About Us

Emily and Valentina met in 2003 and trained together at the Urdang Academy of Performing Arts in Covent Garden, London.
After years of teaching and dancing professionally they created Dancericse.


 Emily Lucas IDTA - Principal

Emily trained at the Urdang Academy of Performing Arts in Covent Garden, London.  Following her graduation she taught Jazz, Tap and Musical Theatre to children of all ages and adults, and danced in a variety of troupes.

Emily has enjoyed a number of professional dance positions overseas including work both on Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises and in a casino in Macau, Hong Kong. 

Other professional highlights include dancing for Rod Stewart at the Millennium Torch Concert, at the after show party for the film Chicago and television appearances dancing the Can Can. 

Since then Emily qualified with the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) and has enjoyed teaching Street Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Musical Theatre in a number of schools in Berkshire.

 Valentina Papiri-Bray RAD RTS - Principal

Valentina trained at the Urdang Academy of Performing Arts in Covent Garden, London. She previously trained in her native country, Italy, at the Centro Danza La Sylphide in Rome, where she studied Ballet, Jazz (Lyrical and Street), Contemporary, Tap, Singing, Acting, Voice, Musical Theatre, Salsa and Ballroom.

Her credits include dancing in numerous shows and musicals in Italy and performing on a TV show. In 2002 she became dance captain and choreographer assistant with the Preziosa Dance Company.

She started teaching Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap and Salsa in 1998 and became a qualified teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance in 2001. Since then she has been enjoying working as a teacher in a number of prestigious schools in Rome and London.

 Josie Biog - Hip Hop Teacher

Josie is a professional hip-hop, street & Musical Theatre dancer. Josie recently graduated from The North London Dance Studios. She has also trained under the guidance of teachers such as Kenrick Sandys, (boy blue) Nathan Gordon, (flawless) Duwane Taylor (Prototype) and Hakeem Onibudo. (Impact). Her credits include dancing for Zoonation in Trafalgar Square and Move It in Olympia. She has recently finished a UK Tour of The Lady Legend Show.

 Lucy Stevens - Assistant Ballet Teacher

Lucy started dancing as a child, training in Ballet, Modern and Tap and she has performed in many shows and events.

She is one of our senior students and since January 2010 she has been helping as an assistant teacher due to her natural talent with young children.