fran has created work for the Toos Foundation, Opera Fabula (Vienna), XOGA, the London Ballet Company, Blackheath Halls, Grange Festival Opera, and Let's All Dance Ballet Company, where he is currently Resident Choreographer, Designer, and Dancer, and has created several ballet productions.

Sam Vaherlehto is a multi-award-winning dancer, choreographer, and educator whose career bridges classical ballet, contemporary dance, and street styles. He graduated from the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera in 2007 and began his professional career with the Finnish National Ballet, performing a wide repertoire ranging from classical works to creations by leading contemporary choreographers including Ohad Naharin, William Forsythe, Johan Inger, Jorma Uotinen, and Christian Spuck. His versatility and stage presence were recognised early through numerous accolades, including three Finnish street dance championship titles, second place at the Nordic Ballet Contest, and winning Finland’s first season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2010.

Following his time with the National Ballet, Sam toured internationally with Susanna Leinonen Company before joining Phoenix Dance Theatre in Leeds, where he performed for five years and later took on the role of rehearsal director. He subsequently worked with SLATE Contemporary Dance Company in Shanghai as both dancer and rehearsal director, touring nationally and internationally.

After returning to the UK, Sam graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and became a trustee of The Work Room, gaining experience in artist development and arts governance. Now based in London, he focuses on teaching and mentoring, working regularly at institutions such as The Place, Elmhurst Ballet School, and Laine Theatre Arts, and teaching company class for Company Wayne McGregor, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures. Most recently, he returned to the stage performing with Company Wayne McGregor and Royal Opera House.

Frankyy Williams trained at Sylvia Young Theatre School, Royal Ballet Associates and Performers College, graduating in 2014. She also holds a first-class degree in Musical Theatre from Laine, alongside DDE qualifications in Modern Theatre and Tap. Before joining Laine Academy in 2020, Frankyy performed internationally with companies including Disney and T-Series. She now brings her experience and passion to teaching the next generation of performers.