Coppélia
18th October 2025
Cast Biography
Cast Biography
Mao Hayashi (SWANHILDA)
Mao Hayashi, from Sendai, Japan, began her ballet training at the age of six at MAYA Ballet Studio, where she built a strong foundation in classical technique and developed a deep appreciation for the art of dance. She later attended a short-term program at the English National Ballet and continued her studies at the European School of Ballet, experiences that broadened her artistic vision and refined her technique and expressiveness.
Mao is currently training at Corella Barcelona, where she continues to expand her versatility as a dancer through studies in modern, jazz, and character dance alongside classical ballet. She is passionate about conveying emotion and musicality through movement, striving to connect with audiences with sincerity and artistry on stage.
Enrique Sanchez (FRANZ)
Enrique Sánchez Andújar is currently studying at Corella Barcelona, supported by the Ángel Corella Scholarship. He began his dance journey at Entreacto Dance Center, where he discovered his passion for classical ballet and the expressive power of movement.
Since then, Enrique has continued to develop his artistry through a range of programs and workshops at Corella Barcelona, including regular and summer courses, as well as specialized workshops with Ángel and Carmen Corella.
Art has always been a central part of his life, and dance has become his truest form of expression. Enrique is recognized for his sensitivity on stage and his commitment to connecting with the audience through authentic emotion and truthful movement.
| Alison Cannon | Alison joined Second Chance Ballet in 2019 and made her stage debut in the Nutcracker. She has since participated in the Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. She is looking forward to dancing in Coppélia. |
| Alison Garstin | Alison began ballet at age six and trained with Judith Hall, Lena King and Maxine Graham in Belfast. She took a break for career and family in her early twenties and was delighted to join SCB as a silver swan in her retirement where she has been involved in productions over the past few years. |
| Anne Chevalier | Anne is so grateful to have found Second Chance Ballet and started ballet later in life. She enjoys the camaraderie and the beautiful music in classes which give a full mind and body workout. She has grown in confidence to participate in and enjoy the magic of several ballets with SCB. |
| Barbara McDermott | After retirement ten years ago, Barbara took up ballet and it now plays a big part in her life. She is grateful to the inspiring teachers who have encouraged her, from the first plié to pirouettes, to perform classical repertoire in Belfast, and to dance at Pineapple Studios and the RAD in London. |
| Bethany McStea | I started dancing when I was around 8 years old and fell in love with it, I was trained by Kazia and Fiona in Fiona L Campbell ballet and then joined High points, Belfast and then I went on to train in Stella Mann Dance college in England when I was 18 years old. |
| Carole Martin | Carole has loved and practised ballet from the age of 7 and feels very privileged to have become a member of Second Chance Ballet since 2016. She loves Chee Shong’s classes, and learning new choreography for the various productions and roles she has been involved with so far. |
| Cat Fegan | Catherine has been dancing with Second Chance ballet since 2017 & loved the opportunity to dance in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker & Giselle. It is a privilege to challenge the body & mind through performing but the absolute best part is the camaraderie with her fellow dancers! |
| Chantal Saunders | Chantal Saunders has done ballet since 3 yeas old and completed her advanced exams in the Cecchetti method. After a 6 year break, she joined Second Chance Ballet in 2023 and has taken part is Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. |
| Ciara Greenwood | Ciara started ballet when she was a child and completed the RAD vocational exams under Laura Walker. She has danced for Youth Ballet West and Ballet Athas in Galway. She first performed with Second Chance Ballet in 2016 and joined the Second Chance Ballet classes in 2024. |
| Danielle Shipman | Danielle has been dancing with Second Chance Ballet for many years. She has loved performing in the classics, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. She is looking forward to the character dancing of Coppélia. |
| David Floyd | David joined Second Chance Ballet in 2021 at the age of 65 (well, better late than never!) and fell in love with ballet. He has since had the pleasure of participating in performances of Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake in non-dancing roles. This year he will be taking part in two dances in Coppélia. |
| Eileen McKendry-Gray | Eileen started dance aged 5 and is now studying RAD Advanced 1. Having discovered national dance (character dance), Eileen is delighted to perform in Coppélia with Second Chance Ballet, for whom she is also honoured to be director. Eileen is also director for Six Dance and Cecchetti Society Trust. |
| Eithne Angelone | Having danced ballet, tap, contemporary, modern and musical theatre as a young person, Eithne stopped dancing due to the pressures of family and career. Eithne was delighted to come across Second Chance Ballet and get back to class and the stage. |
| Emily Coulson | I started ballet at 3 and danced through my childhood. I joined Second Chance Ballet in January 2025 and have been really enjoying dancing again as an adult and the classes and rehearsals. |
| Eri Antonakaki | Eri joined Second Chance Ballet in 2020 with no previous ballet experience. She was blown away by the welcoming, nurturing, inclusive environment which allowed to improve her skills, build confidence, participate in three performances and, slowly but steadily, progress to pointe shoes. |
| Fiona McCann | Fiona joined our classes having enjoyed other forms of dance over the years but never having done ballet. She has embraced learning something new and is delighted to join this year’s performance. |
| Fiona McCausland | Fiona danced with Ruth’s Adams Second Chance Ballet in the 90s. After a very long break she is delighted to dance again with Chee Shong and Patricia and has participated in Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. |
| Helen Baron | Helen found Second Chance Ballet in her forties and has enjoyed the opportunity to reignite her love for ballet, having taken classes as a child. Coppélia is Helen’s third ballet performance and rehearsals have been challenging, rewarding and lots of fun! |
| Jill Crawford | Jill was in her 30’s when she discovered Second Chance Ballet. With a few stops and starts over the years, she enjoys the opportunity to dance, learn and (slowly) improve each week. Performing in The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and now Coppélia has been a real privilege. |
| Julia Bell-Pook | Julia has loved ballet for as long as she can remember. In her 50s Julia became a proud ‘Silver Swan’ and hasn’t looked back. Dancing at her local RAD school and with Second Chance Ballet brings her joy, friendship and strength for both body and mind. |
| Julian Maitland | Julian joined the Silver Swans a couple of years ago – his first experience of ballet. He finds it great to keep fit and flexible, but it is much more difficult than it looks. He looks forward to Coppélia as it will be his first miming role. |
| Karina Moore | Karina joined Second Chance Ballet in 2016, having enjoyed dance classes when she was a child. Karina has loved performing in La Bayadère, Swan Lake, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and hopes you enjoy Coppélia! Outside of ballet, Karina has composed a new musical, ‘Eddie and the Alien’. |
| Kathy Hamill | Kathy joined the Silver Swans section of Second Chance Ballet after first hearing about it on a television programme. Getting an opportunity to perform in previous shows and now Coppélia has been a dream come true. The friendships formed are an added bonus! |
| Katie Harte | Katie has been doing ballet since childhood and has always enjoyed it. After a number of years away due to family commitments she joined Second Chance Ballet and loves to perform with this beautiful group. |
| Khushali Kanjee | Khushali is a passionate ballet dancer who has loved the art since childhood. Now taking Grade 7, she also finds joy in performing, especially with Second Chance Ballet, and values being part of a supportive dance community that inspires her to grow and share her love for ballet. |
| Lynn Mellor | Lynn attended Ballet and Irish dancing classes from a young age into her twenties. Lynn is loving the Silver Swans Ballet classes which she joined 3 years ago, a great way to keep fit to lovely music! and she is looking forward to taking part in the Coppélia performance ! |
| Maggie Moore | Maggie joined a beginner’s ballet class 3 years ago, having no previous ballet or dance experience. She works in the NHS and took up ballet for the physical benefits of learning to dance and, as a great way of relieving stress! She has previously performed in Swan Lake with Second Chance Ballet. |
| Marian Cinnamond | Studied ballet from 1963 – 1967 at Daphne Fisher’s school of ballet in Kendal, Westmorland. Returned to ballet after a gap of 56 years when she joined Silver Swans nearly two years ago aged 70. Really enjoying the classes and dancing, this is Marian’s dance performance debut. |
| Michelle Cho | Started dancing at age 6 at the Jacqui Philpott School of Dance where I completed all RAD grades. I danced on the competition team for my university between 2018 – 2020 where I also taught and co-choreographed ballet for the team. I joined Second Chance Ballet in 2024 where I continue to dance. |
| Michelle McNeill | As a ‘sixty something’ old lady I came across Second Chance Ballet just a year ago and after a 40 year gap from ballet classes rediscovered the joy of this art form via Silver Swans .Standing at a barre once more felt like coming home. |
| Mollie Davies | Mollie danced from a young age with a local dance school back home in Wales. After a 5 year break, she now takes classes with Second Chance Ballet and Laura Walker Ballet School. She is excited to perform in Coppélia with her fellow dancers. |
| Patricia Robinson | Patricia began dancing as a little girl with the Joyce Higgins School of Ballet in Lisburn . Finding Second Chance Ballet has allowed her to continue her lifetime love of dancing . Patricia is very proud to be a director of Second Chance Ballet . She is also Chairperson of Maiden Voyage Dance |
| Paula Rice | A keen Irish dancer growing up, Paula came to ballet as an adult, finding a joyful, supportive community in Second Chance Ballet. She has really enjoyed learning the high energy dances from Coppélia and all the laughs and camaraderie in the rehearsals. |
| Raina Ng | Raina danced as a child and returning to ballet as an adult has helped keep her grounded and brought her joy. Dancing with Second Chance has opened her eyes to seeing what can be achieved beyond preconceived limitations and she is truly grateful for this supportive and encouraging ballet community. |
| Shizuko Luke | I started dancing in Japan when I was young and have loved it ever since — it feels like I’ve been dancing forever! I completed RAD Advanced Foundation in 2024 and am now finishing my RAD Certificate in Dance Teaching, enjoying both dancing and teaching children and adults. |
| Sophie Boyd | Sophie is a performer who never finds herself too far from the stage, from dancing to musicals to the Czardas in this show she loves nothing more than to dance, with Second Chance Ballet giving the chance to do ballet which was always a dance type just out of reach when younger |
| Styliani Tompazi | Styliani joined Second Chance Ballet about 4 years ago. Having tried different kinds of dancing before, ballet was the only one that she fell in love with and stuck for so long! |
| Susan Day | Third production for me! So lucky to have Chee Shong and the support of this company to allow us to perform these wonderful ballets. |