Sophie Richards

Sophie Richards trained at Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts and began her professional career as first cast Meg Giry in The Phantom of the Opera in Belgium and Germany. She toured internationally as a dancer with Spirit of the Dance across Europe and Asia, and was a company member, Assistant Director and Ballet Mistress with Chrysalis Dance Company.

With over 25 years of teaching experience, Sophie has taught in multiple dance schools and continues to run her own successful school for children through to adults. She has worked in further education delivering BTEC Level 3 Dance Pathway courses and, for the past six years, has worked in higher education.

Sophie holds a BA (Hons) Performance, a PG Cert in Education, and ISTD teaching qualifications in Modern and Classical Ballet, and is currently completing her MA in Teaching and Learning. For the past nine years, she has been a member of the Classical Ballet faculty and academic team at Performers College. She is now the Principal Lecturer for the Creative Industries – Curriculum Spine, leading course development and delivery across the department.