Meet The Team

The Board of Directors are Deloris Martin, Chris Pearman, William McGill & Linda Rutter

Deloris ‘Dolly’ Martin – Chief Executive

Deloris is the founder and director of Sunderland Dance CIC with a background in Street and Hip Hop that is second to none. Deloris uses her 21 years experience, skill and passion to teach many different styles of dance and fitness. As a professional dancer, Deloris has appeared on music videos, films, TV dramas and even has her own workout DVD that was released in 2010 becoming the number one selling DVD in The North East. Deloris has travelled extensively throughout 2011 to gain qualifications in Bokwa Fitness, Turbo Kick, Piloxing, Booiaka and many other styles so that everyone can try amazing programmes and enjoy working out as much as she does. Deloris graduated with honors from Sunderland University with BA in Business, IT and Spanish and also holds a PGCE in secondary education. Dolly has designed the Dance F4ward and Dance On Prescription programmes and is currently developing the health and well-being programmes as well as some new innovative programmes and workshops which will be applied throughout 2012.

Chris ‘Mama’ Pearman – Funding Director

Chris has a wide and varied experience within the education sector. She has a BTEC Nursery Nursing Certificate plus 15 years working in Early Years Education. She also has a High Scope Curriculum Implementation Certificate, Further and Adult Education Teaching Certificate, First Line Management Certificate and N.V.Q. Level 3 in Management. All of which make her brilliant at managing and caring for our project participants.

Jennifer ‘Pinky’ Oswald – Artistic Director

Pinky is the Artistic Director for Sunderland Dance CIC she graduated with honors from Sunderland University with a BA in contemporary dance and since then has been performing, teaching, and choreographing in Sunderland. She is expert in many styles of dance such as Hip Hop, Zumba, Ballet and Contemporary. She has recently travelled to the US to qualify in Turbo Kick and London for Booiaka. Just to name a few! Pinky has also taught and choreographed all around the country, inspiring young and old dance students alike! Pinky formed the kids crew ‘Mini Phunk’ and is nurturing this talented young group of kids to perform and compete.

Mark ‘Marky Moo’ Johnson – Finance Director

Mark is the Finance Director here at Sunderland Dance CIC which is a non-profit organisation. Mark oversees all financial operations to ensure quality and to see that financial regulations are met. His responsibilities include directing and managing the budget, financial reporting, forecasting, accounting, maintaining spreadsheets, databases and records of all financial transactions for the organisations.

Clare Rochester – Project Manager

Clare has a BA Honors degree in Performance and Event Production which she gained at Teesside University. She is classically trained in Ballet and Stage Dance as well as other more commercial styles of dance. Clare is the Project Manager and a Dance Tutor who works not only at the studio but across the whole of the North East. She attended Elwick Academy of Dance where she trained to receive her British Association of Teachers of Dancing.

Jonathan Hair - Fitness & Nutritional Expert

Jonny is our personal trainer. He has 10 years of experience in training and now works to teach men and women of all ages the fundamental truths of how to sculpt the body of their dreams. Jonny covers key aspects relating to resistance/weights, cardio vascular training and nutritional factors including supplementation giving you the tools to be your own personal trainer!

Jen H - Company Administrator

Jen is very talented and has been dancing since the age of 3 and has trained in lots of different dance styles.  She studied at Annies Land College in Glasgow to gain a NC in dance in the community and she gained a higher national diploma in dance at Reid Karr College in Paisley she then went on to gain a BA Hons in Dance at Sunderland University. Jen was one of the first to join the Sunderland Dance team and we are pleased to have her.

Melissa - Dance Coordinator

Melissa is now one of the Full Time employed dance instructors to work for Sunderland Dance & Zumba Fitness North East. She has been dancing since she was 8 and has trained in disciplines such as freestyle, jazz, contemporary and hip hop. Melissa enjoys teaching all styles of dance but her favourite is ZUMBA!! She currently teaches classes in Gateshead, Co Durham and Sunderland.

Patrick - Dance Coordinator

Patrick is our only male instructor and works Full Time for Sunderland Dance CIC and will be teaching Zumba, Street and much more across the North East.

Emma M - Dance Coordinator

Emma has been dancing since the the age of 2 and has studied disciplines such as Ballet, Tap, Modern Jazz, Lyrical, Acrobatics & Freestyle. She studied at Kathleen Davis school of dance where she won many awards for her dancing. After leaving Kathleen Davis School of Dance she then went to London to study circus skills at The Circus Space in London. Where she gained a degree in Circus Arts. Emma works in various schools around the North East and is one of our most popular members of staff.

Leah M - Company Practitioner & General Manager

Leah is the Company Practitioner and General Manager, obtaining her BTEC National Diploma in Dance at Shiney Row College following on from this she joined the NHS as a Clinical Receptionist. The knowledge she gained as a Clinical Receptionist combined with her dance expertise offers the company a professional and strategic advantage when dealing with the general public.