Our team

The schools were founded by Jackie Lynn Smith. The Jackie Lynn Dance Studio began in Rochester in the 1960’s and Starquest Performing Arts was formed in the early 1980’s in Chatham. Both schools run in conjunction with one another.

The Jackie Lynn Dance Studio runs all the examination and stage festival side, while Starquest runs everything to do with productions and performance.

In 1998, Jackie was honoured to be listed into the famous “Who’s, Who?” encyclopedia for her contribution in achievement for training and performing. Over the years it has seen many students go on to work in the theatre and television industry, but more importantly it has seen enjoyment and fulfilment in ALL students who have come to the school.

“We’ll gear it for your needs”. Not everyone wants to be a star. Many just come for the exercise and stimulation; many come just for fun and to socialise. That’s the recipe for success.

Some of Craig’s credit highlights:

• The Third Man cast member (Menier Chocolate Factory 2023). Directed by Sir Trevor Nunn
• Crazy For You as Mingo (Festival Theatre, Chichester 2022). Directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman
• ‘SMILE’ on Broadway – Lead vocalist and show host/compare, Town Hall theater, New York 2018
• Dance Proms 2017 production choreographer and staging creative at the Royal Albert Hall, London
• Dance Proms 2016 production choreographer and staging creative at the Royal Albert Hall, London
• Dance Proms 2015 production choreographer and staging creative at the Royal Albert Hall, London
• Grease – Craig spent more than two and a half years playing the part of Doody for which he received the Golden Quiff Award for the best performer in a musical, which was presented by Victoria Wood
• Man of 
La Mancha (Peacock Theatre, London)
• Follies Royale as juvenile lead role of Joe in the original New York production (Broadway)
• 42nd Street as Billy Lawlor (US national tour)
• Song & Dance as jazz dancer role (US national tour)
• La Cage Aux Folles (Palladium Theatre, London)
• Mack And Mabel (Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London)
• Me & My Girl (Adelphi Theatre, London)
• 42nd Street original cast (Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London)

Craig was a cast member for the world premiere of the new musical thriller, The Third Man that played at the Menier Chocolate Factory just off London’s West End, running throughout the summer of 2023. It was directed by Sir Trevor Nunn with the music score by George Fenton and book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black.

Craig performed the part of Mingo in Crazy For You at the Festival Theatre in Chichester in the summer of 2022. The production received fantastic five star reviews and was directed and choreographed by broadway director, Susan Stroman.

His first professional engagements were at Bournemouth, Stevenage and Blackpool in pantomimes and various summer shows.

Craig then went on to perform in London’s West End in shows such as 42nd Street (Original cast at Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Me & My Girl (Adelphi Theatre), La Cage Aux Follies (Palladium Theatre), Mack And Mabel in concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Man of La Mancha (Peacock Theatre) of which he recorded the cast albums for both ‘Mack And Mabel’ and ‘Man of La Mancha’.

Craig has been involved in many production workshops such as ‘Cats’ (New London Theatre), ‘Starlight Express’ (Apollo Victoria Theatre), ‘Martin Guerre’ (Prince Edward Theatre), ‘Les Miserables’ portraying ‘Enjolras’ (Palace Theatre), ‘Billy Elliott’ (Victoria Palace Theatre), ‘Dirty Dancing’ (Aldwych Theatre), ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ (Palace Theatre) and ‘Hunchback Of Notre Dame’ (Theatre Centre of Berlin) portraying the lead narration part of ‘Clopin’ for Disney.

Craig spent more than two and a half years playing the part of ‘Doody’ in the hit musical ‘Grease’ where he received the Golden Quiff Award for best performance, which was presented by the late Victoria Wood.

Craig has devised, directed, choreographed and performed in many musical revue shows throughout Europe and the United States.

His US theatre credits include ‘Song & Dance’ as jazz dancer role (US national tour), ‘42nd Street’ as Billy Lawlor (US national Tour) and the original New York (Broadway) production of ‘Follies Royale’ playing the juvenile lead role of ‘Joe’.

While in the United States, Craig was engaged to perform as backing vocalist and warm up performer for the Caribbean national tour with ‘Gladys Knight’ in her award winning one woman show. After which he then toured in the same capacity with Jennifer Holliday from the original Broadway ‘Dreamgirls’.

In the Summer 2018 Craig starred on Broadway as lead vocalist and show host/compare in ‘SMILE’ at the Town Hall Theatre , NYC.

Craig’s television debut was in the early days of ‘Grange Hill’ for the BBC. Further TV credits include ‘The Les Dennis & Dustin Gee show’ for BBC television, ‘The Price Is Right’ as a dancer / game show host with Lesley Crowther (Talbot Television / ITV), ‘Tales of out Of School’ (Drama for Central TV), ‘Dancers’ (Drama for Westward TV), ‘C.A.T.S. EYES’ playing ‘Steve’ the office boy for TVS and ‘Eastenders’ (featured character) and ‘The Christmas special’ for the BBC.

He also appeared in two Royal Variety Performances at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane for the BBC and ITV and ‘A Royal Performance’ at the Adelphi Theatre.

Commercial Television includes Barclays Bank (Central TV) and Texaco Oil (NBC Films), which is still extensively screened in the US.

In film, Craig played the part of Nigel in Monty Python’s ‘The Meaning of Life’.

In 2002 Craig was honoured when chosen to stage and choreograph ‘La Traviata’ for the Ukranian opera company and Opera international at the famous Royal Albert hall in London, which then took him onto choreograph and stage the International tour of ‘AIDA’.

Craig’s experience has enabled him to travel the globe extensively whilst being involved in performing, choreographing, directing and producing for the inaugural production set up for most of the World’s leading cruise lines.

He has had the privilege to have met and performed for every member of the Royal family in the UK, also the Royals of Spain, Denmark, Greece and Monaco.

As well as performing, Craig has taught specialist classes at Mountview, Millenium, Urdang, Elmhurst and Red Roofs Theatre School, although now has his own vocational full-time Starquest Performers College.

Craig is a professional adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Music, Dance and Drama Festivals Worldwide.

He regularly lectures on dance and Musical Theatre subjects with the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) and in the past has been part of the South East area Theatre Dance Council Committee (IDTA).

In 2015, Craig was commissioned to stage and choreograph the prestigious annual International Dance Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, working with over 500+ International dancers including Principals from the Royal Ballet, Matt Flint and the Lukas McFarlane Dance company. In 2016 and 2017, Craig was once again asked to repeat this role to create some outstanding choreography and staging once again at the Royal Albert Hall.

Craig is Principal of Starquest Performing Arts and oversees branches at Sheppey and Chatham.

I hope that you too achieve your dreams too…

Mandy trained at Bush Davies. She then started her professional career in the UK as a dancer in pantomime. Mandy then went on to perform with ‘El Ballet Inglais’ for five years which was based in Madrid.

Mandy has also performed with ‘Teatro Chino’ in Spain and Portugal before embarking onto Cunard Cruise Lines to travel the World.

Arriving in Australia in 1982, Mandy established herself as a highly respected teacher and choreographer in Melbourne and was one of the founding members of the state dance association.
In 2002, Mandy moved to Queensland to set up (SCADA) the Sunshine Coast Academy of Dance and Drama, a government accredited performing arts academy where she was co-director for ten years.

Mandy has choreographed shows in Australia such as “Grease’, ‘Cats”, “Shout’ and “The young ones’ as well as many other projects for community and corporate events.

Mandy returned to the UK in 2012 and in that time has been teaching for the Starquest Family

Dance is and has always been Claire’s unwavering passion and she considers herself to be extremely fortunate to have had such longevity and success in a career spanning over 30 years. 

There really is nothing quite like teaching children of all ages and watching them progress and develop in their skills. 

Watching pupils succeed to go onto fulfil their dreams is definitely an achievement within the industry; including stage, TV and film. 

Claire loves creating choreography to inspire our pupils to be the best they can be. This is what Claire considers to be my hallmark. 

Pupils have described Claire’s classes as stimulating, challenging and diverse.

Claire has produced many pieces for dance festivals around the country with winning routines at top level awarding.

Claire is a qualified ballet teacher for the Royal Academy of Dance and she is also a certified Acrobatic Arts teacher.

We are thrilled to have Claire oversee our classes and development of pupils at our Sheppey Branch.

Ione started dancing at our schools at the age of 3 years.

She has trained in all genres of dance and musical theatre and has gained high distinctions in all of her examinations. Ione is currently training for her Level 3 as a teaching assistant in Classical Ballet.

Ione has been very successful in performing arts festivals around the country and is now passing her knowledge onto our little ones within the school, preparing them for their examinations and competitions.

Ione is an asset to us and we are proud to see her pass on what she has learnt with us to the pupils of our Chatham Branch.

Megan is a teaching assistant for our lower school at our Sheppey Branch.

She started dancing with us at an early age and has accomplished her craft through taking examinations and participating in dance festivals and shows too.

Megan assists with the little ones classes and helps them develop in their learning, while also training towards her Level 3 in Freestyle and Theatre Craft.  

Linzi is our examinations and dance festivals secretary where she has the role of sorting entries and the smooth running of detailing procedures to offer parents and pupils.

Linzi is also in charge of our massive costuming department, making sure that every pupil in our schools, looks and feels the part before they walk onto a stage or into an examination room.

Vicki is our schools secretary who also deals with our child welfare and pastoral care for our pupils. Vicki is a strategic part of our Sheppey Branch running our class schedules and making sure that all children are happy and learning well.

Vicki is a great asset to our schools as she deals with all the chaperoning and CPD developments for staff.