Meet the team - Panthera Dance Company

Principal: Hatti Dawson BA (Hons)

Harriet Dawson (Hatti) is an award-winning International Dance Artist with extensive experience of performance, choreography and teaching. As Principal of Panthera Dance Company she will deliver the majority of the teaching with her characteristic passion and enthusiasm for all dance genres.

Hatti was recently awarded the Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 by Wiltshire Life, for her outstanding contribution to the business community. She has also been awarded the International Young Choreographers Award for performing her debut contemporary solo The Fragility of Power (2017) in Kiev, Ukraine and selected to represent UK universities in front of a 10,000 audience at the Studfestas in Lithuania in November 2018. Other performance highlights include dancing with the ZooNation Dance Company in their Into The Hoods: Remixed (2016) UK tour, and for the Breakin’ Convention UK Tour (2017) with CODE Crew a leading Midland’s dance troupe.

With a First Class Honours Degree in Dance, Hatti brings expert understanding of the dance sector as well as virtuoso training for the benefit of all her students. She has a minimum of Grade 7 qualifications, marked Distinction (80%+) in styles such as Ballet, Tap and Modern. She also has qualifications in Jazz and Pointe work and performs in Vintage Dance.

Hatti has been teaching Street Dance and Contemporary for the past six years with companies across the UK. As founder and inspiration of the Hip Hop Society at De Montfort University she competed successfully in two competitions in the Midlands.

Calling on her diverse and extensive knowledge of dance in UK, Hatti will advise all students attending her school and guide those interested in further education in Dance and the Performing Arts.

Assistant Principal: Anya Dawson

Anya is a keen and enthusiastic upcoming dancer and musical theatre artist, who has had a considerable experience in performances such as Stars of Salisbury, Salisbury Dance Exchange and musical theatre in the Wiltshire area.

Through the competitive audition processes, Anya has been successful on both occasions that she has applied to be in the city’s prestigious pantomime. She was one of the lead dancers in Jack and the Beanstalk in the 2017/18 season of the Salisbury Pantomime, which was awarded the Best Pantomime in the country for venues with under 750 seats.

Anya is a qualified Sports Leader. Anya is also currently training in Hip Hop, Vintage, Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Modern Dance, achieving performance qualifications, so far, up to Grade 7/Intermediate, marked with Merit or Distinction. She has competed in many competitions such as BDO street dance, ISTD Tap Challenge in London and UDO, the largest street dance organisation, where her crew qualified for both the European and the World Championships.

Anya undertakes the role of Assistant Principal of Panthera Dance Company supporting her sister Hatti in all aspects of the business as it grows. Immersed in all aspects of social media and vlogging Anya will also help our online adventure as we create a vibrant Panthera community.

Jerry Dawson Managing Director:

After a distinguished career of thirty-nine years in law enforcement at Senior Command Level within the Police Service and National Crime Agency (NCA), Jerry brings his substantial organisational skills and deep appreciation of pastoral care to the company. As a previous Head of Wiltshire Police Public Protection, child safety and protecting the vulnerable is a key issue for him and these priorities are reflected in the Panthera Dance Company’s operating model.

Jerry has a comprehensive knowledge of both strategic and tactical planning nationally and internationally and has successfully managed multi-million pound budgets. He ensures the day-to-day running of Panthera Dance Company is maintained to the highest standard employing best practice principles at all times. His focus is to create an environment for the benefit and wellbeing of all the students and its employees.

Jerry has extensive dance management experience. He created and developed young peoples’ discos in numerous areas in Wiltshire under the banner of ‘Bluez n Zuz’, a very successful project that operated for over twelve years and was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) in 2012. This is nationally the highest award given to UK volunteer groups and the equivalent to an MBE.

He also received a Wiltshire Youth Justice award, a Community Police Authority Award and a Wiltshire Police Chief Constables Commendation for ‘Outstanding Achievement’ in relation to the Bluez n Zuz projects.

Jerry was awarded a Wiltshire Council ‘Exceptional Partnership Award’ for his management and leadership of the security coordination work carried out prior to and during the Olympic celebration events in Wiltshire in 2012.

He is a proud father to Harriet and Anya and a firm advocate of community, knowing that consultation, understanding and engagement are essential to delivering successful outcomes.

Schools Liaison Coordinator and Teacher: Amie Hawker

Amie started her dance training in the Wiltshire area, firstly at Morphew School of Dance and then with the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) Contemporary programme at Swindon Dance. She went on to complete a BA and MA in Dance and Culture from the University of Surrey.

Since graduating Amie has established herself as a freelance dance teacher, leading dance sessions in a variety of youth and community environments. She has worked for a number of organisations and schools in the Wiltshire area, working with participants from pre-school age to mature adults. Alongside this, for the last three years Amie has also been the Coordinator for Swindon Dance’s CAT scheme, leading the administration, communication and support on the training scheme for young talented dancers. In addition, Amie is a qualified Level 3 pilates mat instructor.

Amie strongly believes that dance can be accessible and enjoyable for all, and takes great reward from witnessing participants reap the physical and psychological benefits dance provides.

Teacher: Scarlett Cooke

Scarlett graduated from Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts in July 2019, after 3 years of professional Musical Theatre and Dance training.

Scarlett has received extensive training throughout the years in various genres including Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap, Musical Theatre, Commercial and Modern dance.

Working Professionally as a performer and a Teacher in these styles, Scarlett loves sharing what she has learnt along the way with students.

Professional Credits:

2019, Ensemble Dancer, Dick Whittington – Middlesbrough Pantomime, James Robinson

2018, Dancer/ Model, Magnificent – Iceland Corporate Event Manchester, David Wood

2018, Dancer/ Actress, Move it – Dear Evan Hansen, Leanne Pinder

2018, Actress/ Singer, Mrs Pressman in Our House, Wilkes Academy, Stuart Harvey

2017, Dancer, Brit Awards- Little Mix, Shout Out To My Ex, Beth Hornan

Yoga Teacher: Ilona Coryndon Burns

Ilona is a 200hour Certified yoga teacher, completing her training at The Himalaya Yoga Valley in Goa, rated in the top 10 global yoga schools. Previous to her training, she has practised yoga for the last five years encompassing various styles giving her a deep understanding of the physical and philosophical nature of yoga.

Ilona is studying towards a qualification in Holistic Nutrition to complement her yoga teaching and offer lifestyle advice to all ages.

Her practice and teaching combines a strong foundation in balance, flexibility and strength with a focus on the importance of connecting with the breath and finding inner stillness. She is passionate about passing on the benefits a yoga practice can offer, both on and off the mat. In our chronically stressed modern world, her special focus is to ease the feelings of stress and anxiety in body and mind.

Keen to dissolve the myth that yoga is just for bendy/young/fit/energetic people, she will be offering a range of classes and workshops to cater for all levels of ability. The classes will include gentle hatha, meditation and breath awareness techniques, dynamic vinyasa and ashtanga based practice.

Trained as a classical musician, Ilona has taken that knowledge into her classes in the form of sound healing. Using traditional instruments including Tibetan singing bowls, koshi chimes, tinctures, hapi drum, voice and bells she weaves sound and music into her relaxations (savasana) at the end of classes and during the Tranquillity sessions.