Our Coaches

LAGAD has a rigorous selection process and maintains a very high standard of coaching across all gymnastics classes. We take on assistant coaches and support them through their Level 1 British Gymnastics qualification. We have coaches who are Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 in General Gymnastics, Acro Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Women’s Artistic and Men’s Artistic gymnastics.

Many of our coaches have competed nationally or internationally and at World and European Championships.

All our coaches are vetted, referenced and hold enhanced DBS certificates. They also hold First Aid certificates and must complete a British Gymnastics recommended Safeguarding course.

Senior Gymnastics Coaches

Anesta

Anesta has competed in Acrobatic Gymnastics for 13 years. She is a Level 2 Coach and has worked as an acrobat since 2009.

Anesta has performed at many events, including the 2012 Olympics, as well as performing for the English National Opera, the BBC and Zippos Circus.

Claudia

Claudia is from Italy and spent 17 years as a gymnast before qualifying as a coach in 2009. She practiced Twirling at the highest squad levels for many years and competed in countless national and international competitions. Her achievements include: Five gold Medals, Four Silver medals in the Italian National Championship and a Silver Medal at the European Cup.

Claudia has a Level 2 Rhythmic Gymnastics qualification from British Gymnastics. She coaches the LAGAD General Gymnastics classes, at both recreational and intermediate level. Claudia's tip: "I believe everyone should be passionate about something that you feel you cannot live without. For me it is gymnastics."

Dalia

Dalia is from Lithuania and is a qualified British Gymnastics Level 4 Senior Coach in Women's Artistic Gymnastics. She has been five times National Champion in this discipline.

Dalia has been teaching gymnastics in the UK for eleven years. She successfully prepared school teams to compete in Interschool Primary School Competitions. Dalia has a degree in Physical Education and is a qualified PE teacher. She also works as a Pilates Instructor.

Denka

Denka is from Sliven in Bulgaria. She started gymnastics at just 5 years old and later performed elite Artistic Gymnastics and then Acrobatic Gymnastics. With a master of sport title in Acrobatics she has more than 10 years of coaching experience in Bulgaria, USA and Great Britain.

Denka’s tip: ''For me, it’s important to get the children to love gymnastics in the first place - after that achievements come with ease!’’

Elena

Elena is originally from Romania and holds a Level 4 certificate in Gymnastics Coaching.

She has worked as a gymnastics coach, both in her home country and in the UK, as well as a kindergarten and school PE teacher.

Helen

Helen is from London. She is a qualified lead coach and an experienced paramedic. Helen leads LAGAD's Disability Classes.

Helen has a degree in Sports Exercise and Development and has been a Gymnastics coach for over 10 years

Jessica

Jessica is from London. She is a qualified lead coach and is the Director of LAGAD.

Marlon

Marlon is from Sri Lanka and is a qualified lead coach. He has taken part in many Junior National and National competitions and holds a British Gymnastics Level 2 qualification.

Marlon worked as a gymnastics coach in several schools and was a freelance coach for 2 years. He also did acrobatics and theatre work.

“It's so rewarding to see even the smallest progression in a child's confidence and ability. No two gymnasts are alike, that's important to remember with the younger age groups. ''

Perdie

Perdie is a former Acrobatic Gymnast from Nottingham. She is an Acrobatic squad coach with over 10 years experience and a former coach at Notts Gymnastics Academy.

Perdie is also a choreographer for National and International clubs and has over 5 years of Tumbling/Pre-school/Cheerleading/Dance and Adult Gymnastics coaching experience.

Silvia

Silvia has over 10 years of experience as a gymnastics coach, working firstly in Bulgaria and now London. She has a degree in Physical Education from the National Sports Academy in Sofia and is also qualified as a Acrobatics Sport Coach and as a PE teacher.

Silvia has twice been the World Champion in Acrobatics as well as being European Champion.

Victoria

Victoria is from Brazil and is a qualified British Gymnastics Level 3 lead coach. She competed at state, national and international level in her home country in Artistic, Rhythmic and Aerobic Gymnastics. Her achievements include State Champion in Artistic Gymnastics and 4th place in both the National and Pan American competitions.

Victoria also worked as a coach in Brazil, leading her team to 2nd place nationally and training two gymnasts to achieve Champion and Second place for three years running. Her coaching focus is to '' give all my new gymnasts the very best they deserve.''

Dance Teachers

Keanu

Keanu is from London and teaches our popular Street Dance classes. He has worked as a dance teacher and choreographer in the performing arts for many years and is also a self-employed performer.

Keanu worked with the British Council on the 'Say it through breakdance' project which helped a group of International breakdancers to train and create a dance piece for the stage. He is also a G.C.S.E Dance Teacher at a local academy.

Ricardo da Silva

Ricardo is a House and Hip Hop dancer and teacher, originally form Portugal.

Currently based in London, he is also trained as a Popper, Capoeirista and Commerical Streetdance Choreographer. Ricardo has been teaching dance for many years in a number of roles, including Dance Teacher at Pineapple Dance Studios and the Lycee International de Londres.

An experienced performer, Ricardo was a Britain's Got Talent Finalist in 2014 and is an affiliate of the Royal Academy of Dance.