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About Us

Our aim is not simply to teach or educate…it’s to see children of all ages BLOSSOM, LEARN & SHINE 

Our classes are all led by fully qualified, experienced and friendly coaches who prioritise inclusion and enjoyment making all children feel welcome. 

What makes us different?

We want to inspire a love of a unique and transformative subject 

This goal has been shaped by our own enduring passion for Performing Arts 

Your children will build character, confidence and self-belief needed for a successful and exciting future 

Meet our team

Anne Keighley

Director (BA Hons English & Drama, Qualified Teacher Status)
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Sally Harington

Director (BA Hons Dance, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Qualified Teacher Status)
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Kirilea Whitehead

Project Manager
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Suzan Selcuk

Performing Arts Coach
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Jade Craven

Performing Arts Coach
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Becca Ward

Performing Arts Coach
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Georgie McCann

Performing Arts Coach
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Leila Lataif

Performing Arts Coach
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Lily Harris

Performing Arts Coach
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Natalie Crowther

Performing Arts Coach
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Maggie Steel

Performing Arts Coach
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Chloe Knapton

Performing Arts Coach
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Anne Keighley

(BA Hons English & Drama, Qualified Teacher Status)

Anne is one of the directors of Northern Arts Factory and the lead drama teacher. She studied English and Drama at Sunderland University and earned her PGCE at Trinity & All Saints University Horsforth. For 18 years, she worked in schools across Bradford, delivering drama, leading the Performing Arts team, and progressing to roles as Assistant Head and Deputy Head for Teaching & Learning. 

Anne’s proudest achievement is being a mother to two wonderful boys and watching them pursue their dreams. Her love for performing began at an early age, continuing through stage school, Irish dancing, and Irish singing. During her studies, she performed in a band that toured venues across the country. 

She believes that engaging in the Arts can change lives and is dedicated to inspiring as many young people as possible through community classes and enrichment in schools. Anne’s passion is sharing the power of self-belief through drama. 

 In her spare time, Anne enjoys walking and reading, although her life is currently busy with driving her children to various sporting practices and games. She loves exploring new places and hopes to travel more in the coming years. 

Sally Harington

(BA Hons Dance, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Qualified Teacher Status)

Sally is one of the directors and teachers at Northern Arts Factory. She earned her degree in dance from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds and then completed her GTP in secondary school teaching at Sheffield Hallam University. 

Sally worked as a dance teacher and later as Head of Department in a thriving secondary school in West Yorkshire for 18 years before co-founding Northern Arts Factory in 2017.

Dance and performing arts have always been integral to Sally’s life. She started regular classes as a child and has been fortunate to turn her hobby into her profession, sharing her love of the arts with the children she teaches. 

Sally believes everyone should have the opportunity to access the arts, which is why creating a safe place for children to experience dance, drama, and singing was so important to her. She is also passionate about integrating the arts into the school curriculum, having seen firsthand the positive impact dance and drama can have in enriching education. 

Kirilea Whitehead

Project Manager

As a Project manager for Northern Arts Factory and Director of Nurturing Creativity CIC, Kirilea’s adapts to change on a weekly basis. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Studies. She has extensive experience in Early Years education, having worked in homes, nurseries, and most recently as a Children’s Centre Manager in Calderdale, supporting children, young people, and their families. 

She recently received an award on behalf of Nurturing Creativity CIC as the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Champion for delivering Healthy Holiday programmes in Calderdale, an achievement she is very proud of. 

Her goals for the future include continuing to develop projects for children and young people, providing them with opportunities to engage with the arts and enhance their lives. She also hopes to travel more and explore the world. 

She loves going to the theatre with friends to immerse herself in the atmosphere, the lights, and the shows. A passionate dancer, she studied ballroom, Latin, rock and roll, and freestyle dancing when she was younger and hopes to find time to pick up her dancing shoes again someday. 

Suzanne Selcuk

Performing Arts Coach

Suzanne is a passionate drama coach with a First-Class BA (Hons) in Acting from the University of Central Lancashire. She has been self-employed since 2020, initially volunteering with local theatre companies before progressing to independently running drama sessions for young people. 

With a strong belief that every child should have the opportunity to express themselves creatively, Suzanne works to build confidence and emotional growth through drama, singing, and dance. Her background includes experience in physical theatre, musical theatre, naturalism, as well as film, TV, and radio, offering a wide range of knowledge to share with her students. 

Alongside her coaching work, Suzanne collaborated on the Bradford LiT scheme, creating 12 light displays for local venues during the Christmas period. Her long-term goal is to complete her PGCE and become a drama teacher in high schools and colleges. 

In her free time, Suzanne enjoys cooking, especially making Sunday roasts with homemade Yorkshire puddings. She also spent over 10 years in competitive cheerleading and enjoys keeping active through hiking across the moors. 

Jade Craven

Performing Arts Coach

Jade’s love for the Arts began at the age of four at her local dance school. She later graduated from a professional musical theatre college, earning her IDTA associates in modern jazz, ballet, and tap. Over the years, she has performed as the Lead Vocalist on P&O cruise liners and at numerous corporate events and fashion shows worldwide. 

With over 10 years of teaching experience, Jade is passionate and enthusiastic about sharing her skills. She looks forward to helping children develop their confidence and self-belief through dance and drama in many schools. 

Becca Ward

Performing Arts Coach

Becka Ward is a musical theatre and singing teacher. She is a singer-songwriter, professional dancer, vocal coach, and dance teacher with over 20 years of experience. Based in Leeds, she has nurtured her craft over two decades, becoming an in-demand vocalist locally, nationally, and globally. 

Becka has performed alongside renowned artists such as George Michael, Elton John, Gloria Gaynor, Wayne Sleep, Samantha Janus, Kylie Minogue, Nicholas Smith (Are You Being Served), Jill Greenacre (The Brittas Empire), Sam Riley (Control), and Michael Flatley (River Dance). She is also a Traxsource Number 1 and multiple Top 10 vocalist. 

Her 20+ year career in recording and live performing has seen her collaborate with some of the world’s top producers, including Steve Silk Hurley, Angelo Fererri, Antonello Ferrari, Aldo Bergamasco, Victor Simonelli, T. Markakis, Ghost Life, and many more. 

In 2021, she was voted runner-up in the ‘Best Vocalist’ category at the OGV Awards, next to legendary vocalist Kathy Brown. Her 2023 single “Dancing Closer” with Peter Mac on Vibe Boutique Records hit #1 on iTunes in South Africa. 

Georgie McCann

Performing Arts Coach

Georgie’s passion for performing began at a very early age, acting and dancing in local groups and performing at many theatres across Yorkshire, including The Alhambra Theatre, St George’s Hall, and Leeds Playhouse. After backpacking around the world (and even starring in a soap in Singapore), Georgie earned her degree in Theatre Studies and furthered her studies at drama school in London. 

With over 20 years of experience in the performing arts industry, Georgie has acted and taught extensively. Her acting work includes performances at various London theatres, such as the Tricycle, West Hampstead, and Theatre Royal Haymarket. She has worked with the London Workshop Company, teaching in schools across London and delivering literacy and numeracy workshops through drama. She has also been a storyteller for Sure Start Children’s Centres and worked on outreach projects with stroke victims and disabled adults. 

Georgie began teaching with a national theatre school franchise in 2004, eventually becoming Principal and running her own school in London for 12 years. 

After 18 years in London, Georgie and her partner moved back to Yorkshire, where they now live with their beautiful little girl. Georgie is thrilled to be teaching for Northern Arts Factory and is passionate about using the arts to encourage confidence, self-belief, and fun. 

 

Leila Lataif

Performing Arts Coach

Leila Letaif joined the Northern Arts Factory team through the Government Kickstart scheme in 2021 and has been trained by nearly every member of the NAF family. Over the years, she has developed a wide range of skills and responsibilities, such as creating imaginative adventures each week and taking the technical lead during performances. This versatility has made her an invaluable asset to the team. 

Leila now leads her own sessions weekly and is proud to be involved in the holiday clubs, where she works with all kinds of children, recently focusing on SEN groups with big personalities and endless energy. She is excited to continue working with Northern Arts Factory, eager to learn from those around her to create a fun and engaging environment for everyone who attends her sessions. 

Lily Harris

Performing Arts Coach

Lily has been a dancer since the age of 3, competing nationwide and completing exams in Modern, Tap, and Ballet. She reached the final of Miss Dance of Great Britain twice, performing at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Lily has been a professional dancer for 8 years and continues to pursue this career alongside her teaching work. 

She studied Dance and Performing Arts at A Level, achieving an A in both subjects. 

Lily has performed in various professional productions, worked as a backing dancer on tours across the country, and participated in numerous corporate events in the UK and abroad. 

At Northern Arts Factory, Lily teaches Dance and Active Literacy in different schools. She is also a main coach at holiday camps, working with many SEN children. Lily loves her work at Northern Arts Factory and looks forward to continuing it for years to come. 

In her free time, Lily enjoys socializing with friends, travelling abroad, and spending time with her family. She loves playing board games and has a secret talent for solving the Rubik’s Cube and jigsaw puzzles. 

Natalie Crowther

Performing Arts Coach

Natalie Crowther, Performing Arts Teacher, trained in Musical Theatre at Italia Conti London and received her dance qualifications at Preston. She has performed in theatres across the UK and internationally, including on multiple cruise ships. 

With over 11 years of teaching experience, Natalie is dedicated to making performing arts an enjoyable experience for children of all abilities. She ensures that each child reaches their potential, learns technique, and understands the discipline required in dance, all while having lots of fun. 

Outside of teaching, Natalie is a professional singer and dancer who loves holidays and all things Disney. 

Maggie Steel

Performing Arts Coach

Maggi Steele is a choreographer and teacher from the United States, now living in Leeds. She holds a BA in Musical Theatre with a focus on Dance. 

As a professional, Maggi has performed in and choreographed many productions, including a production of Mamma Mia! for which she won the Iowa Musical Theatre Arts Award for distinguished choreography. 

Maggi joined Northern Arts Factory because she believes that the arts are essential in a child’s life. They foster creativity, individuality, and confidence. Watching children find themselves and express their uniqueness through movement is incredibly fulfilling for her. Whether they’re technical dancers or simply enjoy expressing themselves, every child brings something valuable to the arts, and that is why Maggi loves her work. 

One day, Maggi dreams of owning her own performing arts company where passionate dancers of all backgrounds, body types, ethnicities, and genders can thrive. 

Outside of dancing, she enjoys reading, creative writing, and taking long naps. 

Chloe Knapton

Performing Arts Coach

Chloe is a Coach at Northern Arts Factory, where she delivers sessions in Performing Arts, including Dance, Drama, and Singing. She has extensive experience working with children and adults with additional needs. 

Chloe has been dancing since the age of 3 and continued her training through her university years. Her favourite dance style is Modern Jazz, and she recently achieved a score of 97% in her teaching exam for the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA). 

Alongside running her own dance school and coaching at Northern Arts Factory, Chloe has been a carer for two young adults with severe additional needs and disabilities since 2012. This experience inspired her to create classes for those requiring extra sensory processing. 

Chloe loves working with Northern Arts Factory for their amazing sessions offered to a wide range of pupils across different schools. She enjoys delivering sessions to new groups and building trusting bonds with vulnerable children. 

In her free time, Chloe enjoys dancing, socializing, and spending time with her dog, Lola.