MEET THE HARWOOD DANCE TEAM
LILY BOXALL - PRINCIPAL
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Lily was a student at Harwood Dance from the age of 6-18. Whilst a pupil Lily gained distinctions in all exams taken and reached her majors in both tap and modern. In addition, she assisted in classes which gave her the opportunity to work with younger students and to choreograph her own pieces. Her passion for choreography continues to drive her.
Lily decided to take a gap year before university and joined the Harwood teaching faculty for a year. During this time, she choreographed several dances for festivals which were awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze, and she also choreographed dances for the HD annual show. This year of experience showed her just how much she loves to teach and choreograph.
Whilst in her first year studying Social Policy at the University of Bath, she joined the Dance Society and was chosen to be part of the jazz, tap, contemporary and wildcard advanced competition teams that placed in both London and Loughborough competitions. In her second year, she joined the Dance Society committee as ‘class coordinator’, organising weekly classes both in person and online. She choreographed the advanced jazz competition team and was part of the tap, contemporary, hip hop and wildcard advanced competition teams. Whilst at university Lily returned to Harwood Dance to teach as often as she could.
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After graduating, Lily returned to Harwood fulltime, adding adult classes to the timetable. She continues to choreograph both festival and show dances and recently choreographed the CODS production of 'Kinky Boots' at the Everyman Theatre in 2024. This production was NODA nominated for 'Best large musical' and 'Company movement and dance'.
In 2023, ​Lily took over the role as principal and has been studying for her DDE qualification in both modern and tap.
REBECCA CRIPPS
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Miss Becks started dancing at a young age. At 14 she was a Birmingham Royal Ballet Associate. Her love of dance took her to Northern Ballet school in Manchester at 16 years old after gaining a full scholarship. Here she trained in all styles of dance and majored in ballet. She graduated with a National Diploma in Professional Dance. In 2002 she performed in the Manchester Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
Since graduating she has had a 14 year career as a professional dancer working on cruise ships which took her all over the world and gave her the opportunity to work with many renowned choreographers. A highlight of her career was being involved in many new shows onboard and especially being part of the original cast on Costa Diadema’s inaugural cruise working with choreographers Nathan Clarke, Karen Bruce, Cookie Ramos.
She is an ISTD qualified teacher in Ballet, Tap and Modern, Acrobatic Arts and PBT( Progressing Ballet Technique).
LIZ (lilZ)
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Liz aka lil Z has been dancing since the age of two, in all styles of dance from ballet to hip hop. From the age of four she was involved with the South Cerney Players, taking part in many on-stage productions. Liz trainee at CCDA in Cirencester in ballet, tap and jazz but it wasn’t until she moved to Cheltenham at 11 that she found street dance and break. Liz also studied at Theatre Studios, taking LAMDA exams and auditioning successfully for many Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre productions. She continued her training at Cirencester College with a BTEC in Performing Arts, gaining four distinctions and an invitation to return to choreograph two further shows in song and dance.
As a dancer, Liz has had the opportunity to train and learn from award-winning b-boys and hip hop dancers, UK and international, including members of Flawless and Boy Blue and continues to do so. She has competed in many competitions in the UK and abroad, bringing home medals, trophies and a scholarship to train at Urdang for a year in hip hop when she was 18.
Recently managed by a member of ‘Britain's Got Talent’ semi-finalists ‘Nemesis,’ she has performed at many events showcasing all styles in street, commercial, breakin, locking and even stomping, including such events as MOVE IT and London Lion’s basketball games broadcast on Sky Sports.
Liz has also choreographed street dances two years running as support acts for the Strictly Come Dancing Tour and support acts for Britain got talent finalists KNE. She was also a Team GB Games Maker in 2019 following the announcement of Breakin coming to the Olympics. To this day Liz continues to perform, choreograph, teach and share her knowledge across the UK as well as judge for dance competitions and schools.
ANYA WOOD
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Anya started dancing at the age of three, learning ballet, modern, jazz and musical theatre and taking exams with both RAD and ISTD. As a teenager she started assistant teaching ballet and jazz classes and decided that she would like to train as a ballet teacher. Anya obtained a diploma in teaching classical ballet and completed a period of study with the ISTD. Anya went on to teach at a number of dance schools in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire before very happily settling at Harwood Dance.
Anya has a passion for musical theatre and performance and has choreographed for amateur shows including Fame, High School Musical and Oklahoma. Most recently, she choreographed the 2025 production of Elf the Musical for Promenade Productions. She also loves performing, starring in the Cotswold Savoyards' 2023 production of Singin' in the Rain and the 2024 production of The Addams Family at The Everyman.
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RUBY DAVIES
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Ruby started dancing at Harwood Dance at the age of 4 and did well in all of her exams. At age 10, Ruby started competing in festivals, being the first Harwood student to win a medal (and it was gold!). By the time she was in her mid teens, Ruby began assisting on Saturdays and competing in 'own choreography' sections at festival which started her love for choreography. In her final show, she choreographed a beautiful dance for all the leavers.
Having left Harwood Dance at 18 to start work, Ruby came back to help out at the HD shows. Ruby loved the last one so much, she wanted to come back and teach! Ruby now assists on Saturdays, helping in ballet and acro classes. She is interested in getting her teaching qualification in ballet and modern and has really enjoyed being back in the dance world.
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NEALA BEIRNE​
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Neala has danced from the age of 6, training in various dance styles including modern, tap and musical theatre at Emma Ward Dance and Performing Arts.
Neala also found a love for commercial and street, competing at BDO and SHC qualifier events.
As well as dance, Neala has a passion for performing. She has performed at the Everyman Theatre in various productions including Annie, The Sound of Music and Singing in the Rain with amateur societies.
After completing her GCSEs, Neala studied at Stagedoor Learning in Cheltenham achieving an extended diploma in performing arts. She then began assisting at Emma Ward Dance and Performing Arts, quickly developing a love for teaching. Neala is now studying for her DDE to further her career in teaching dance.
Neala is excited to join the Harwood Dance team, assisting with Liz on Mondays and continuing with Miss Lily whilst Liz is on maternity leave.
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ANNA FIRKINS​
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Anna trained at Northern Ballet School before enjoying a varied career as a dancer in the UK and abroad. She began teaching in 2009 and later went on to complete her Diploma in Dance Education in Imperial Classical Ballet and Modern Theatre with the ISTD.
In 2013, Anna decided to develop her own dance business, focusing on introducing people of all ages to dance in a non-intimidating way. She developed the well-loved Toddle classes, sparking a love of dance in many which is still there today. Anna also enjoyed her work as a choreographer for Camberley Theatre and On at Fife and the occasional dabble into acting for screen and stage.
During the pandemic, like many, Anna had more time to slow down and reassess. She came to the decision to stop running Toddle classes and undertaking any other dance-related work for a time of recovery and a somewhat delayed maternity leave!
Anna is thrilled to be dipping her (pointed) toes into the world of teaching again by joining the team at Harwood Dance. She can’t wait to get to know all the little people in her classes and have lots of fun together and they continue on their dance journey.