Cascade Dance was founded in 2007 by Middlesex University graduates Ricia Taylor and Sam Blackden. Discovering a lack of contemporary dance provision within their local area they formed a company in Kent to reflect the genres growing success across the South East. Ricia and Sam believe in providing dance that is creative, original and inspiring, challenging participants and entertaining audiences of all ages. Their collective experience throughout years of training & delivery has given them a platform from which to launch Cascade Dance with an innovative and creative approach. The company continues to grow collaborating with a host of artists, practitioners and organisations across the South East.

Sam Blackden

Co - Artistic Director

Sam graduated from Middlesex University in 2006 with a BA Hons in Dance Performance. With vast experience in Contemporary techniques and a passion for choreography, Sam delivers a variety of the company's classes & projects,  working with early years groups through to adults. Sam is a qualified Kids Yoga teacher with Rainbow Yoga and accredited Acro teacher with Acrobatic Arts, integrating this knowledge and training into her teaching work. Sam holds a PGCE in Teaching & Education with Canterbury Christchurch University.

Ricia Taylor

Co - Artistic Director

Ricia graduated from Middlesex University in 2006 and gained a BA (Hons) in Dance Studies. Having studied jazz, musical theatre, ISTD tap and ballet, along with modern & Cecchetti ballet, Ricia has gained vast experience in both the performing and teaching world. Ricia is a qualified YMCA Aerobic, Ballet fitness, Aerial Hoop & Aerial Silks Instructor and alongside Cascade, runs a second buisness specialising in Aerial skills. Ricia takes the lead with the Competition Team alongside Primary & Secondary classes and projects. 

Sidonie Carey Green

Teacher - Youth & Adult 

Dr Sidonie Carey-Green is a practitioner-researcher based in the UK with 8+ years of experience in facilitation, filmmaking, and choreographic projects. She holds a PhD in dance from Royal Holloway University of London. She works as a teacher, choreographer and film practitioner across Kent and Surrey, teaching performance and technique for youth companies, adults, and universities. Her credits include Channel 4’s Random Acts, Malta’s European Capital of Culture, Brighton Dance Film Festival, Womencinemakers Bienale, and official selections in festivals globally.  In 2022 she held the role of lecturer and artistic director of the 3rd Year Touring Company for BA Dance at the University of Winchester, and previously she has been a sessional lecturer with Canterbury Christ Church University and Royal Holloway University of London.

Sophie Reed

Dance Teacher / Intern 2024 - 2025

Sophie graduated with a first-class BA Hons in Contemporary Dance from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2022. With the many opportunities to perform, Sophie had the chance to work closely with an array of choreographers and dance practitioners. This experience enriched her understanding and versatility in dance.  As she moves into teaching, she aims to blend her extensive experience across ballet, contemporary, lyrical and modern jazz. She is currently pursuing a Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education to further enhance her teaching skills. Sophie joins Cascade in 2024 to embark on her teaching journey! 

Felix Denton

Teacher - Primary, Youth & Adult Classes

Felix was a former Cascade Youth dancer before training at London Studio Centre gaining a BA Honours in Theatre Dance. Felix rejoined cascade as a teacher in 2017 teaching across several secondary and primary school projects and Tunbridge Wells Youth and Adult classes.  Felix also works as a choreographer, creating dance-on-screen for BBC film, music videos and commercials. Felix's performance credits include dancing with Moxie Brawl, DeafNoise and British Antarctic Survey. 

Emily Wraight

Teacher & Project Coordinator 

Emily is a dance teacher and project coordinator, holding a BA (Hons) in Dance Performance and having recently completed an MA in Dance Producing and Management. She specialises in teaching contemporary and street dance and is also an accredited Acro teacher. Since joining Cascade in 2021, Emily has delivered dance sessions across primary and secondary schools, taught company classes, and choreographed work for community performances. Alongside teaching, she supports wider creative activity through administration and outreach, and is the Project Coordinator for the THRIVE Dance Platform.

Maisie White

Dance Practitioner

Maisie trained for six years in both Dance and Choreography. From there, Maisie began working with young people as a choreographer, working on local productions including SIX teen edition. Further professional work includes Disney Cruise Line, Pantomime dancer, holiday parks and freelance jobs. Maisie teaches commercial and street dance classes at Cascade, with a focus on developing performance skills, confidence and movement quality. As Maisie grows as a teacher whilst continuing to perform, she hopes to bring a range of insight into the studio from different points of the industry. Maisie Joined Cascade in 2026.

Natalie Stroud

Teacher - Primary & Youth Classes

Natalie has worked onstage extensively, appearing as the lead in shows such as ‘Rent’, ‘Footloose’, and ‘West Side Story’. Professional theatre credits include the UK tour of ‘Seussical the Musical’, ‘Honk!’, ‘Peter Pan’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’. She has sung professionally at the London Palladium, The London Hippodrome, and for ITV. More recently, Natalie has choreographed music videos for Bucks Fizz and acted as resident choreographer for the TV series ‘That was then, this is now’. Bridging the gap between the dance studio and the professional world of performing, she hopes to inspire all her students to be the best performers they can be.