About SJ Academy of Dance
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.
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.
We have branches in Hedge End, Chilworth and Chandlers Ford providing the highest quality dance tuition to girls and boys in the Southampton, Eastleigh, Winchester and Romsey areas. RAD and ISTD qualified teachers work alongside Sally and Hannah to operate a friendly and successful school where enjoyment, 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, where they consistently achieve excellent results in all genres.
Students perform in our spectacular school shows held at a professional theatre, providing fun, entertainment and a uniquely memorable dance experience.
We are proud of our record of preparing students for a professional dancing career.
Many students following their vocation to dance go on to take Diploma and Degree courses in the performing arts at colleges around the country; as well as an excellent standard of training and performance, we provide support, advice and guidance to auditioning students. Successful SJAD alumni have gone on 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 while still training at
SJ Academy of Dance.
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We strive to provide the best possible dancing experience for all our students in every lesson.
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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 AMBER
Jazz, Acrobatic Arts & Musical Theatre
Amber trained at SJ Academy of Dance for 18 years before attending and graduating Laine Theatre Arts. Amber heads up our Associate Jazz programme. Amber has done some great choreography for us and her under 21 modern group recently won the All England Finals.
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
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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. Sarah’s daughter Grace has danced with us since the age of five, and we are very proud to have them both at SJAD.