About SJ Academy of Dance
Principals
SJ Academy of Dance was founded in Hedge End in 1992 and now runs branches in Hedge End, Chilworth and Chandler’s Ford. Our experienced RAD and ISTD qualified teachers provide high-quality training in Ballet, Tap, Modern and more, helping every child grow in confidence, ability and enjoyment – whether they dance for fun or dream of a career in the performing arts.
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Students have the chance to take exams from Pre-Primary right up to Advanced 2 level, consistently achieving excellent results. They also have the opportunity to perform in our spectacular whole-school shows at the MAST Mayflower Theatre every two years. Along the way, they make friends, build memories, and share in the joy of dance.
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Many of our dancers have gone on to leading performing arts colleges such as Laine Theatre Arts, Bird College, Rambert, and beyond – but we are equally proud of the supportive, inspiring environment we create for all our students.
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Principals
Miss Amber trained at SJ Academy of Dance for 16 years before going on to study at Laine Theatre Arts, graduating in 2015. Her first professional job was in The Wizard of Oz (Epsom Panto), where she appeared in the Ensemble and Cover Wicked Witch. She has also performed on Britain’s Got Talent live for Thames TV as a Dancer and worked as a Grid Girl for the British Grand Prix.
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Alongside her performance career, Amber has studied for her ISTD teaching qualifications in Ballet and Modern and developed a strong reputation as a choreographer. She has created numerous award-winning competition pieces for All England Dance, with several reaching the National Finals, as well as choreographing music videos for artists including Juno and tour performances for Alexa Joyce.
Amber now leads the Associate Programme at SJ Academy of Dance and continues to create inspiring choreography across the school. She is passionate about helping dancers achieve their potential and is proud to guide the next generation where her own journey began.
Miss Hannah is a graduate of the Hammond School and is fully qualified in teaching classical and modern dance. After graduating, she danced professionally around the world before returning to the UK to focus on teaching, working at a variety of schools before settling on the South Coast.
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In 2012, Hannah became Principal of SJ Academy of Dance and since then has played a key role in the school’s growth and success. She has entered countless students for RAD Ballet exams, achieving consistently outstanding results. Known for her skill, patience and encouragement, teaching both vocational and grades, Hannah is especially brilliant at guiding children from Pre-Primary right through the higher levels.
Her dedication and expertise continue to inspire every student to reach their full potential while nurturing a love of dance that lasts a lifetime.
Founder - Miss Sally
Sally is a graduate of the Royal Ballet School Teacher’s Course and is fully qualified in both classical and modern dance. After graduating in 1986, she danced professionally in Europe before returning to the UK to work as a freelance teacher in London.
In 1992, Sally founded the Sally Johnson Academy of Dance with just 12 children for a 12-week course. From those humble beginnings, she has grown the school into today’s SJ Academy of Dance, spanning three branches and welcoming over 300 students each week.
Sally has choreographed pieces that have reached the All England Dance Finals, and her dedication to high standards of training has seen many students successfully enter major ballet examinations up to Advanced 2, achieving outstanding results.
As Founder, Sally is proud to see the Academy thriving, continuing to nurture young dancers with the same passion and care that inspired her to begin the journey more than 30 years ago.
Our Teachers
MISS MICHELLE
Tap
Michelle has taught ISTD tap at SJ Academy of Dance for over twenty years and her students achieve fantastic exam results at all grades. Michelle trained as a dance teacher with Paddy Hurlings. She is a talented choreographer and is dedicated to helping each student achieve their potential in tap dance while enjoying their time with us. Michelle's daughters have both trained at SJ Academy of Dance, so she is an experienced dance parent as well as a dance teacher!
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MISS OLIVIA
Modern, Jazz & Tap
Olivia trained at SJ Academy of Dance from the age of three. She completed many RAD and ISTD exams to a high level, including her advanced 1 modern and tap, as well as competing at many All England Dance festivals. During her time at SJ, she also enjoyed assisting with teaching the younger students. Her passion has always been tap and she loves training with Tap Attack in Swindon. After successfully auditioning for and attending Wilkes Academy, she realised that her heart lay in teaching the next generation of dancers. Olivia can be found teaching modern and tap every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
MISS SALLY-ANNE
Ballet
​Miss Sally attended Elmhurst Ballet School from the age of 11 where she successfully performed in numerous shows both in TV and theatre. She was then successfully accepted into The Royal Academy of Dance where she graduated with a BA (HONS) in the art and teaching of classical ballet and was awarded her licentiate. She continued to teach for the RAD for their audition classes and their open classes. Miss Sally has a wealth of knowledge and experience teaching and taught for an RAD examiner for over 15 years. Miss Sally is passionate to spread her joy and love of dance to pupils at sj in a nurturing and encouraging environment supporting the pupils in reaching their full potential.
MISS LIBBY
Modern, Jazz & Tap
Libby Kenley since the age of three trained at SJ academy of Dance. After successfully auditioning at 16, Libby went on to train at Bird College Conservatoire of Dance and Musical Theatre. Upon graduation, Libby travelled the world as a professional dancer on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. Since Libby’s return she has been concentrating on teaching and choreography, sharing her passion for dance with the next generation.
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MISS JASMIN
Ballet
BA (Hons) Ballet Ed. RAD RTS LRAD ARAD
Jasmin studied at SJ Academy of Dance for 18 years before moving to London in 2010, where she graduated in 2013 from the Royal Academy of Dance with a degree in Ballet Education, the Licentiate of the RAD (LRAD), and as an Associate of the RAD (ARAD). In 2021, Jasmin completed her Master’s degree, from the RAD in Education: Dance Teaching (MAE), where she notably received a distinction for her final dissertation. Jasmin is currently teaching at Performers College, is a lecturer for the RAD Faculty of Education, as well as teaching ballet at the RAD’s Dance School (Battersea). She has taught for the RAD London and Middlesex Awards Day (2018), and has most recently become a mentor, for trainee Ballet teachers on the RAD BABE programme (Level 5 and 6). Jasmin loves working at SJ, and can be found teaching ballet on a Monday night
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MISS SARAH
Ballet
Sarah trained at SJ Academy of Dance for 18 years and successfully auditioned for Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance. During her studies at SJ Academy of Dance Sarah achieved her Advanced 2 Ballet and Advanced 1 Modern and Tap exams and competed for many years at the All England Dance Festivals. In 2016, Sarah successfully completed her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies with The Royal Academy Of Dance and is looking forward to joining the teaching team, bringing her experience and love for Ballet to our students at Chilworth Hall on Saturday mornings.
MISS MIA
Modern
​Miss Mia trained at SJ Academy of Dance from the age of three, competing successfully at local and national levels and performing at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and in the Winchester Christmas Pantomime for four consecutive years. She went on to study at Italia Conti, graduating with a BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre and starting her DDE teaching qualifications in Tap and Modern. Since then, Mia has taught at several schools, including Italia Conti and Guildford School of Arts, and is excited to share her passion for dance through creative and inspiring classes at SJ Academy of Dance.
MISS SARAH
Modern & Jazz
Sarah started dancing aged three and since then has never lost her passion for dance. Qualified to teach Modern, Tap, Jazz & Ballet, Sarah had been a freelance teacher for thirty years before joining the SJ Academy of Dance team in 2017. As well as a wealth of teaching experience, Sarah brings with her a love and knowledge of Musical Theatre both as a performer and a choreographer around the South of England. Sarah’s talents in choreographing and teaching dances were recognised when she was awarded two Curtain Call Awards for Choreography for Crazy For You and 42nd Street, and she is fantastic at applying those skills to class and competition work, obtaining excellent results.