Dream It. Believe It. Achieve It.

Bryana has been on a stage dancing and acting since she was 4 years old. She has trained in everything from tap to Latin ballroom, but her passion lies in Hip Hop and she has been performing and choreographing for nearly three decades. Her love of musical theatre grew in tandem and she has been heavily involved in everything from performance and choreography to costumes and setbuilding since 2001.

She studied theatre at UC Santa Barbara, California, where she also performed on their award-winning hip hop dance team. From 2009-2013, she was lucky enough to make her passion a full time job through Cascade Canyon School where she got to emphasise the performing arts as a tool to instil confidence, self-expression and personal growth in primary and secondary school children. In 2013, she moved to Ireland where she completed her PhD at Trinity, biding time until she could return to the thing she loves most: helping young people gain essential life skills, like resilience, empathy and leadership, while building a life-long love and passion for the performing arts.

Bryana joined the Mel Ryan team in 2019 as a teacher and has been the director since 2023.

Ciara is best known as playing lead roles in the Gaiety Panto such as TinkerBell (Peter Pan), Cinderella (Cinderella), Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Rosie (The Snow Queen), and Rapunzel (Rapunzel). She has also performed in the West End, including the lead role of Alyssa in a new musical Wish List (Soho Place, West End), Roles We'll Never Play (West End Live), and Dance Captain in the Olivier Nominated show, Blippi The Musical (Lyric Theatre West End).

Ciara has a BA in English & Drama Studies from UCD, a Licentiate Teaching Diploma from the Leinster School of Music & Drama, and studied Musical Theatre from the International College of Musical Theatre in New York.

Ali has been trained in drama and dance since a young age. Her performance credits include: Johanna in The Game Of Thrones (HBO), Electra in CATS (Helix Theatre), Rose in Reign (Netflix), Tilly in Bugsy Malone (National Concert Hall), Annie (National Concert Hall), Dance Captain in Legally Blonde (Helix Theatre), Annie (Helix Theatre), La Boheme (NCH), Carmen (NCH), Oliver (NCH) and MoveIt in the ExCel Theatre in London.

She was the Dance Captain/Choreographer in Trinity Musical Theatre productions of Sweeney Todd, Mamma Mia and Guys & Dolls (Trinity College Dublin).

Ali has been teaching in the Mel Ryan School since 2020 and absolutely loves working here with the amazing staff and students!

Aisling is a Dublin based performer and teacher.

Theatre appearances include "Shaz" in 'Tinder the Comedy' (Tivoli Theatre/Olympia Theatre/UK tour). "Resident Director/Understudy" 'Menopause The Musical' (UK Tour). "Mrs Pugh" in 'Annie', "Lina Lamont" in 'Singin' In The Rain', "Ensemble and U/S Miss Lynch/Jan" Grease (at Cork Opera House). "Sunshine Suzy" in 'The Snow Queen', "Slip" in 'The Little Mermaid', Shakira/Velma in Jungle Book and have played many characters in the The Gaiety Theatre, including one of the ugly sisters in the 2023 Panto.

Television and film productions include: Fair City(Marina Delaney), Apres Match. Commercials for Aldi, Glohealth, Dunnes Stores and An Post.

Aisling is also a trained dancer/choreographer and has worked on many tv shows and films in Ireland as part of the dance/movement team. These appearances include Penny Dreadful, Vikings Valhalla, The Last Duel, Tudors, Camelot and Fame The Musical. Aisling was the Movement Director on the play "A Day in May" and assisted the choreographer on the musical "Angel Of Broadway".

Aisling is passionate about helping students overcome performance anxiety and focuses on confidence & resilience building in class.

Astrid studied Drama & Theatre Studies and followed on to complete her Associate Diploma in Drama Teaching with the Leinster School of Music & Drama. She is also a qualified Montessori teacher and trained in Child Protection and Child Welfare. She worked in Vancouver for a year where she directed plays and was was involved in an out-reach drama programme for teens in disadvantaged areas. She also has worked extensively as a stage manager for many theatres throughout Ireland including The Abbey Theatre.

With over 17 years drama teaching experience, Astrid is specialised in teaching life skills through the medium of drama, music and public speaking and is passionate about building confidence and resilience in young people.

Ellen is a professional dancer and teacher based in Dublin. She has been training as a dancer for 18+ years and has gained valuable experience working on various productions and dancing professionally around Ireland. Growing up, she was in a stage school which laid the foundations of her career as a dance performer. After obtaining a level 8 arts degree in Creative & Cultural Industries, Ellen studied Performing Arts in Bray Institute of Further Education for two years, where she gained skills in Contemporary and Jazz and then trained with a hip hop dance company for three more years.

Her artist credits include Declan McKenna's music video "Nothing Works". Erica Cody "Good Intentions" & Rudimental gig in the 3Arena. She has performed in some of the biggest venues in Ireland (3Arena Dublin and the SSE Arena Belfast) and at all the main festivals in Ireland (Electric Picnic, Longitude, Forbidden Fruit, Indiependence and Beatyard). Ellen was on the panel of Choreographers for Breast Cancer Ireland and placed 1st with her Charleston!

Ellen focuses on ensuring students have the correct technique & knowledge of the style they are learning, that they understand how to be a versatile dancer and they practice performance but most importantly that they have FUN!

Mel studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, The Gaiety School of Acting, The Bill Keating Centre for TV Presentation Skills and Carr Communications.

She has been playing leading roles in The Gaiety Theatre, The National Concert Hall, The Olympia Theatre, The Cork Opera House, The Wexford Opera House among others in Ireland for over 30 years. She has also presented many concerts in the National Concert Hall, The Pavilion Theatre and Jury's Hotel. TV, Radio and Film Credits include: The Late Late Show, Prime Time, Theatre Nights (all for RTE), the Mum in Turkle (RTE), Mother in Fantabulous! (IADT), Stella in Aisling's Diary (CR Productions/RTE) and Aine in Graham Jones's latest feature film, Davin. Commercials for Supervalue, A1 Waste, Meteor, Vodafone, Ebookers and Moypark Chicken, Pinergy and Paddy Power (RTE/ TV3).

Mel founded the school in 2011 with two students and is proud to say that the school now has nearly 400 students in four venues in South County Dublin. She has three grown up children and has always had a special interest in mentoring young people. She is completely dedicated to helping them believe in themselves and to feel that they are capable of achieving more than they realise. She is also very passionate about supporting teenagers through the challenges and pressure of secondary school years.