Teaching staff

Miss Yvonne Plester

Principal and owner

Miss Yvonne has been the principal of the school since 1986 and teaches all genres of dance.

Miss Yvonne was originally trained at the School under the direction of Miss Yvette Sargent and Miss Mavis Butler – both well recognized examiners and teachers in their field. She has been trained in all subjects, and has achieved all her major qualifications from the ISTD. A working knowledge through years of experience enables her to adapt her teaching methods to suit all ages and abilities, whether the pupil is dancing purely for pleasure, or aiming for a career in the industry.

By attending regular courses, her skills and knowledge are kept up to date, including the changing approaches to teaching pupils. Yvonne is also an approved tutor to coach pupils for teaching qualifications in the four branches of dance.

She has been the choreographer of Chesham pantomime for several years and is currently the trophy Secretary for the Chesham Arts Dance festival.

Alongside running her school Yvonne also works as a freelance teacher. She is currently teaching Advanced Ballet (for performance and teaching qualifications) at DNA Dance Studios, Waltham Abbey.

Yvonne is a member of the Board of Management of the Elgiva Theatre, Chesham.

Miss Zoe Sole

Contemporary movement, limbering & flexibility

Zoe Sole trained with Sargent and Plester from a young age in ballet, modern, tap, national and hip hop.

During this time she took part in the Chesham Arts Festival, Choreographic competitions and several Elgiva pantomimes.

Zoe is a recent psychology graduate and during her time studying became Captain of the Northampton university dance club, and choreographer for jazz and hip hop, placing in the largest inter-university dance competition in the UK. In addition to this the team won the Northampton University Sports Club of the year.

Currently, Zoe is helping at the Dance Psychology lab at Hertfordshire University, working to investigate the benefits of dance for individuals with mental health issues. Furthermore, Zoe hopes to go on to complete her masters in mental health and wellbeing with the intent to further her research into the benefits of dancing for induvials with mental illness.

Zoe is currently teaching a NEW specialist class at the Sargent and Plester school on contemporary movement, limbering & flexibility.

Miss Sophie Seal

All genres

Sophie is a former pupil of the Sargent and Plester School of dance and trained In all genres of dance.

She is trained at DDI level and is furthering her studies into DDE level qualifications. Sophie is an experienced and passionate performer, who has been professionally trained to a high standard.

Furthering her dance studies from Sargent and Plester, Sophie went on to attend the Performers College, an independent performing arts training collage in Essex and the Margaret Howard Theatre College, Watford. Sophie has performed in many festivals, shows, carnivals, and events, alongside her training.

Being an ex-pupil of the school, Sophie is very proud to now be teaching at Sargent and Plester School of Dance.

Miss Isabelle Russell

Assistant to Senior Modern

Isabelle trained with Sargent and Plester from a young age in Ballet, Tap and Modern.

Following a short sabbatical from dancing, Isabelle has come back to Sargent and Plester with the aim of attaining Advanced 2 Ballet as well as continuing her training in the form of ISTD teaching qualifications in Ballet and Modern.

She is enjoying the process of developing her teaching ability under the guidance of Miss Yvonne and one other school, who are both invaluable in their knowledge.

Isabelle is also in the early stages of establishing her own health and fitness business and is thrilled to be expanding her opportunities with the support of those around her.

Isabelle has fallen in love with teaching and wants to continue to pass her adoration of dance to others

Miss Freya Turton

Singing coach

Freya was inspired to sing, act and dance from a young age and now works as a freelance musician and teacher in and around London.

She studied singing as part of her degree in Music at the University of Manchester achieving a 1st in her final vocal recital.

At the age of 11, she had a solo role on the West End in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Woman in White’. Since University, Freya has performed roles in Musicals and Operas including Woman 1 in ‘Songs for a New World’, Mabel in ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ and The Novice in Puccini’s ‘Suor Angelica’. Freya also enjoys directing, having been assistant director for the World Premiere of a new opera, ‘Mysterious 44’, and she has directed productions of Handel’s ‘Acis and Galatea’ and Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘The Mikado’. Freya is a Choral Scholar at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London and regularly sings in other choral ensembles.

Freya learnt to Dance at Sargent and Plester from the age of 4 and she is excited to come back to the school to teach the next generation of young performers. Her future plans are to pursue a professional career in Musical Theatre and Performance.

Miss Catherine Simons

Drama and LAMDA Tutor

Catherine is a local teacher/director/actor who trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, obtaining a first class degree in Drama, Applied Theatre, and Education.

She has facilitated and directed theatre in a variety of different contexts including; working in state and public schools across the county; working within the criminal justice system, and directing children’s theatre. Catherine is a versatile and energetic performer who uses movement and dance in her work. She is passionate about making theatre for social change. Previously, Catherine has performed and produced shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival based around physical theatre and movement. Her most recent credits include, Assistant Directing the immersive theatre Beatrix Potter Tea Party, at the Guernsey Literary Festival. Catherine is also a musician and has tutored and directed at the National Youth Music Camps.
Catherine has taught LAMDA for a number of years and is keen for pupils to see taking LAMDA exams as a way to build confidence in themselves and their art. Catherine is exceptional at teaching her pupils how to use narrative, voice, and movement to create high quality pieces for their LAMDA exams. She explores drama as a way to express, energize, and engage with an audience.
Catherine is very excited to teach at Sargent and Plester and spread her love of drama and theatre.