Rachel Baggarley attended various dance classes since childhood and studied Performing Arts, graduating with a 2nd Class BA (Hons) from Suffolk University.
After a Semi-Professional career in The Arts, she went on to specialise in SEN subjects for children & adults, then started volunteering at Magpie in 2016 which led to her being nominated twice and awarded once, for "Volunteer of the Year" by Magpie Dance.
She was soon offered training as an assistant and starting working for us too at Marlborough School and Trinity Laban.
Rachel has recently gone back to concentrate on her volunteer work with us which is her main passion.
Anna has been volunteering with Wednesday Magpie Youth since the start of 2022. She began performance studies at All The Arts Theatre School at age 8, and then continued dance studies at Bullers Wood School and Debbie Fyffe Theatre School. In 2021 she graduated from the University of Manchester with a BA (Hons) in Geography with International Studies, where she competed for the University of Manchester Cheerleaders. She was also a performer on the Aztecas Pom Pom Girls team at the Univerisdad de Las Americas Puebla, Mexico on her international study year.
Anna’s favourite thing about Magpie Dance is seeing all of the dancers create and perform choreography in their own unique style.
Alyson started volunteering with Magpie in 2023. She loves working with children and young people and has had years of experience in education and charity. Currently, she is a researcher in neurodevelopmental sciences at King's College London. In her day job she conducts different research assessments with people of all ages, and she spends her free time doing lots of baking (or thinking about it!).
Since volunteering with Magpie, she has had the privilege of exploring dance with a group of extremely talented and diverse individuals, all of whom bring a smile to her face every Saturday morning. These sessions have brought a lot of joy and fun into her life and she hopes to be part of it for as long as she can.
Saffron loves expressing herself through movement and dance. Supporting others to be creative and engaging in dance brings her joy! She believes everyone should be able to express themselves and meaningfully interact with the outside world, which is why she has studied Makaton and volunteer with Magpie Dance.
I started volunteering with Magpie Dance in 2022, and wish I had helped out sooner! The staff and dancers are incredibly welcoming, contributing to an atmosphere of fun and learning that I hope to continue to be a part of. I have also begun training to become an assistant facilitator. I am studying Psychology at university, and would recommended anyone with spare free time to consider helping out, as being a part of Magpie Dance is one of the most rewarding and positive things you can be involved in.
Annie is a freelance dance artist with a passion for inclusivity. She has been dancing since childhood and practises contemporary and ballet with Trinity Laban and Pineapple Dance. She has completed courses in intuitive dance and believes the joy of movement should be accessible to all.
Annie has worked as a caregiver and understands the importance of equal opportunities for those with disabilities. Since joining Magpie’s in 2021 she has learnt that when given the right environment, we are all capable of anything.
Annie worked part time as Magpie’s Projects Co-ordinator and continues to assist in our Saturday Youth sessions and volunteer in Wednesday Youth too.
Deb joined Magpie as a volunteer at the beginning of 2022 having found out about us on the Bromley Volunteer website.
She has recently completed a course as a FABS (Flexibility, Aerobic, Balance and Strength) Instructor with the organisation Move it or Lose it which has designed classes to deliver fun, effective and inclusive classes to older people everywhere.
Deb has always loved dance and moving to music to keep fit herself so was delighted to find out about Magpie and help bring that joy to others.
