Meet the Team

Jody - YC Owner &Principal

Name: Jody Byrne   Age: 34   Industry influences: The Young Americans & Zoonation     Fun Fact: My favourite colour is red, I collect trainers, I love birthdays and holidays! 

I started taking dance classes at the age of 8 in ballet, Jazz and Tap. As I grew older I discovered street dance, watching videos and making up my own choreography, I fell in Love with every aspect of the style. When I started my time at Palmers college, it become my passion and I taught at a few local dance schools in my spare time. This is when I decided I wanted to teach. After being told that having my own dance school was merely a hobby and I would have to get a real job- it became my mission to prove all those that doubted me wrong. In summer 2006, along with 5 friends we created the idea of ‘Youth Creation’- firstly a 5 day summer school- teaching performing arts for a week, ending on a showcase to friends and family. After promoting like crazy we managed to have just 12 students! After expenses we were working for free, but what a great week had. Youth Creation was born!  After finishing my course at Palmers college I went onto to study Dance and culture at Surrey University. During this time I learnt many different styles of dance, my technique grew, and I began to understand dance theory and teaching techniques. It gave me tools for my future. I had my own 'in house' dance crew there as well as dancing in London for the hip hop company T21. During the term holidays I continued to put on weeks for Youth Creation. As the years grew so did our numbers so did our name. In 2009 during my work placement year I started Sunday weekly classes. 4 years later in 2010 I graduated with a BA (Hons) Degree in Dance & Culture. I was ready to take on the world! Posting my CV to every school in Essex! Just ONE school offered me an interview. After this interview I was offered 5 hours a week teaching Dance in P.E lessons.  By the end of 2010 Youth Creation was running twice a week, had a day of P.E lessons plus an after school club. We then began to perform with Youth Creation, entering local talent competitions and performing at any local event possible. In 2011 we entered ‘Talent  factor’ competition, by 2012 we had won our regional final and were moving on to the national final. Shortly after we were asked to audition for Britains Got Talent, after many rounds we found ourselves on an unbelievable journey. In 2013 we auditioned in front of the judges with some amazing comments, national TV, newspapers, magazines, radio stations, adverts -Youth Creation’s name was there. Still now it feels like a dream! After getting through to the semifinals we were performing our first live performance for television. From then on our numbers grew, our days increased and every school in the area was interested in us! performing at venues such as the London Palladium, Move It Olympia, Ideal home show, Earl’s Court, Excel Centre, Indigo o2; just a few to mention, memories and experiences that we will never forget. This led us to our first film appearance in ‘Nativity 3: Dude. where’s my donkey?’ After reaching our 15th anniversary we now teach 6 days a week over 700 children across 40 classes, with 9 performance/competition teams, with a team of 11 who work across the year. Working alongside my best friends, inspiring so many young people, and having the time of my life every day doing something I love for a living is truly the best feeling in the world. Blood sweat and tears have gone into this, but if you want something enough it will happen. Stay true to yourself and treat people with respect. I would not have been able to achieve half of what Youth Creation is today without my friends and family.Here’s to the future ❤️

Shannon -  YC Co-Owner &Vice Principal

Name: Shannon Williams    Age: 34     Industry Influences: The Young Americans, Zoonation and all West end musicals    Fun Fact: Obsessed with Disney, the colour green and my lucky number is 23!

From the moment I could walk I was always singing & dancing. Throughout my school years I took every opportunity to perform. I took a workshop at the Towngate Theatre when I was just 14 years old and was totally inspired by a company called The Young Americans. Street dance became my passion. I then went on to study performing arts at Palmers College. After college all I wanted to do was perform! I auditioned for Haven Holidays and was successful! I went on to tour holiday parks all over the UK as a lead vocalist, dancer and dance captain.  My time started at Youth Creation teaching at Summer & Easter schools. In 2010 Jody asked me to try help her make it a full time career. I was overjoyed! The dream job! It was within reach! We knew that by working and choreographing together we could both bring something different to the table, something unique and something special. From that day on we put our heart and soul into making YC work. We literally put our blood, sweat and tears into trying to make it a success. The road was not easy, we had several knock backs and I remember crying one day after teaching all day and only earning £3 and not being able to cover my rent. Jody told me to keep going, to keep believing and never give up. So after taking a deep breath, dusting ourselves off and trying again, that is exactly what happened. After teaching in all different primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, putting on adult classes, offering free workshops, performing in the streets at hundreds of local events, we started to get our name out there. People were finally listening. In 2011 we had a group of weekly students that were so committed. The students parents backed us all the way and they even helped us with fundraising and making YC a better place. Our numbers grew and our days increased, we were lucky enough to get through to live shows on BGT back in 2013. This was where everything changed . Performing was my first love, but teaching changed it all for me. I knew that inspiring young people was what I was meant to be doing and YC is where I was meant to be. At Youth Creation its not about being the best. It's about being apart of something. We are a family first and foremost. Anyone is accepted here. We are not just a performing arts school, we are a place where children can come and feel safe and most of all, have fun. Im so proud to be apart of creating this special place. I'm proud of everything we have achieved. I'm proud to be able to work with my talented best friends, but most of all I know with all our work ethic, YC will go from strength to strength. 

Liv - YC Dance Teacher

Name: Olivia Vincent    Age: 22    Industry Influences: Zoonation, Boy Blue, Avant garde    Fun Fact: I have a huge sweet tooth, I love walking my dog, enjoy all things outdoorsand my favourite animal is a whale!

From a young age I always loved to dance. I joined numerous dance schools in Essex but never quite found the one for me. In 2008 a leaflet home from school led me to the doors of the homestead village hall where I took part in my first of many Youth Creation Easter Schools. I loved everything about it, the dancing, singing, acting, the teachers and how much fun we would always have. I would drive my mum insane talking about it continuously and couldn't wait until the next Easter or Summer school to come. By the time classes started up weekly, I was obsessed with dancing and would do it everywhere I went. Being a part of Youth Creation changed my life and I am so grateful for all the amazing opportunities I was given as a student at YC.  After completing my dance GCSE in 2016 I went on to study performing arts at South Essex College in Southend with Dimensions Dance Company. This was the first time I trained technically in ballet, tap and jazz as well as continuing to do commercial and contemporary. I completed my level 3, 4 and 5 Performing Arts Dance Diploma at South Essex and then went on to Creative Academy dance college, completing my degree in 2021. There was only one place for me for my next chapter, and I am now happy and proud to be a part of the full time teaching team at Youth Creation . 

Rob - YC Dance & Acting Teacher

Name: Robert Saunders     

Rob Trained at ALRA, The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts where he was nominated for the Spotlight Prize and gained special commendation at The BBC's Carleton Hobbs radio competition. Theatre Credits include: Grandpa’s Great Escape Live (UK Arena Tour, Phil McIntyre)  50 days (Turbine Theatre) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Wind in the Willows, Charlotte's Web (Polka Theatre) The Murdér Express (Funicular Productions) Found (Black Coffee Theatre in association with Northern Stage) 2012? (Brockley Jack Theatre) Sandholm (Company of Angels) Other Work Includes:   Eastenders (BBC) The Garden (BBC/Tiger Aspect) Kit Walker- Mr. Wright (music video, dancer/choreographer).  Rob can be seen in the upcoming Netflix series ‘Hard Cell’ by Catherine Tate.  Rob is very proud that over 15 years on he can still be working alongside his best friends watching YC go from strength to strength.

Emy - YC Music Teacher

Name: Emy Maguire-Parsons       Age: 33      Industry influences: Lin Manuel- Miranda     Fun Fact: My favourite band is The 1975. I have a tattoo of YC teacher Robs Glasses on my ankle and I used to collect Bob Marley Memorabilia. Also I have never burped. Never. I physically can’t.

Spoken Word artist, Composer, BBC featured poet and Musician from Stanford Le Hope. Emy trained at the British Academy of Music and has worked at Youth Creation since they first opened their doors in 2006. Emy offers children’s guitar lessons and leads the Two Youth Creation Vocal Groups “Young Vibe” and “RE:VERB” alongside singing teacher and ex student Isobel Miles. In 2017 vocal group “REVERB” won the Jack Petchy Glee Club challenge after performing at the Indigo at the 02.  Emy.P featured in the list of TOP 50 Neurodivergent Women 2019 and won the Undiscovered UK Spoken Word artist award in the same year. Currently, Emy is working as part of a writing/production team (in association with Mind Over Matter) creating Music and Lyrics for a new Musical about Grief and Mental Health. “Man Enough” The musical has already been nominated for the LET award and has received Arts Council Funding. All episodes of Emy’s Mental Health/Neurodiversity Podcast “Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix Me” are available now on Spotify and ITunes.

Izzy - YC Singing Teacher

Name: Isobel Miles   Age: 23    Industry influences: Cynthia Erivo, Adele and Billie Eilish      Fun Fact: I LOVE music and musical theatre! I can’t see a musical, just once!! I was an original yc student in it’s opening in 2006! I have a hamster called Yorkshire pudding!

I started my journey with YC in 2006 when I was just 7 years old. 16 years later and I am now a singing teacher! In 2017 I competed with reverb in the jack petchy glee club challenge and was lucky enough to be able to sing at the 02 and win the competition! This was such an amazing experience and really helped grow my confidence! I studied GCSE Music at school and then lead on to do performing Arts in college for a year before starting my teaching journey with YC in 2019. I offer private singing lessons as well as teach groups young vibe and reverb along side Emy!

Chay - YC Dance Teacher

Aidy - Singing/Summer School Teacher

Name: Aidy  Musical Influences: Adele, Mariah, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandros  About me: I have been singing since I could talk! Music is in my blood and I love anything to do with singing!  My vocal ability stretches across many styles including Pop/Rock/Soul/R&B and Funk.  I adapt very well to backing vocal roles and session work within a studio setting, a versatile singer and versatile performer. My Backing Vocal work includes, One Direction, Pixie Lott, Jason Derulo, Bucks Fizz, Erica Badu and many more! I have performed in venues all over the country including the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, Royal Albert Hall and The Tower Ballroom in Blackpool. I have also toured around Germany and had a residency in Niagara Falls, Canada. I have a Btec National Diploma in Performing Arts, A Higher Diploma in Popular Music Performance and a Degree in contemporary music performance. I love teaching at Youth Creation! I love the friendship, community support, and allowing the kids to be who they want, and do what they love - no judgement.