Biography

Jodie has performed with such names as, Joe Pasquale, Gary Wilmot, Sam Kane, Chris Farries, Paul Zennon, Wayne Dobson, Mrs. Maureen Nolan, John Inman, Linda Lusardi, Sheila Ferguson, The Grumbleweeds and The Mike Alexander Orchestra both in dancing and singing capacities. She has also worked with many television celebrities through her acting work.

Jodie was born February the 15th 1983 as an only child of Sylvia and John Richards.

She started dancing at the tender age of 2 years following the footsteps of her mum Sylvia and it wasn't long before she was dancing every day of the week taking classes in Ballet, Tap, Acrobatics, Disco, Modern, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Freestyle, Stage and others throughout the years.

Throughout her childhood and early teens she joined many different performing companies anything that gave her the chance to fulfil her passion to be on a stage entertaining.

Jodie has always known that performing was the career path she would take but it was December 1998 that set her strive for success into overload. She was given the chance to take part as a juvenile in the local Theatres seasonal Pantomime and there she danced and sang for two months performing to a full packed audience day and night.

After this opportunity Jodie didn't look back she went to two Colleges studying BTec and A level in Performing Arts and also an OCR in Variety Entertainment as well as outside lessons in the Art subjects and as many different show experiences as possible.

She went on to do odd jobs here and there and attended as many auditions as possible to gain the wealth of experience she needed.

She then started her singing career after a year's tour as a dancer touring the UK as part of a full cabaret show. They toured the like of Butlins, Great British Holiday camps as well as small theatres and private functions.

Jodie left the show due to her taking on a part in the musical show "Oh What A Night!" at the Birmingham Hippodrome and unfortunately due to her undertaking a documentary about her career she was unable to commit herself to the hours they were touring.

Jodie then established herself amongst some top agencies who pushed her into the right direction and since then she has done lots of different jobs varying from Television to Radio to Theatre. She has also set up her own solo bookings as a singer on the Circuit and enjoys going out when not contracted elsewhere to entertain a variety of audiences.

In 2004 she decided to start her own company up "Pink Productions" for performance productions for youths children and adults. It has been a challenging task to take on but she is finding it very rewarding as she can start to give others the experience she has to make them better performers and to push people in the right direction. Since my company has grown through strength to strength that she has also choreographed for many shows and secured jobs in teaching for both schools, leisure centres and local councils.

Jodie also started a dance company in 2007 called Pink Academy of Dance (PAD) running weekly tap ballet and modern jazz classes. She branched out to start her own stage class called FAME FACTORY which specialises in developing the triple threat needed for the business.

Jodie Started teaching at Blessed William Howard Catholic School within the specialist department of dance and drama. She has been there for the part three years. Teaching KS3, KS4 and Btec dance to years 9 10 11 and Btec Diploma Dance in performing arts to years 12 and 13. she has completely re written all the syllabus' to the BTEC Diploma, Certificates and Extended Certificates. a Self run department, Jodie takes pride in her 100% pass rate to date.

She has also become an events organiser for the Mill Theatre in Sedgley running an annually dance festival called Lets Dance. Which is very challenging but rewarding to the community and other local groups/schools.

As for the future . . .
Well who knows!!! You can always wish for something more and Jodie lives each day to her own favourite motto: "Follow your heart and your dreams shall come true"

Both friends and family are proud of her but not as much as Jodie is of her own achievements.