Name: Richard Lessey
Company:
Dance Level: Experienced
Bio
Richard grew up dancing in Trinidad and went on to study at the Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre, Liverpool after short scholarships at Alvin Ailey Dance Centre, Taller de Danza de Caracas and Jacob's Pillow Musical Theatre Dance Program- training in a variety of styles but concentrating on ballet, modern, jazz and musical theatre. He is a freelance teacher, choreographer dancer and musical artist. Before moving to London, Richard lived and worked in Oslo, Norway where his main roles were as the Head of the Musical Dance Department (an administrative and teaching role-jazz, modern, tap, musical theatre) at Baardar Academy; taught at the Norwegian Opera Ballet School (modern/ contemporary); and was Head of the Dance Department (an administrative and teaching role-jazz, audition technique, musical theatre) at the Norwegian College of Musical Theatre.
Richard has taught and choreographed for various primary and secondary schools, tertiary education institutions, youth organisations, dance schools, dance companies, choirs, amateur/ semi-professional organisations, and corporations in Trinidad, England and Norway. As a freelance choreographer, he has choreographed for school shows, musicals, concerts, competitions, revues, cabarets, and fashion shows.
His performing credits are extensive and include The Book of Mormon [dance captain, ensemble] (Oslo, Norway), La Cage Aux Folles [Cagelle) (Aarhus, Denmark), Disney's The Lion King [dancer/ swing] (Hamburg, Germany), Black Burlesque Revisited (US tour), The Dancing Man [assistant choreographer, dance captain, ensemble] (Oslo and European tour), performing member- Tabanka Dance Ensemble and Baardar Dance Theater(Oslo, Norway).
Richard is an associate (Ballet and Modern) of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing; an associate (Acting) of the London Academy of Music and Drama; and a licentiate (Acting) of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He holds a MA in Education (Dance Teaching) from the Royal Academy of Dance/ University of Bath and a MFA in Choreography from the University of Roehampton.
Dance Style: Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Large cast movement and staging specialist, Lyrical, Movement Direction, Musical theatre, Staging
Work Context: musical theatre,pure dance,straight theatre drama
Personal Contact
Email: rvmless@hotmail.com
Credits
2021
Urinetown
Italia Conti 3rd year autumn musical
Director: Simon Greiff
2019
The Norwegian College of Musical Theatre (2011-2019)
Teacher/choreographer for school Christmas and Summer performances.
2019
The Norwegian Opera Ballet School (2011-2019)
Teacher/choreographer for school performances and external projects using the students.
2018
The Producers
Hadeland Janitsjar, Norway
Director: Cynthia Kai
2018
Harry Potter's Halloween
Oslo Filharmonien, Norway
performance with the Norwegian Opera Ballet School
2018
Spinn Dance Studio, Norway
School performance
2017
A Very Unusual Evening
West End Studios Company, Norway
One of the choreographers
2016
Harry Potter's Halloween
Oslo Filharmonien, Norway
performance with the Norwegian Opera Ballet School
2016
All That Jazz
International Dance Day Open Stage, Norway
performance with the Norwegian College of Musical Theatre
2016
The Norwegian University College of Dance
For the 3rd year choreographic project and performance
2016
West End Studios, Norway (2011-2016)
Teacher/ choreographer for school performances
2016
Frendelaus
The Norwegian College of Musical Theatre graduation musical
Director: Aksel- Otto Bull
2015
Sweet Charity
The Norwegian College of Musical Theatre graduation musical
Director: Cynthia Kai
2015
Hakke Bakke Skogen
Bjorneparken, Fla, Norway
musical for children
Director: Magne Brevik
2014
Urinetown
The Norwegian College of Musical Theatre graduation musical
Director: Eric Skoyen
2014
Hakke Bakke Skogen
Bjorneparken, Fla, Norway
musical for children
Director: Magne Brevik
2014
This Is Our Story
West End Studios Company, Norway
One of the choreographers
2013
Hello!
West End Studios Company, Norway
One of the choreographers
2012
We Will Show You
West End Studios Company, Norway
One of the choreographers
2011
Showtime
West End Studios Company, Norway
One of the choreographers
2011
Vinderen Dance Studio, Norway
School performance
2008
Baardar Academy, Norway (2000-2008)
Teacher/ choreographer for school performances and external projects using the students.
2008
The Norwegian Opera Ballet School (2004-2008)
Teacher/ choreographer for school performances and external projects using the students.
2007
The Norwegian University College of Dance
3rd year graduation performance
2004
"Back Home", Trinidad
One of the choreographers and producers for the performance