Training

Dance & Musical Theatre training began aged 3 with Susan Town (Ballet Mistress at Doreen Birds Professional college) & performances in Musicals with Theatre Guild. Studied 4 years at the prestigious Stella Mann College in London in the Teacher Training & Professional Performers Course.  Also selected for a 2 year scholarship to gain the Trinity College Diploma in professional dance & teaching, under the New Dance & Drama award.

Written exams with the RAD & ISTD include  Anatomy, History of Ballet, Child Development (Lifespan), Music theory, Health & Safety and gained Advanced 2 practical examinations in the different genres. Training included subjects such as: Musical Theatre, Singing, Drama, Classical Ballet, Pointe, Pas de deux, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Street, Commercial Entertainment, Cabaret, Contemporary, Spanish/Flamenco, National, Theatrical skills & professional employment.

Chahna holds the most current qualifications with the exam boards & maintains 20 hours of CPD & Safeguarding every year in order to keep up to date with the best practices and methods.  In 2020, gained a Diploma in Make-up Artistry, Pilates & Yoga.

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Performing

Performer, Dance captain & then Choreographer in numerous shows around the country including: Orpheus and the Underworld (Rudolf Steiner Theatre – London), Just William & Alice (Beck Theatre), The Floor is Yours & One Step at a Time (Bloomsbury Theatre London). South Pacific, Call Me Madam, Oklahoma!, Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver, Pajama Game, Guys and Dolls, Me and My Girl, The Wizard of Oz, Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, Annie Get Your Gun, Carousel, Hello Dolly, Half a Sixpence, Showboat & West Side Story. Dance Unified 2010 at the Wyllyotts Theatre & for the Opening Celebrity Gala of the Ark Theatre. 

Performed "Grease" in Tunisia. Toured with the Night Owls orchestra, dancing in the authentic 1920's showcase 'The Charleston age meets Hollywood'. Performed in London’s longest running Cockney Cabaret show ‘Talk of the Town’ run by the "Best of British" in the West End.​

Backing vocals for Vanessa Mae’s "Reach for the stars" 

In 2010 choreographed & tap danced with advanced students in the BBC1 television program 'Little Howards Big Question', Provided tap sound effects & tap dance understudy for ITV's 'Odd One In' starring Bradley Walsh, Peter Andre and celebrity guests. In 2011, acting in C4/Discovery Channel documentary 'Colliding Lives', re-creating some of the heroic story lines from the 9/11 twin towers. After successful auditions danced in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games!

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Teaching Experience

Many years teaching at successful & well established dance schools with Examiners around London and took opportunities to teach seminars & assist Wayne Sleep & other choreographers. Chahna took over as Principal in 2008 where the name changed from Lila Vincent School of dance to Hertsmere Academy of Dance & Performing Arts. 

Also has studied & taught Salsa & Latino dancing for over 10 years, plus the benefits of Pilates which she has also introduced to the school.

Chahna has entered thousands of students for exams with a 100% pass rate.  She has also been a major role in the success of ex-students who have gone on to have very successful careers in the industry.   She would like to thank everyone who has supported Hertsmere Academy over the years.

Donna's passion for performance began with various Irish Dance competitions from a young age, the sheer thrill and love for performance led her to then study Drama at GCSE level achieving grade A, then a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts and a Higher National Diploma in Performance, Entertainment and Media.

Deciding to further her education even more, she graduated with a degree in Applied Performing Arts where she achieved a 1st in Advanced Acting.

After achieving her Degree Donna went on to tour with The West Midlands Theatre in Education group. Here Donna performed daily & gained great experience from daily shows which then lead to her becoming a Children's Entertainer.

Donna also worked voluntarily with the Balmoral Theatre company along side adults with learning difficulties, gaining a huge amount of knowledge of just how effective drama can be, finding the progression and improvement in the adults confidence very rewarding.

Donna currently teaches at West Herts College's Performing Arts Dept. and has a PGCE in teaching (Professional Graduate Certificate in Education - Teaching Degree). She is a teaching & learning leader which means supporting & training new teachers, as well as being course leader & tutor for acting level 3 & performing arts level 2.  

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​​Miss Donna is DBS checked and up to date with safeguarding requirements. 

Down to Miss Donna's thorough knowledge, Hertsmere Academy students are able to fly through their GCSE & A Level Drama. 

Daisy is an alumni of Hertsmere Academy of Dance and Performing arts, whom studied Dance & Performing Arts classes since the age of 3 years. Daisy continued her passion by attaining a BA in Musical Theatre from The University of Chichester Conservatoire and then attended the prestigious Mountview Academy where she graduated in 2022 with an MA (Masters) in Musical Theatre.

Credits during training include: Ado Annie in Oklahoma! (2021), Charlotte in Flora The Red Menace (2019), and Jo March in Little Women (2022).  Since then Daisy has worked professionally as a Singer at the Sing Easy West End (2023), was a principal singer at a Cabaret presentation at The Union theatre (2023), worked FOH at Six the Musical, been a Wardrobe Assistant on Drew McOnies The Nutcracker (2023 - 2024) at the Southbank Centre, and is currently a Wardrobe Assistant & WAM on The Play That Goes Wrong (2024 to present) at the Duchess Theatre on the West End. 

Daisy is experienced in Theatre Education, Stage Management & a talented MUA.  

Miss Daisy loves everything about the performing arts and is delighted to be transferring that passion and knowledge onto HADAPA students.