Breadth of Training
The Hollywood Academy of Dance offers:
- Full training for both girls and boys from the age of 3 to 18.
- Group and individual lessons are given in Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Tap.
- Examinations with the Royal Academy of Dancing and The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance
- For over 18s: part-time teaching courses in RAD Ballet (CBTS) and ISTD Modern & Tap (FDI & CDE).
Students are encouraged to combine their involvement in dance with their academic studies. If desired, auditions are arranged for prestigious ballet schools, Royal Ballet associate courses and performing arts colleges. Many former students have graduated from these programs and are enjoying successful dance and teaching careers.
Teaching Staff
Rachel Ford: ISTD DDE, Head of Modern Theatre, RAD Member
As a child, Rachel trained at The Hollywood Academy of Dance with Janne Carrington and performed in shows and events at the B.I.C. Royal Bath and Pavilion. Summer holidays and half-terms were spent taking dance workshops, performance summer schools and singing lessons. Her favourite workshop to date was with Wayne Sleep, who inspired her love of Jazz dance. At 18, Rachel gained a full scholarship to Bodywork Dance Company in Cambridge; she graduated with a Diploma in Musical Theatre and also won the award for most outstanding Musical Theatre Student of the 2011 graduating class.
After graduating, Rachel danced in many Bollywood Films, such as ‘Jabtaka Juan’, and for corporate events all over London. With these successes, she was able to secure a job performing for the Princess Cruises in America. She loved every second of dancing, performing and sailing and was with the company for over four years.
Rachel is so honoured to be back home where it all began, teaching at the acclaimed Hollywood Academy of Dance.
Ms Leigh Rocha: PGCE, RAD Member PBT Registered Teacher
| Leigh’s ballet journey began at the tender age of six at her local ballet school, where she discovered the magic of dance, performing with touring ballet companies, including Northern Ballet Theatre, working for the BBC and progressing through the RAD & ISTD Vocational exam systems.
Leigh brings over twenty years’ experience working in education to the Hollywood family and is excited to bring her skills and knowledge as a registered Progressing Ballet Technique practitioner to the studio. |
Georgia Carrington: MA Musical Theatre – Royal Welsh, Visiting Teaching Professional
Georgia has been performing ever since she can remember. Having had intense dance training with the Hollywood Academy of Dance, she found her passion in Musical Theatre when training at the Big Little Theatre School. After leaving Hollywood, she went on to study at the University of Warwick, where she found herself immersed with the famous theatre scene at the university. During her time at University, she performed in countless musicals such as ‘Follies’ (playing Sally), ‘Anything Goes’, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, ‘Rent’, ‘Spring Awakening’ and choreographed ‘Cabaret’. She also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for 3 consecutive years with the ‘Improv Musical’. After graduating from Warwick, she gained a place at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama studying Musical Theatre and was awarded a scholarship. During her training, she performed in shows such as ‘Company’ and the UK premiere of ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ and was also chosen to perform a duet in a Christmas concert for the Prince of Wales.
Georgia choreographed the highly acclaimed ‘Sing Sing Sing’ Fosse number for the senior students appearing at The Pavilion Theatre in November 2021.
Leanne Frampton: RAD Teaching Professional
Leanne Frampton is and RAD qualified Dance teacher who has been teaching locally for the past 17 years.
She trained here at the Hollywood Academy of Dance with Janne Carrington from the age of 4 and has many fond memories growing up with the dance school family. She took numerous examinations in all genres and appeared in many performances at the Bournemouth Pavilion and the BIC. After becoming inspired by Mrs.C and with a love for teaching others the magic of dance she then trained at the Royal Academy of Dance in London and gained her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies.
Leanne has taught at many local dance Schools over the years, to name a few, The Carrington Hollywood Academy of Dance, Pure Funk, The Dorchester Ballet and Dance Club, Big little Theatre school, Stagecoach Ringwood and Wimborne and Stagecoach Bournemouth and Poole. Leanne has also run her own School ‘Ballet Beats’ for the last 6 years, teaching Pre School ballet to children aged 4-6.
‘I absolutely love teaching children embracing their love of dance and all the happiness it brings to them. Seeing them grow in confidence whilst having fun each week is my passion.’
Josh Piper: RAD/ISTD Teaching Professional
Josh trained at The Hollywood Academy of Dance and has since graduated with a Musical Theatre Diploma from Performers College, London. He has danced professionally in the Christmas Shows at Eastbourne, Cromer Pier Summer Show, and The Royal Caribbean Cruise. When not touring Josh takes workshops in Jazz/Commercial.
Sam Rodulfo: Visiting Teaching Professional
Sam trained with Janne Carrington until 2013, after which she gained a place at the London Studio Centre, graduating three years later with a First Class Honours Degree in Theatre Dance. Since then, Sam has gone on to work for several ballet companies in the UK and abroad, including the English National Ballet, Ballet Theatre UK, Vienna Festival Ballet, The Johann Strauss Gala, The State Opera Varna and The Russian State Ballet of Siberia. During this time, she was given the opportunities to perform a great deal of repertoire, including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Alice in Wonderland, Don Quixote and even West Side Story! Sam also teaches between contracts, as she loves to be a part of nurturing the next generation of budding dancers! Sam is currently appearing in The Snowman at The Peacock Theatre at the Sadlers Wells in London.
Corinne Rigler: ALCM
Corinne took up the piano at the tender age of 8 years old. She studied at The London College of Music. Although classically trained, Corinne is involved in most genres of music. She is delighted to have been the accompanist for The Hollywood Academy of Dance for almost 40 years. Corinne is also resident pianist for 2 local Musical Theatre Companies.