About

SJ Academy of Dance was established in Hedge End in 1992 and became a partnership in 2012. The talented and dedicated team of teachers is led by School Principals Sally O’Rourke and Hannah Gell. There are branches in Chilworth and Chandlers Ford making high quality dance tuition available to girls and boys in the Southampton, Eastleigh and Winchester areas. RAD and ISTD qualified teachers work alongside Principals Sally and Hannah to run a friendly and successful school where talent, potential and a love of dance is nurtured and inspired. Each child is carefully taught to their own individual needs whether dance is a hobby or a vocation, and all have the opportunity to study for exams, consistently achieving excellent result in all genres. Students perform in our school shows held at a professional theatre, providing fun, entertainment and a unique dance experience. Many of our students with aspirations to dance professionally are offered the opportunity to compete in dance festivals and competitions around the country, including the Janet Cram Awards and Marjorie Davis Tap Awards laid on by the ISTD. Many former students following their vocation to dance as a career go on to follow courses in the performing arts at colleges around the country, successfully auditioning to study at Laine Theatre Arts; Bird College of Dance; Arts Educational College; Performers; Urdang Academy; Wilkes Academy; Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts; Scottish Conservatoire; Ballet West; The Place; London Studio; Tring and Royal Ballet School. Some students have gone straight in to professional contracts from their study at SJ Academy of Dance, and many successfully audition for pantomimes and musical theatre roles in local theatres and the West End.

Sally O'Rourke is a graduate of the Royal Ballet School teacher's course, and is fully qualified in teaching classical and modern dance. After graduating from RBS in 1986 Sally danced professionally in Europe before working as a freelance teacher in London, then founded Sally Johnson Academy of Dance in 1992, now SJ Academy of Dance.

Hannah Gell is a graduate of the Hammond School and is fully qualified in teaching
classical and modern dance. On graduation Hannah went on to dance professionally
around the world before returning to the UK to pursue her teaching in various places
around the UK before settling on the South Coast.

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!

MISS SUE

Ballet & Pilates

Sue started dancing at a local dance school in Gosport at the age of three and competed in all the same festivals at we do today, with her first dance on stage a song and dance aged just four. Sue was trained in Ballet, Tap and Modern, going on to pass Advanced level exams in all three genres. Leaving home at eighteen, Sue travelled to Finland to teach at a dance school; initially to teach Tap and Modern, she was then asked to teach Ballet to both children and adults. Returning to the UK, Sue continued to pursue her teaching vocation, first setting up a dance school with her sister, then further qualifying to teach Gym, Exercise to Music, Personal Training and Pilates. Sue now has over thirty years of teaching experience and over twenty years in the Health & Fitness industry, reaching the standard of Assessor and Quality Assurance Verifier, ensuring high standards in other teachers and instructors. Sue oversees our Associate classes in Pilates and Limbering, as well as teaching Grade Ballet and competition dances.

MISS CHANCEY

Modern, Tap, Ballet & Jazz

Chancey’s association with SJ Academy of Dance began as a student. She trained with us for over ten years, achieving Advanced 2 Ballet and Tap, and Advanced 1 Modern. Successfully auditioning at Laine Theatre Arts and Bird College of Dance, Chancey went on to study for her teaching qualifications at Chichester College. She gained DDEs in Tap and Modern (with a 96% mark) and DDI in Ballet. Chancey has danced at corporate events with ACO Entertainment and competed to a high standard at All England Dance Festivals for many years; she is now bringing that experience and knowledge to SJ Academy of Dance, choreographing and coaching our competing Associates. Chancey teaches all genres at SJ Academy of Dance, and is popular with students in all age groups. Her students achieve fantastic results in exams at all grades.

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MISS AMBER

Jazz

Amber trained at SJ Academy for 18 years before attending and graduating Laine Theatre Arts. Amber is a freelance dance teacher and heads up our Associate Jazz programme on a Saturday. Amber has done some great choreography for us and her under 21 modern group recently won the All England Finals.

MISS LIZ

Musical Theatre

Liz has a BA Hons in Drama and English and combining her love of theatre and singing, teaches our Associate musical theatre classes. Liz passionately believes that the skills and confidence acquired in theatrical performance can benefit many aspects of the students' lives. Liz has been directing our school show for many years and is looking forward to the next one!

MISS SARAH

Modern, Tap & 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. Sarah’s daughter Grace has danced with us since the age of five, and we are very proud to have them both at SJAD.

MISS NATASHA

Ballet

MISS JASMIN

Ballet

MISS LIBBY

Jazz