JENNIFER READ
Founder & Director
Acrobatic Arts - Module 3
B.A.T.D Associate
Jennifer Read was born in London, Canada to an artistic family. With a mother who was a professional musician and a grandmother who owned and operated the Jo Read School of Dance, Jennifer was immersed in the arts from birth.
Jennifer started dancing at the age of three at the Jo Read School of Dance and gained her first teaching qualifications through the British Association of Teachers of Dance, specializing in acrobatics, jazz, tap and ballet disciplines. Outside Canada, she has trained at Broadway Dance Centre in New York City and Pineapple Dance Centre in London, UK. Jennifer's choreography has been recognized internationally, receiving numerous awards in addition to her individual students' accolades.
Jennifer founded Absolute Dance in Delaware, Canada before moving to London, UK to open Absolute Dance Limited in 2006. There she partnered with Tindle's School of Dance and Drama to run their competitive dance team. She also taught in London state schools as a Drama, Dance and PE teacher. In 2007 Jennifer was hired as PE teacher at Clapton Girls Technology College in Hackney, London, where she subsequently founded the Absolute Dance Summer Camp and innovative 'School Comes First' program. Due to the success and popularity of 'School Comes First', Jennifer was asked to run this program in other UK state schools.
Jennifer has always made a point to broaden her horizons as an artist. During her first pregnancy, she modeled for the Grace & Galor agency, appearing in the Baby Show at the Excel centre. Jennifer can be seen in various issues of Practical Parenting & Pregnancy Magazine as well as numerous online pregnancy fitness websites. Jennifer also posed for internationally renowned photographer, Barry Lategan, for a pregnancy publication. In addition to this, Jennifer was a featured acrobatic performer in Reebok Sports Club London's marketing campaign in 2007.
In 2009, Jennifer relocated back to Canada to be closer to family. Here she founded the Monarch Junior Dance Company recruiting over 120 students in her first term.
In 2011, Jennifer and her family relocated once again to the UK, and this time to Surrey. After the birth of her second child, Jennifer brought the Monarch Junior Dance Company to Foxhills Country Club in Ottershaw, where she taught dance and creative movement classes to children and teens.
In December 2013, Monarch Studios Ltd was born. The vision being realised now is a performing arts training company designed to activate confidence and charisma in youth through dance, drama, music, movement and improvisation.
In 2014 Jennifer was nominated for the Mumpreneur UK Awards and made the top 10 in her first year of business.
Jennifer has seen Monarch Studios grow from just 25 students to over 700 in 6 years. Jennifer has expanded her company from 3 teachers to 15 international teachers and choreographers across 9 studios. Jennifer hosts international workshops, and work experience programs for young teachers and choreographers abroad and hopes to make Monarch Studios a national brand.
Most recently, Jennifer has created the Mona by Monarch dance wear line for children and teens, which is now sold across the UK. After the birth of her third child, Jennifer also founded Rush Dance Championships - the first North American Dance Convention in the UK recruiting over 250 elite dancers from across the UK.
Ms Jennifer is a BATD Registered Teacher & Acrobatic Arts Module 3 Certified (AAC3) Instructor (the only one in Europe as of March 2018!).
"Jennifer's ability to manage large numbers and diverse groups of students working together successfully was fantastic! I would recommend Jennifer as an enthusiastic and successful teacher who has a great deal to contribute to a school."
- Clair Buxton, Deputy Headteacher, Clapton Girls Technology College, London