I joined PPAS at the age of 6 years old and have never looked back. My first show with PPAS was at the mermaid theatre ‘pineapple goes west’ and I remember I played Molly in the ‘Annie’ number. My confidence just grew and grew as the terms went by. My dancing, singing and acting skills went from strength to strength in such a short space of time. The teachers at PPAS gave me so much self confidence and instilled in me a sense of determination to reach for my dreams. At the age of 10 I was performing in ‘Carousel’ in the west end along side Lesley Garrett. In 2010 I was offered the Yusuf Islam tour which culminated at the Albert hall, a dream come true. As soon as I finished the tour, I went into rehearsals for ‘Oliver’ at the Drury Lane Theatre. Performing live on the x factor was such a great buzz!

I have continued my training at PPAS throughout my professional career and would like to thank Maggie for all her support. She has never missed one of my shows! Her dedication to all her students and to the performing arts industry is so amazing. I am so proud to be part of PPAS and look forward to my future training with her. I am now 12 years old and I know that I am well on my way to realising my dream of performing professionally as an adult thanks to Maggie and all the staff at PPAS.

Lauren Ellington – Age 12

I was lucky enough to be with P.P.A.S for nearly 9 years and it taught be so much not only as a performer, but I grew a lot as a person. I was surrounded by people who believed in you and your talents and pushed you to new levels where I massively grew in confidence and improved throughout the 3 disciplines. Not only the great training and a new attitude towards professionalism in Performing Arts that P.P.A.S gave me, but also the many many performances and shows I had the opportunities to take part in became a big part of my life as i grew more and more attached it became to mean far more importance to me than a "Sunday School". I committed to P.P.A.S for many years, and I can honestly say having not been there I very much doubt I would be in full time training now. The training at P.P.A.S was my first push towards the professional side of the performing arts, however the enjoyable factor was just the best for me…I couldn’t get enough of it, Sundays weren’t enough! I was then lucky enough to gain a place on the BA Hons Degree at The Urdang Academy, and I am very happy to have taken so much away from one place over the years. I am so fortunate to have met some fantastic people, both teachers and a close group of friends who I still to this day keep in touch with! Being at a full time vocational school and not attending P.P.A.S anymore, I still look back at the brilliant years I had there and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I still pop my head in now and again and enjoy a positive place that still makes me smile from ear to ear and brings back so so many brilliant memories.
Thank you so much to everyone who was a part of making those years so special for me, and good luck to anyone who is about to begin on the P.P.A.S journey

Verity Rivett – Age 19

Lois was 2 years old when she began training at PPAS. She had not long been walking and had already started ‘krumping’!! She was soon picking up dance routines and performed age 2 at Stratford circus for the PPAS show ‘atTENtion’. She continued her training over the next 2 years and began working professionally aged 4. Her TV credits include playhouse Disney and Nick jr as well as commercials for the USA She was one of the successful candidates chosen by Arlene Phillips for the ‘Wizard of Oz’ at the London palladium as a munchkin.

Lois has grown up to be a confident and disciplined child who loves attending her Sunday classes at PPAS. Without the expertise and dedication of Maggie and her colleagues she would not have the pleasure of performing in the west end at such a young age and be so confident and secure to do so. She has described the opportunity as a "dream come true". PPAS is an amazing school to be part where every kid has the opportunity to learn in an environment full of fun and encouragement.

Mirelle Ellington – Mother of Lois

I have been attending PPAS on and off since I was 5 years old (I’m now 17) I can still remember the times when I was there, performing in shows alongside Sisco Gomez “So You Think You Can Dance” Judge and Mark Calape from “Aninmaix”, who really inspired me as a young boy to want to dance. However football training on a Sunday took priority most of the time, until last year when I really started to get into dancing and loved going to Pineapple where I had made some really great friends and was being taught by some amazing teachers! I decided to drop football and commit myself to Sundays at Pineapple and have never looked back. Currently I still attend PPAS and I’m also in full time training at NLDS, dancing all day, every day and loving it!

My professional credits so far include Munch of The Day as a presenter on GETIX TV, The role of Wolf Boy in the Universal Film Wolfman alongside Anthony Hopkins, a mainstream commercial for SodaStream where I was whisked off to Romania to film, a Gryffindor school boy in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and recently I got the part of Kevin in the TV sitcom Meet the Adebanjo’s due out in Spring 2011. I have also danced in pop videos, commercials and was part of the award winning PPAS fame street dance group who perform regularly all over London. I played the part of Demetrius which combined my dancing and acting skills in PCUK, a PPAS production that is going to The Edinburgh Festival in August 2011. I have done so much and have had so many opportunities at PPAS and although I do miss my football I have found what I love to do in life and PPAS has shown me you can achieve your goals and dreams with hard work, determination and belief in what you do!

Jordan Coulson – Age 17

Pineapple Performing Arts School was the only regular dance training I received. I joined at the age of 11 and during my time there I performed with the school in numerous shows working with some amazing teachers and choreographers. I started working in the professional industry at the age of 15, my credits include Television appearances, pop videos and photo shots such as, Strictly Come Dancing, Florence + the Machine, Lily Allen, Adidas, Sky, Bryan Ferry and The Wanted. In 2011 I will be appearing on E4 and Channel 4 and will be touring the UK, Australia, New Zealand and New York as a dancer/choreographer for Roxy Music.

None of my achievements would have been possible without Maggie and the PPAS team. Thanks for making Sunday my favourite day of the week!!

Jade Sullivan – Age 18

Rylan attended PPAS for 2 years from 2006-2008 as a recommendation from a friend. Since leaving PPAS, Rylan has gone on to succeed in a successful modelling career (D&G, Prada, Louis Vuitton) and most recently has become a familiar name on Television and in the music industry. After spending a year as part of Spanish boyband "4Bidden" , Rylan decided it was time to go solo and now his Brand new single "Back to the dancefloor" is due for release in spring 2011.

I remember when I first joined PPAS I was shy, unconfident and nowhere near the level of talent I was working alongside. After just a term at PPAS working with Pineapple ‘legends’ such as Maggie Paterson, Fleur Murray and Daniel Thomas, the improvement in my so called ‘hobby’ became a career choice. I owe a lot to the PPAS empire and would strongly suggest others follow in my footsteps, and work with the best, to try and be the best.

Rylan Ross Clark Singer/Songwriter – Age 23

I trained at PPAS for over 2 years, performing in a number of their memorable shows. I am now currently studying a 3 year course at The Urdang Academy. My previous training from PPAS helped me in many ways to improve my confidence, technique and versatility. I learnt different styles of dance and now have experience in styles such as lyrical, contemporary, ballet, tap, hip hop, acting and singing. Everyone at PPAS is so enthusiastic and friendly the atmosphere is always buzzing. It’s a great place to train with great people who are all interested in the same pathway. I still regularly attend drop in classes at pineapple studios, also i keep in contact with other people who trained there and have now gone into full time training at a college. PPAS helped me to achieve the goal I wanted, which was to get a place at full time dance college.

Betty Marquez – Age 19

Raphaella was first selected by her drama teacher for the PPAS Metropolitan Police course when she was just 13, and then joined Fame a year later. She attended PPAS from 2004-2008 where often she represented the school in their many singing, acting and dance troupes, including Y@P- Street Dance Weekend Championships, Olympia’s ‘Move it’, and the Covent Garden turning on of the Christmas lights. Since leaving PPAS, Raphaella has signed to a production label and is writing and recording her debut album. which is anticipated for release in 2011.

I’ll never forget my time at PPAS- the manic rehearsals half an hour
before a show- hairspray, makeup and clothes flying everywhere, and the amazing teachers and friends I made. PPAS gave me the confidence to believe in myself both as a performer and as a person. Being there from the age of 13-18, it really felt like a family who I grew up with, and I’ll always feel at home whenever I go back

Raphaella Mazaheri-Asadi – Age 22

Born in London, Scott started his career in the entertainment industry at the age of sixteen when awarded a scholarship to Pineapple Performing Arts School after completing the MET Police week course. Scott then went on to gain three distinctions in Musical Theatre at Hertford Regional College. He was invited back to Pineapple Performing Arts to teach dance whilst being apart of four different dance groups! Scott has since appeared on Top of the pops, Blue Peter BBC’s Proms in the Park, MTV’s LYNX BOOM CHICKA WAH WAH RALLY in Miami and 52nd Grammy Awards with BEYONCE in Hollywood, Los Angeles to name a few.

Having performed his own material live at THE ORIGINAL SONGWRITERS in London and on BBC RADIO 1XTRA, Scott had his first taste as a recording artist with song he wrote ‘Never Leave Me Alone’ on the WARNER MUSIC release which reached No.2 in the Garage charts, the song also featured on many compilation albums including ‘The Number 1 Garage and Bassline album’, ‘PURE GARAGE: REWIND BACK TO THE OLD SKOOL’…. Scott then made his West End debut in The Take That musical ‘Never Forget’, having been part of the original cast on the UK Tour in 2007. He then went on to star in ‘FAME The Musical’ and is currently in ‘Thriller Live’ Michael Jackson Musical West End.

I would like to thank Maggie for the opportunity she gave me and her continued support!

Scott Maurice – Age 23

I joined Pineapple at the age of 11 having danced since the age of 3 at my local ballet school Taylor Dance. As I moved on to Pineapple I was able to explore my love of drama, training with all the great teachers I was exposed to from the professional business. Through the opportunities I was given at PPAS I performed in many shows and television programmes including The Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations and Blue Peter. I secured an agent for my acting ability and a highlight (whilst still at school) was appearing in a major commercial for Robinson’s Fruit Drink on national television. After completing my A levels I went on to attend Mountview on their post graduate course and since then have been lucky enough to make it my career working as a model, dancer and actress. I have been a part of PPAS for over 10 years and even teach there occasionally too! Not only have I had a brilliant time training and performing with PPAS, but have made some amazing life long friends, we still all keep in touch and attend the adult socials every term, I could not imagine what I would be doing now if it hadn’t been for the support of the school and all ait has to offer on so many levels!

Clare Bridges – Age 23