The Team

Terry Hyde

Terry Hyde

I’m a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and abide by their code for ethical practice. I have been a psychotherapist and counsellor since 2010.

I started ballet classes at the age of 6 and at age 10 I was awarded a 5 year scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dance in London, later attending the Royal Ballet senior school. At 18 I joined the Royal Ballet and later moved to London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet) as a soloist. After 5 years, I transitioned into musical theatre, performing in London’s West End, Film and TV.

Because of my own experiences as a performer I am able to bring a genuine understanding of the unique demands that are placed on dancers into my psychotherapy practice.

Ann Wall

“I am delighted to be on the board of STEPPS, which is set to fill a much-needed gap in the industry. Every dancer deserves access to support to ensure they can thrive in their lives and careers. STEPPS is on a mission to see this happen.”

Ann is a freelance dancer and teacher based in London. She trained at the English National Ballet School and holds a BA in Professional Practice in Dance from Middlesex University, as well as a Diploma in Sports Psychology and Dynamics. She has an MA in Professional Practice in Dance (Health and Wellbeing). Ann has danced professionally with Ballet Cymru and Brecon Festival Ballet, as a principal dancer with English Youth Ballet, and has engaged in community and collaborative projects.

Ash Mukherjee

“I am delighted to be joining STEPPS in creating a space that is specifically dedicated towards dancers and the unique needs and challenges they face as they navigate learning and their careers.”

With a career spanning television, theatre, and film, Ash Mukherjee is a choreographer and Critics’ Circle National Dance Award UK nominated South Asian dancer. They create work that actively explores the impact of the arts on mental health and wellbeing. Their latest work Pride Face Project is a collaboration with Journey LGBT+ Asylum Seekers group, supported by Sampad Arts in Birmingham.

Claire Jones

“I am delighted to be on the board of STEPPS, which is set to fill a much-needed gap in the industry. Every dancer deserves access to support to ensure they can thrive in their lives and careers. STEPPS is on a mission to see this happen.”

Claire is a creative and enterprising leader with over 20 years of experience in fundraising and marketing, committed to advancing growth and impact in the cultural and charitable sectors. As Director of FundLink and ImpactEast, and Head of Marketing at the Arts Marketing Association, she leverages her expertise to help organisations thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. Previously, Claire led ambitious income generation initiatives at a Lottery distributor, as a grant beneficiary, and as a funded-programme partner, and with a proven track record of developing transformative strategies and staying at the forefront of industry trends and effective practices, she continuously seeks new ways to make a positive impact and drive meaningful change.

Denise Fiennes

“Getting STEPPS off the ground is vital for the future of the dance profession and working with this diverse and exciting Board” means a great deal to me.”

Denise has a long history in dance, music, the arts, and humanities as a consultant. She is also a former Deputy Chairman of English National Ballet, having held the position for 12 years. She was instrumental in setting up the ENB School and was a long-standing Trustee of The Dance Professionals Fund and Career Development.

James Ellis-Rees

“I am delighted to be joining STEPPS in creating a space that is specifically dedicated towards dancers and the unique needs and challenges they face as they navigate learning and their careers.”

James is a corporate lawyer who advises businesses on transactions and commercial matters, as well as providing pro bono work for charities and not-for-profit enterprises. He is passionate about dance and delighted to be involved in STEPPS as it develops much-needed counselling and support for dance professionals.

Joseph Powell-Main

“I am extremely excited to join STEPPS as a trustee. Dance is a wonderful industry, but the ups and downs can be tough. I believe that having mental health support for dancers of all ages will make dancers healthier and allow them to perform to their fullest potential”.

Joe trained at the Royal Ballet Lower School, during which time he performed with the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet. After sustaining a knee injury and being involved in a serious car crash, Joe acquired his disability and stopped dancing for three years. As a professional dancer, Joe has worked with Ballet Cymru, The Royal Ballet as a guest artist, Sweetshop Revolution, Propel Dance and Humans Move, as well as choreographing and performing for the One Young World 2022 Opening Summit.

Matz Skoog

“After many years in the business I have learned that the dance world is a better place when artists make sensible career decisions that ensure both personal and professional fulfilment throughout their working lives. STEPPS endeavours to promote and facilitate a professional environment where dancers can do this safely and securely.”

Matz Skoog is a former dancer and Artistic Director of English National Ballet. He enjoyed a successful performance career in classical ballet and contemporary dance, working with some of the most exciting artists of his era whilst dancing on international stages. Matz is now a career guide and consultant, helping dance professionals navigate key moments in their careers.

Stuart Waters

“As an artist with mental health centralised as an access need, kindness, care , inclusion, intersectionality, community, networks for support are key factors for step change in dance, and STEPPS vision for dancers align with my values and desires for dance artists.”

Stuart Waters is a dance and live art performance maker with over 20 years of experience in professional dance. His critically acclaimed autobiographical work draws from intersectional lived experiences of queerness and neurodivergence. He collaborates extensively, centralising disability-led practice, social activism and allyship, an approach which underpins his creative process.

Taira Foo

“I am very much looking forward to working with STEPPS and feel very grateful to be involved with this brilliant charity.”

Taira is a freelance choreographer, movement director, and founder and artistic director of TF Dance Co, a story-based company that draws on strong contemporary and street dance styles. Company credits include four critically acclaimed works as part of Resolution festival,  ‘Prisoner 466’ funded by The Arts Council and shown at the House of Lords, short film ‘Carly’s exit’ which premiered at The San Francisco Dance Film Festival and the New York ‘Dance for camera’ Festival. Other credits include Snow Patrol’s ‘Don’t Give In’ 2018 with other performances in and around the UK.

Tim Branson

“I fully support any therapeutic work that helps dancers and performing artists maintain good mental health. I understand the unique pressures on artists, having both personal and professional experience of clients with anxiety, low mood, suicidality and eating disorders”.

Tim is a former member of the NHS acute mental health team, who now works as a psychotherapist and supervisor of therapists working in private practice.

Azaria Bradley

“It is an honour to join STEPPS as an ex-officio board member. Dancers’ mental health is a cause dear to my heart and work, and it is vital for a healthy and happy industry. It has been a delight to support this from ideation to conception, and now, I look forward to making this vision a reality with the rest of the team.”

After a successful career as an award-winning choreographer, teacher and owner of a social enterprising performing arts school, Azaria now works as an entrepreneurial partner for start-ups and scale-ups, specialising in developmental strategy. Azaria utilises her extensive global network and supports a blend of exciting clients and projects. In recent years, Azaria has secured public investment to lead action research and development, partnering with talent to kickstart ventures.

Holly Austin

“I am so excited to be a part of STEPPS and hope, through my lived experience and passion for the law, to be a part of preventing abuse in the dance/performing industry and promoting good mental health among performers.”

After finishing her BA in Musical Theatre, Holly pursued a career change and is currently undertaking an MA in Law. Holly manages the social media for Counselling For Dancers and is currently volunteering as a peer mentor at the Single Homeless Project. She is a certified mental health first aider and a Naloxone volunteer. She has worked as part of the pro bono team at BPP within the benefits form-filling clinic and has delivered Streetlaw workshops nationwide.

Anita Young MBE

Coming soon.

Anita trained at The Royal Ballet School, joining The Royal Ballet Company in 1968 and was promoted to soloist in 1974. She performed many prominent roles in the “heritage” ballets of Sir Frederick Ashton. On leaving the company, Anita was offered the position of Ballet Mistress with Northern Ballet Theatre. Anita was on the Artistic faculty of both The Royal Ballet ‘Lower and Upper Schools’ and in 2016, was a guest teacher at the ‘Paris Opera Ballet School’; She is currently a Guest Teacher at the European School of Ballet in Amsterdam. Anita decided to build a career as a freelance Teacher, Choreographer, Coach and Mentor. She has been a guest teacher for Schools and Companies, in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malta, Romania, South Africa and the USA. Anita has also coached American Football Players and Professional Footballers.

Annette Walker

“In my experience, a dancer’s physical health is often linked to their mental health and so I feel that mental health support for dancers is just as important for their wellbeing. I accepted the role of Patron for STEPPS to help in raising this awareness and to help champion the accessible dancers’ mental health support being made available by STEPPS”.

Annette MA BSc (Hons) DipHE is a tap dancer and PhD researcher who has appeared in a wide variety of shows from theatre and circus to the concert stage, film and television, including as a featured tap dance soloist in BBC Proms 2019 at the Royal Albert Hall. She is a PhD scholarship researcher at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Dollie Henry MBE

Our mental health alongside our emotional and physical state, is so important to be able to sustain and support a career and a life that is flowing and flourishing. How wonderful that STEPPS is here for us all. One thing I do know … I, You, We are not alone!

Dollie has led a respected career of 45 years as a theatre performer, choreographer, theatre director, jazz artist and practitioner and is recognised as one of the most formidable exponents of artistic and creative jazz dance and theatre dance, both in the UK and globally. She is Founder/Co-Artistic Director of BOP Jazz Theatre Company and continues to be active in her breadth of work as Patron of IDTA, The Hammond School and Ignite Dance Company. As a creative mentor, Dollie is instrumental in developing and steering the careers of many dancers and creatives in established dance companies, musical theatre productions and dance shows across the globe. Dollie is co-author of the highly successful book ‘The Essential Guide to Jazz Dance’. Published by Crowood Press. In June 2022, Dollie was recognised on the Queens Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours List receiving the award of ‘MBE’ for ‘Services to Dance’.

Philip Joel

“I am proud to be a patron of STEPPS, championing the importance of discussion, prevention & assistance in mental health within the performing arts industry. STEPPS is created by top-quality practitioners who understand the importance of mental health within the ever-changing world of dance & the artistic world.”

Philip is The Actors Fund Encore Award Winner & Whatsonstage Angel Winner. During the pandemic Philip created comedy viral videos which have been viewed millions of times around the world & still growing, he is also creator of the comedy pilot “THE FOSSE FOREST BALLET”.

Choreography credits:
‘Jon & Lucy’s Party Of The Year’ Christmas Special, Channel 4, ‘The One Show’ BBC,
‘Children In Need’ BBC, ‘Bette Midler & Me’ Eagle Theatre, London ‘Chess The Musical’ The Electric Theatre ‘Wizard Of Oz’ Peterborough New Theatre,
‘HAIRSPRAY’ The Gaiety Theatre, Portsmouth ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ Cultural Hall Theatre,
Bahrain ‘The Last Leg’ Channel 4, ‘HARRY HILL’S ALIEN FUN CAPSULE’ ITV ‘Henrietta’ Kate Golledge, NYMT ‘NATASIA DEMETRIOU AND ELLIE WHITE ARE GETTIN’ BIG’ Soho Theatre, ‘Sketch You Up!’ London, ‘Harrods 10th anniversary magazine editorial. ‘NET A PORTER internet campaign. ‘Ferris & Milnes A Christmas Cracker’ Ambassador Theatre, London. ‘CLOSER TO HEAVEN’ The Pet Shop Boys musical Union Theatre.

Deborah Weiss

“I’m keen to support STEPPS as much as I can. Dancers are fragile human beings who learn from an early age to put up with a great deal of criticism. It is important that they are given the tools, not just to survive but to thrive in a unique environment. It can be such a rewarding career, but it’s not just the body that needs care and attention”.

Deborah was Royal Ballet School trained and is a former principal dancer (including London Festival Ballet and Bayerisches Staatsballett). She has been writing for over 30 years. Publications include Dancing Times, DanceTabs, Dance for You and Dance Europe. She is currently Dance Editor at Bachtrack. She also interviews for Voices of British Ballet. In addition, since 2016 she has been facilitating programmes that support victims of domestic abuse.

As an advocate for the holistic wellbeing of artists and having experienced many mental hurdles and challenges throughout my training and career, I owe much of my success and development to the mental health professionals who supported me along the way. I am, therefore, delighted to be representing STEPPS from professionals who have been deeply embedded in and understand the intricacies of the dance industry. STEPPS is essential in paving the way for a healthier, more resilient and sustainable future in dance.

Isabelle Brouwers

“As an advocate for the holistic wellbeing of artists, having experienced my own challenges throughout my career, I owe much of my success and development to the mental health professionals who supported. I am delighted to be representing STEPPS with professionals who have been deeply embedded in and understand the intricacies of the dance industry. STEPPS is essential in paving the way for a healthier, more resilient and sustainable future in dance”.

Isabella Gasparini

“As dancers we often suffer from anxiety, fear of failure, feel the pressure to perform well, and work in an environment where stress levels are high. Looking after our mental health is just as important to our wellbeing and performance as our physical health, and that is why I support STEPPS in their effort to help us navigate the mental obstacles of a career in dance.”

Isabella was born in São Paulo and trained at Ballet Marcia Lago (her mother’s school) and at Canada’s National Ballet School. She joined Northern Ballet in 2007, where she danced for five years, and performed with English National Ballet and New English Ballet Theatre before joining The Royal Ballet in 2014. She is currently a First Soloist and just completed a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing.

Joshua’s dance training includes: The Royal Ballet School, Central School of Ballet & The Rock School For Dance Education in the USA. He was semi-finalist In ‘Young British Dancer of The Year 2006’ & has performed with The Royal Ballet, Kirov Opera, Murley Dance, Vienna Festival Ballet, English National Ballet, Hack Ballet & Neo Ballet as well as appearing at Edinburgh Fringe & in the West End in London. His repertoire includes: Macbeth, Don Quixote (Prod: Rudolf Nureyev), Swan Lake (Prod: Anthony Dowell), The Sleeping Beauty (Prod: Natalia Makarova) at The Royal Opera House, Swan Lake & Giselle (UK Tour 2012) Ballet Central’s 25th Anniversary UK Tour 2010, The Nutcracker (USA) & Romeo & Juliet (Prod: Derek Deane) at The Royal Albert Hall. He has taught ballet at Portobello Dance School, Impact Dance, London Boys Ballet School, Base Dance Studios, Victoria Lagan Dance & Drama, Frances Lundy School of Dance & Primrose School of Dance. He completed the Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma with the Royal Academy of Dance in 2021. In 2020 he launched HIV The Naked Truth which is a group of likeminded people with a mission to end HIV stigma through the arts celebrating World AIDS Day in London. In 2021 he became an ambassador for the #FindYourFour HIV campaign. In 2022 he became an ambassador for the #TogetherVoices HIV campaign. In 2023 his life story was featured in the book “From The Margins” published by Professor David Olusoga OBE. He was invited as a guest judge in Ireland at Industry Dance Championships in 2023 & 2024. In 2024 he launched HIV The Naked Truth 2025 Nude Charity Calendar in support of Positive East.

Joshua Royal

“After being diagnosed with ADHD & bipolar disorder in the early years of dance training & soon after HIV. I faced many battles & challenges in my short dance career from racism to HIV stigma. I know the importance of the write support, counselling & love and care on that dance journey and with the right medication and help eventually you will be ok – but remember it’s ok not to be ok – You are not alone!”

Lucy Turner

In an industry where dance is a strong part of performers’ identity, mental health can easily nose-dive – especially for disabled and neurodivergent dancers. I am proud to be an ambassador of STEPPS, helping to share their message, especially within the disabled dance community“.

Lucy Turner is a London-based, freelance dance artist whose movement style is often described as ‘a mathematical dance equation’. She prides herself in raising awareness and creating space for disabled performers in the industry, using her platform to advocate how to improve accessibility for all.

Monique Dior Jarrett is a Model & Influencer under the agency Zebedee Talent, Advocate for disability, Ambassador of several charities and organisations, one of the Directors of the BAFTA Award winning Arts based company TripleC, a National and International Wheelchair Dance Champion and now a Professional Contemporary Dancer for the inclusive dance company Stopgap Dance.

Monique Dior Jarrett

“STEPPS is an amazing charity to support as in the past working with people with mental health and being a dancer myself it’s so important that we have a safe space and be able to speak to a professional about how the world of dance may have impacted their mental health.To be able to unpack and find solutions to any difficulties they may be having due to the environment of a dancer.”

Philip Arnott

“I am honoured to be an Ambassador for STEPPS having worked with many dance professionals and I understand the challenges of the profession as a whole and the need for this important mental health charity“.

I used to wander the West End looking at the theatres and billboards. Having worked as a dresser in Sweet Charity and Mame, I joined the BBC and then worked with Tommy Steele as his assistant, travelling the world. He introduced me to the sculptor and ex-dancer Tom Merrifield, where I worked on all his gallery work and shows for 12 years, and then was the press officer for the Society of British Sculptors, organising exhibitions from my own Gallery and in Scotland and London with my partner John. The American painter of dancers and Royal favourite Robert Heindel worked with me as I could organise access to dance companies in the UK. Further work with Robert involved Andrew Lloyd Webber’s productions in London and New York.
I have lived in Tangiers and Marrakech and run galleries in both places but now run a high end property company and keep in contact with many people in the dance profession.