Meet the Teacher: Storytelling Through Dance with Marina Allnutt
We caught up with Marina Allnutt, a Rambert Grades Trained Teacher since 2022 and founder of Marina School of Dance in Whitchurch, UK.
Established in 2009, the school prides itself on staying current with the latest syllabus developments and teaching qualifications. Marina is also a Royal Academy of Dance Registered Teacher, holding a BA (Hons) in Ballet Education from the RAD. The school offers a wide range of classes, including tap, modern, and acro.
Can you tell us about your journey into dance education?
After training in ballet, tap, and modern dance throughout my childhood, I enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dance at 18, where I earned a degree in Ballet Education and achieved Registered Teacher Status. Shortly after graduating, I founded Marina School of Dance. With no local dance school in the area, it felt like the perfect opportunity to share my passion for dance with the community.
As a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dance and RAD Registered Teacher, how do you approach teaching Contemporary Dance?
I’ve always loved learning, and every year or two I challenge myself to branch out and train in something new. I began by gaining my ISTD qualifications, then expanded into Acrobatic Arts, and more recently, Rambert Grades. Along the way, I’ve also completed fitness and nutrition qualifications. At the moment, I’m midway through my mat and reformer Pilates training, which I’m really enjoying.
Contemporary dance has become one of my favourite styles to teach. I started with another contemporary syllabus and loved it so much that I went on to explore Rambert Grades a few years ago. The students really connect with this syllabus, especially the creative section, and I’ve seen a huge boost in their confidence with improvisation
Rambert Grades is the reccomended Contemporary Dance syllabus of the Royal Academy of Dance. A unique collaboration between both organisations provides access to Rambert Grades membership and Syllabus Training to RAD Members, with exclusive discounts of up to 40% off membership.
How do you shape your Contemporary Dance classes?
We offer three classes each week: Junior, Senior, and Advanced. Our Junior students typically work on Grades 1-3, and several of them have recently completed their Grade 2 exams. The Senior group is currently focused on Grades 4 and 5, while our Advanced students are progressing towards Grade 6 and are hoping to enter for their exam in the near future.
You trained in the first-ever Storytellers Performance Pathway course. How are you getting on?
The Storyteller pathway training days were fantastic! As a school, we’ve explored two of the new Storyteller solos so far: Grade 5 by Matthew Bourne and Grade 2 by Will Tuckett.
My Grade 5 dancers were thrilled to discover that their new solo was inspired by Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake. In fact, we postponed submitting their exam (even after filming their original solos) just so we could take a couple of weeks to learn this new piece and decide what to do. It was an instant hit!
How did your students respond to learning choreography connected to such iconic professional work?
The dancers engaged with the material beautifully. Having a character to embody made the process even more exciting, and they were able to bring their own personalities to the solo. The movement felt accessible to all abilities, despite looking very impressive. I’ll admit we didn’t have much time to explore the choreography in depth, as we were working to an overdue exam deadline, but we managed to get through it. A special highlight was that, since the show was on tour, a few of our dancers were able to see it live, which was a wonderful experience. I’m thrilled to share that all five of my dancers who performed this solo in their exam achieved Distinction or Distinction.
My adult ballet dancers are also dipping their toes into learning some of the choreography…potentially an adult contemporary class coming soon to our school!
And how are your younger dancers getting on with their Storytellers solo for Grade 2?
With my Grade 2s, we had more time to let the choreography sink in. We began by exploring the idea of a bird leading the pathways around the room, which inspired additional improvisation exercises. Overall, the students loved this solo, though some initially found the timing challenging. Eventually, we abandoned counting altogether and let the music lead them- which worked wonderfully. Personally, I felt this solo suited my dancers particularly well.
What makes Marina School of Dance special?
I feel incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing group of students at Marina School of Dance. They are all hardworking, respectful, and so supportive of one another, which creates a truly special atmosphere in the studio. Over the years, the school has grown into so much more than just a place to learn dance, it feels like one big family.
A sense of community is evidently central to your schools ethos. How do you encourage this?
One of the things I’m most proud of is how naturally my senior students step into mentoring roles. They’re always willing to guide and encourage the younger dancers, whether it’s helping with technique, offering kind words of support, or simply leading by example. This sense of community and teamwork makes the school a nurturing and inspiring space for everyone to grow, both as dancers and as individuals.
