Meet the Team

Karin Clifford Director

Karin is the founder and Director of Kids Up Front Drama Academy and her passion is helping children gain confidence through having lots of fun! She loves watching children grow and develop and leading the creative and dynamic team of drama, vocal and dance teachers who teach for Kids Up Front.

Tom Rimmer

Tom grew up in Tauranga, and after completing secondary school, he moved to Wellington to pursue acting. While living in Wellington, Tom studied the Meisner acting technique at the Wellington Actor's Studio. Tom made his professional debut in 2003 playing bumbling waiter Manuel in a production of the British comedy classic 'Fawlty Towers'.

Ashley Hodges

Ashley started dancing when she was three years old in Levin with Catherine Inger School of Dance and then moved to Michelle Robinson Dance studio at age 15. Throughout her school years she competed at many dance competitions such as Alana Haines and PACANZ in 2009, 2010 and 2011 where she was a semi-finalist.

Emily Oldfield

Emily has been dancing for 18 years and teaching for 7 years. For the past year Emily has been in Melbourne dancing full time, completing The Edge Certificate of Commercial Dance and Performance at the Edge Performers School.

Laura Sanderson BA (Hons) PGCE MA

Laura trained as a drama teacher at Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London. She has taught drama to young people aged 2-18 years in England, Wales, the USA and now New Zealand. Laura has worked for 6 years extensively as a drama teacher and director for youth theatres, arts education companes and schools in the UK, as well as founding her own youth theatre company.