Helen Read is the Director of Dance Faculty and co-founder of READ College. She trained initially at the English National Ballet School, and then went on to study Musical Theatre at London Studio Centre & Millennium Performing Arts.

Her performing work includes Oklahoma! (with Hugh Jackman, directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Susan Stroman) at both the National Theatre and at the Lyceum Theatre in London’s West End, and also on the filmed version of the production. Helen was a principal dancer with Matthew Bourne’s Adventures in Motion Pictures company, appearing in Cinderella (understudy for Cinderella, Los Angeles USA) & Swan Lake (as The Girlfreind, Dominion Theatre - West End).

Helen has taught and choreographed for many colleges, schools and companies including RTS, Reading Theatre College, The Henley College, D&B Theatre College, Magpie Dance Company, The National Youth Ballet of Great Britain and Surrey Youth Ballet. She also worked with leading Anjali Dance Company - one of the leading integrated dance companies, touring work all over the UK.

Helen was also Head of Youth Services at the Baytree Centre in London, co-ordinating classes and activities for disadvantaged children in Brixton.