The Estrellas Team
Maureen Sands
Principal, Owner, Theatre Tutor,
Voice Coach and Lamda Teacher
Maureen’s own love of everything and anything associated with the theatre, music and dance began as a very young child in her home country of Scotland. She came from a musical family and loved taking part in a range of classes from ballet and contemporary jazz to figure skating and Highland dancing. She was in choirs and attended a theatre school from the age of six to sixteen and still managed to fit in her normal schooling, horse-riding etc and even found time to be the lead singer with a heavy metal rock band. Maureen went on to graduate as a teacher at the Glasgow University, with drama as her speciality, and amateur dramatics became a big part of her life.
Maureen moved to Tenerife in 1992 where she subsequently married and is now mother to three children. She became a primary school teacher at the Trinity School for thirteen years and was in charge of all the theatrical productions. She returned to Scotland in 2005 due to her mother’s illness. Whilst there she took a number of courses and worked in a behavioural unit which she found both amazing and challenging. On her return to Tenerife in 2007 Maureen was asked to help and work in the then Estrellas Theatre Academy. In 2009 the business was offered to Maureen and without thinking twice about it she jumped at the opportunity of a lifetime dream of teaching and mentoring children in the dramatic arts. She changed the name to the now Estrellas Theatre School. Since taking over Maureen has grown her business over these past years and now has 4 schools operational with further schools in the pipeline.
Maureen is a forerunner in the advancement of the performing arts here in Tenerife and has built an exceptional reputation throughout the island as a leader in the field of arts education. She is an active director, educator and community contributor where she encourages all her pupils to strive for excellence. Distinguishing herself as a leader Maureen heads the Estrellas team and family, displaying her strong work ethic as an example of what hard work can achieve. She believes that the performing arts are a strong tool to prepare children for todays’ world, to encourage them to become proactive, decisive, strong and confident individuals where challenge is welcomed and results are achieved.
Vicky Farrington
Dance Tutor, North Choreographer,
Baby Ballet/Tap Coach
Born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Vicky started dancing at the age of three at the Marilyn Yeardley School of Theatre Dance where she studied ballet, tap, modern and disco, taking I.D.T.A. (International Dance Teachers Association) exams in all subjects. At the same time she attended gymnastics classes at the Harry Tate School of Gymnastics obtaining BAGA (British Amateur Gymnastics Association) as well as proficiency awards at all levels and Gold top levels one to three.
Vicky started giving dance classes at the age of fifteen. These included baby ballet, baby tap, adult tap, and also disco to a group of mentally handicapped teenagers. Her professional dancing career started at the age of sixteen, performing in various local hotels before travelling to Barcelona at the age of seventeen to take up a post at Scala Barcelona for eight months. From there she travelled to Tenerife working in the Lago Martianez where she eventually took over the post of First dancer and dance captain. Vicky moved to Malaga for a summer season in Tivoli world, Malaga and then back to Tenerife and the Lago. Once again she travelled to Malaga, this time to the casino Torrequebrada and their Sala Fortuna to cover holidays and then returned again to Tenerife. Vicky started working at Estrellas Theatre School on a volunteer basis in the third term of their first year. The position became permanent the following year.
Dancing has been a part of Vicky's life for as long as she can remember and she loves sharing her knowledge with children and adults alike.
Remember: Dance is the hidden language of the soul.
Ivan Marrero
Dance Tutor
South Choreographer
​
Iván Marrero is a choreographer, dancer and dance teacher specialized in urban styles. His teaching activity focuses on giving students the necessary tool for the freestyle modality, as well as the implementation of games and exercises to develop the creative abilities of students and promote the development of their own choreographic conception. Iván has directed different competition teams and has been awarded several prizes, among which the 1st prize of the couples category of the Dancep Up 2019 or the Golden Granada of the contest 'el médano has talent'. His last outstanding participation has been in the Mediaset Got Talent program In addition to teaching, Iván specializes in choreographic creation and artistic direction, having directed several projects of the production company Bravo Espectáculos or directed artistic ideas for video clips, singers and events.
Dance Tutor
South Choreographer
​
Tracey Cutting
South Musical Theatre
Infant Theatre/Dance Coach
Tracey started her artistic career at Deal Dance Centre at the age of eight where she learnt tap, ballet and modern dance as well as acting classes. From the age of fifteen she appeared in various shows across the UK as well as having the opportunity to choreograph. Later on she joined her sister in a dance company, touring Italy, and performed in front of various Italian singing stars as well as performing on Italian, Venezuelan and Japanese television.
Tracey later moved to Tenerife and for the last nineteen years has run own dance company as well as performing support art for many British television stars.
Tracey is currently collaborating with the Sound of Musicals here in Tenerife where she dances, sings, choreographs and is in charge of costume design for the show as well as teaching singing, dancing and theatre to the youngest Estrellas students.
Tracey has always loved teaching children and her passion in life is performing.
Debbie Shine
Dance Coach
Debbie grew up in Cork, Ireland, where she studied classical ballet, modern dance, and speech & drama from the age of 6. She studied for her Diploma in Dance in the Firkin Crane theatre in Cork, before moving to the UK to study for her BA(Hons) in Dance at Middlesex University. During these 5 years of full time training she studied classical ballet, historical and folk dance, jazz and modern techniques, musical theatre, contemporary dance techniques, technical theatre arts and more, as well as gaining her first teaching qualification in Classical Ballet.
​
Since then Debbie has also qualified to teach dance to adults in an educational setting, as well as English as a Foreign Language, DDMIX, Pilates and Yoga.
Debbie has performed professionally in London and in Ireland, mostly in contemporary dance productions but she has also dabbled in the crazy world of panto. She has choreographed in various theatres around London including Riverside Studios and The Place, and was stage manager for Cloud Dance Festival for 3 years.
Debbie has a passion for teaching and nurturing the next generation of stars, and while she was in London she taught for the Creative Academy BA Dance, as well as Pineapple Dance Studios, Greenwich Dance, Royal Academy of Dance and others. She has also worked for dance festivals and community projects internationally, including in Germany, Russia, Italy, and Ireland. Debbie works inclusively, and has experience of working with people of all ages and abilities, including those with physical and learning disabilities. She believes that dance is for everyone.
Debbie moved to Tenerife in 2016 and is very excited to be working with the fabulous team and talented kids at Estrellas.
Jordana Burridge
Musical Theatre/LAMDA Coach
Jordana was born in Tenerife and attended Wingate School (2000-2010), whilst training in musical theatre, drama and dance at Estrellas Theatre School, AMAE (Academia de Música y Artes en Escena) and Ritmania. At the age of sixteen, Jordana was offered a place at the prestigious Tring Park School for the Performing Arts (UK) to study musical theatre in conjunction with studying 4 A-Levels. A First Class Honours degree in Music from Cardiff University followed, whilst also performing with the BBC National Chorus of Wales (2012-2014) for various events including First Night of the Proms (2014).
Her first job following University was as a Children’s Entertainer and Vocalist for Siblu Holiday Parks in Brittany, France (2015). Following this, Jordana returned to the UK to work as a Vocalist and Entertainment Host for Warner Leisure Hotels at their historic Littlecote House Hotel. It was during this time that she was offered a contract as Vocalist and Entertainment Host by Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) on their flagship the MV Magellan, which she accepted and was fortunate to enjoy the destinations offered on the World Cruise itinerary the ship travelled from Janaury 2017, whilst learning 30 different shows. In 2018, Jordana took part in the launch of CMV’s new flagship the MV Columbus, and subsequently became Head Vocalist in charge of training her team vocally for the variety of shows they had to learn on the 2018 World Cruise.
After arriving home to Tenerife in September 2018, Jordana was thrilled to return to Estrellas as part of the team, teaching private singing (LAMDA Musical Theatre syllabus) and main school Drama. After an exciting first year, she looks forward to the fabulous performances still to come from the children at Estrellas Theatre School!
Terri-Anne Whelan
Dance Coach
Terri-Anne starting dancing at the age of 13, which started out as a weekend hobby and quickly turned into her passion. She started learning hip-hop and this quickly led to her learning other dance styles and taking her dance exams. She complimented this helping our as a teacher's dance assistant on Saturdays. Terri-Anne attended Vamos A Bailar Dance Academy until the age of 18 where she took her IDTA exams in freestyle, ballet, tap and modern.
​
She went on to become a magicians assistant in a well known show in Tenerife befire working in the prestigious Showtime Live where she performed magical illusions, sang, danced and acted during two years.
​
Terri-Anne´s love of dance and being able to teach younger children has made her the ideal candidate to work in Estrellas Theatre School as a dance teacher.
Danielle Carney
Musical Theatre Coach
Danielle grew up in Warrington, Cheshire. She studied music and theatre from a very young age. In 2016, Danielle graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a BA (hons) degree in Musical Theatre. She performed all around the UK in musicals during her training, including the Jermyn Street Theatre in London. She also toured the UK and South of France as part of the UCLan chamber choir.
​
Professionally Danielle has worked as a solo vocalist around the UK, performing at various venues and events. She has taught drama and singing in schools in the UK at both secondary and primary level and has also directed numerous school/college shows. Danielle first moved to Tenerife in 2017 for 6 months as a performer, touring the Canary Islands. Before moving back as a performer in Tenerife she worked at a Modelling and Casting Agency in the UK, supplying artists for Film & TV; organising the photography and castings.
​
She is very excited to be working with the Estrellas team and to have the opportunity to coach young children.
Jodie Owen
Ballet/Dance Teacher
Jodie started dancing at the age of 5, training in ballet and tap and in later years jazz, modern and theatre craft at the Angela Beardmores School of Dance with IDTA (International Dance Teachers Association) and also the BBO (British Ballet Organisation). Following on at the age of 18 she started to train full time at Steelworks dance college Stoke where she also gained her British Ballet Organisation teaching qualification. Jodie has taught since the age of 15 all styles of dance specifically focusing on ballet, stretch & conditioning.
In her professional career Jodie first started here in Tenerife working as a dancer before moving over to Cyprus where she spent 2 years as a dance captain before moving on to be entertainments manager. Later on she performed in several venues in paphos.
​
After returning to Tenerife Jodie is excited to become part of the Estrellas team.
Jordana's bio is coming soon!