Olivia G-F

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Papa loves Mambo by Perry Como

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Under the sea

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

All the snakes!

Fun fact you didn’t know about Miss Olivia

She is a fierce goal defence on the netball courts!

Theo L

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

S Club Party by S Club 7

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Football

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

Quadroplay to build a home

Fun fact you didn’t know about Mr Theo

He has two titanium rods in his back!

Polina T

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Hair Up by Justin Timberlake

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Seaside Adventures

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

Tug of war rope

Fun fact you didn’t know about Miss Polina

Polina runs a mindfulness company

Molly E

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

I like to move it move it by Reel 2 Real

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Unicorns and princesses

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

The Gonge bridges

Fun fact you didn’t know about Miss Molly

She has nine nephews and nieces!

Matteo C

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Firework by Katie Perry

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Superheroes

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

Bricks

Fun fact you didn’t know about Mr Matteo

He can speak five languages!

Jack B

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Bossa Nova Baby by the Elvis

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Mario Kart

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

The large parachute

Fun fact you didn’t know about Mr Jack

He was gifted his special TARKA trainers by a real life cowboy!

George B

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Ride on Time by the Bamboos

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Mario Cart

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

Magna-Tiles, an endless opportunity for building

Fun fact you didn’t know about Mr George

He can do a walking handstand!

Ellie L

Favourite song to play in a TARKA warm-up

Shake it Off by Taylor Swift

Favourite theme for a TARKA birthday party

Disney

One bit of TARKA equipment you would take to a desert island

Big lego bricks so I can build a sturdy shelter

Fun fact you didn’t know about Miss Ellie

She has an incredible memory, especially remembering song lyrics!

Founder

Rufus

Rufus was educated at Harrow and Oxford Brookes University before joining the British Army in 2006, where he comissioned into the Household Cavalry and went on to complete a tour of Afghanistan as well as ceremonial duties in London. He also spent a year at a training regiment instructing phase one recruits whic he adored.

After leaving the army in 2014, Rufus embarked on a career in property development but missed the challenging and reawrding nature of army life, as well as the opportunities it presented for working with young people. TARKA was therefore set up as an opportunity to go back to what he enjoys the most.

Rufus loves all sport, particularly cricket, rugby and skiing. He has bicycled across the United States, completed the Marathon des Sable twice and has rowed the Atlantic Ocean.

Chief Operations Officer

Oliver

Ollie was educated at Ludgrove and Oundle school where his love of sport saw him represent the school in all his chosen sports including Athletics and Rugby.

Following school, he spent a season as a ski instructor in Austria. His favourite lessons were with younger children as he could see the rapid improvement in their confidence and ability as well as their sheer joy and excitement.

Ollie came to TARKA through his father, who was Rufus’s Commanding Officer in the Army, and brings with him some of his military upbringing as well as being hugely popular with TARKA children and parents alike!

Since starting at TARKA Ollie quickly rose to become Chief Instructor in TARKA classes and birthdays and travelled to several countries as a Mentor with some of our TARKA families over the holidays in this role. Ollie is now heavily involved in the expansion of TARKA!

Managing Director

Leonora

Leonora was educated at St Mary’s School Ascot and read Early Childhood Studies at Oxford Brookes. For two University summers, she worked at Camp Echo in upstate New York, where she ran the aquatics for the children.

After graduating from Oxford Brookes, Leonora worked at Pippa Pop-ins Nursery in Notting Hill for 3 years. She taught the eldest age group, preparing them for their school assessments.

Leonora chose to move to TARKA as she strongly believed in the importance of physical activity and making learning fun and active.

Leo is currently on maternity leave, but when she’s not, she oversees the running of TARKA! Outside of work, Leonora is a keen tennis player and skier.

Business Operations and Marketing Coordinator

Jazz

Jazz joined TARKA as an intern in 2021, straight out of Tudor Hall, where she was Head Girl and represented the school in both the Tennis and Netball teams!

Her love for working with children started 7 years ago when she was a tennis coach and primary school dance teacher. Since joining the TARKA Team she has been a Lead Instructor across London, the Cotswolds, The Peligoni Club and Mumbai!

After three years at Bath University where Jazz worked remotely as our Operations Assistant and Head of TARKA Cotswolds, she has now graduated with a degree in Education with Psychology, and joined the full-time office team.

As well as still doing some instructing, Jazz oversees all of our Business Operations and Marketing – so give the Instagram a follow for her @tarka.london!

Head of Product

Damani

After leaving school, Damani spent a year working out what brought him the most joy and he landed on one answer: working with children!

Without any more time wasted, he jumped into an Early Years Initial Teacher Teaching course, becoming a qualified Early Years Teacher and worked at Pippa Pop-ins for 5 years!

He joined the TARKA Team in 2022 and has since led hundreds of holiday classes, birthday parties and nursery classes, truly showing off our TARKA magic.

As Head of Product, he ensures every TARKA class is of the highest possible quality and our growing group of instructors perform at the top level, thanks to his expert training skills!

Chief Instructor

Jack

Jack studied at Merchiston Castle school in Edinburgh where he was 1st 15 captain of rugby, drum sergeant in the pipe band and head of 6th form.

After a serious rugby injury, he followed his passion of music and travelled round the world playing music with his band Bwani Junction. supporting bands such as Bastile, the 1975, Catfish and the bottle men and Lewis Capaldi.

Laying down the drum sticks he came to London with his brother and became a personal trainer and worked with Tarka as a lead instructor and is now a full time member of the team. The love of music and exercise has enabled him to engage with children to laugh, move and dance!