STUDENT SUCCESS

Matilda O’Sullivan-

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Uk and Ireland Tour (2022), Jane Banks in Mary Poppins UK Tour (2025-2025)

When I was in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, my favourite part was spending time with the friends I met on tour, but the highlight was performing on stage, especially with Jason Donovan and Alexandra Burke! I have just been cast in a new amazing show and can't wait to go on tour again!!

My dream role would have been Matilda in Matilda the Musical, but I’m too tall now. When I’m older, I would love to play Catherine Howard in Six the Musical because she's sassy like me! My next goal is to be cast in a London musical, fingers crossed!

I love being part of TAPA, enjoying the time with friends and learning various dance techniques and styles. It's difficult to choose a favourite class, but if I had to, it would be Theatre Company and ballet. My favourite memory so far is performing at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, which was so much fun, and I can’t wait to perform in Disneyland Paris soon!

I feel proud of my achievements at TAPA, including ballet, tap, modern, and LAMDA exams, and receiving the student recognition award. I also had the opportunity to audition and perform for the English Youth Ballet last year. My older sister used to take classes at TAPA before I was even born, and now I am taught by the same teachers, Miss Nicki and Miss Sophie.

Ava Pollard-

Little Hotdog Watson Shoot (2024)

I started at TAPA when I was 3. I love all my dance classes but especially Theatre because I love singing, and Acro because I love learning new tricks! My favourite thing about TAPA is that I can do all different kind of dancing and all the teachers are really nice.

I am so lucky, because I have made so many memories like performing at the O2, Sadlers Wells, New Wimbledon Theatre and soon I am going to be performing at Disneyland Paris!

One of my favourite memories is doing my first show at the stag theatre when I was 4! And this year I took my first tap exam and I got 94 out of 100!!! This year I also got to do my first photoshoot, I loved the whole day, especially making new friends.

I love performing so so much and my dream would be to play Matilda in the west end.

Maisy Mein-

Les Miserables Concert (2019), Les Miserables West End (2021-2022), The Great British Bake Off Musical West End (2023)

I started TAPA when I was 2 doing Baby ballet and I have continued ever since! I have had many great experiences on stage such as- I played Little Cosette in Les Miserables the Concert, Little Cosette and Young Eponine in Les Miserables the Staged Show in the West End, and Lily in the Great British Bake Off Musical in the West End.  I was very lucky as I also got to record the original cast album for the Great British Bake Off. 

I loved all my roles but I really enjoyed playing Lily because it was a new show so I got to experience the Press night and the album recording as well as being in the show. My dream theatre role would be playing Cosette or Eponine in Les Miserables as an adult as the songs they sing are very powerful and moving to the audience. I like the feeling that we are all like a family at TAPA and we all really support each other! For example: my TAPA friends came to see me in the shows I have been in and I was very grateful for that!

I like all of my TAPA classes but my favourite is probably Ballet because you learn so much technique and skill that you wouldn't learn anywhere else in your life. One of my favourite memories was when I got given a scrapbook from the 2023 TAPA leavers.  It was really special as it had all my TAPA memories in it and photos from the past at TAPA and it was nice looking back at all that I had done and how far I have come. 

I have now performed in 4 TAPA shows which are always amazing and taken many dance and LAMDA exams which are always very memorable and exciting.  I have performed at the Sadler's Wells Theatre  and the Shaftesbury Theatre in London with the Momemtum performance troupe which I loved doing

Scarlett Rain Nguyen-

Royal Ballet School

I began dancing at the age of two and a half at Tapa, all because of my big brother Keanu.

My dream role is Manon or Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. At the moment, I am focusing on the next few years at White Lodge and preparing for my audition for upper school, knowing that the higher I get, the more difficult it becomes. Our school days are long and compact, combining six hours of academic studies with four to five hours of dance training.

I believe the moment I knew I wanted to pursue ballet was just before my eighth birthday when Miss Sophie voiced her wish for me to audition for The Royal Ballet Junior Associates.

I love that at TAPA, we were a big family and that each of us had our own role in it. We all felt special, and nobody was left out. There are many memories I cherish, though performing on stage with my brother and my last show at TAPA, where I was given the opportunity to do a solo, are certainly two very special ones.

Thanks to my teachers at TAPA, I always managed to do well in my exams, which is very important to me!

Madison Smith-

Lester Rabbit on Rhyme Time Town Netflix (2020)

My favourite thing about working on Rhyme Time Town was the feeling of being in a professional environment surrounded by all the recording equipment. It was fascinating to be part of the animation process and amazing to see my character come to life. At TAPA, where I’ve been since I was 2, I love the atmosphere and have made lifelong friends.

The support from the teachers has helped me become a better dancer, singer, actor, and overall performer, giving me unique experiences. My favorite class is BTC (Brightwell's Theatre Company), where all my favorite things come together. Being part of different musicals and shows has made me more confident and given me invaluable skills. I also love being part of TAPA's Performance Troupe, which allows me to perform in places I wouldn’t normally get to, helping me gain essential skills as a dancer. Some of my favorite memories include performing at Disneyland Paris, my first theatre workshop with Josie, and the exciting but tiring weekends performing at the STAG Theatre.

I’ve completed many dance and LAMDA exams, most recently my Grade 5 Modern and Grade 5 Acting and Musical Theatre exams. A significant achievement was finding out I was going to play Lester Bunny in Rhyme Time Town, showing how much I had accomplished. Through Ignite Talent Agency at TAPA, I had the opportunity to audition for many musicals, shows, and adverts.

I am proud of many moments at TAPA, such as performing in Disneyland Paris, a goal since I was little, and performing at iconic venues like the O2, Sadler’s Wells, and Shaftesbury Theatre, which I wouldn’t have had the chance to do without TAPA. My dream role would be Elle Woods from Legally Blonde or Veronica Sawyer or Heather McNamara from Heathers the Musical because I love the songs they sing.

My next steps are to expand my vocal range and apply for more auditions, aiming to reach the West End one day.