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
Mrs Janne Carrington. A.R.A.D. (Adv) Examiner RAD DIPLOMA RAD CDT/ FELLOW ISTD.
Janne Carrington was classically trained, firstly with the American teacher Joanne Kitson, and The Wessex School under Elizabeth Collins & Ida Stewart. Awarded a scholarship by The British Council with The Kirov Ballet. ‘Mrs C’ enjoyed a highly successful professional dance career in the Corps de Ballet of London Festival Ballet, Vienna State Ballet Company, branching into Television, Musical and Commercial Theatre, which spanned over twenty years taking her all over the World appearing as principal dancer in Musicals, Summer Seasons, Pantomimes, Television Galas and Concerts appearing at The London Palladium, Drury Lane, Adelphi to name but a few! For four years she was part of ‘The Faralees’ an Adagio Balancing Act, which toured all over Europe appearing in TV and the ‘Jean Richard Cirque’ touring France. She worked with many top choreographers such as, Lionel Blair, Pamela Devis, Nigel Lythgoe, Paddy Stone, Flick Colby, and Tommy Shaw who influenced and inspired her to pursue a career in choreography. In 1988 Andrew Lloyd-Webber commissioned her to choreograph ‘The Dresden Dolls’ at his Sydmonton Festival. The Evening Echo awarded her Choreographer of the year for ‘West Side Story’ produced by ‘The Big Little Theatre Company’. Never planning to teach and settle down but with a young son to be educated ‘Mrs. C’ opened Hollywood Dance Academy in 1984 with seven pupils!
Mrs C is an RAD Examiner for the ‘Certificate in Dance Teaching’, and an Examiner for the RAD ‘Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies’.
Rachel Adey: RAD CTD, ISTD DDE, Head of Modern Theatre
Rachel’s passion for dance began at a young age, performing across Poole and Bournemouth in various shows, festivals, and events at top venues.At 18, Rachel was awarded a full scholarship to Bodywork Dance Company in Cambridge, where she trained extensively and graduated with a Diploma in Musical Theatre. She was also honoured as Most Outstanding Musical Theatre Student of the 2011 graduating class. Following graduation, Rachel’s career took her across the globe. She performed in several Bollywood films, including Jab Tak Hai Jaan, and danced at corporate events throughout London. In 2012, she joined Princess Cruises, where she danced professionally for over four years.
Rachel is regularly commissioned to choreograph for various events, including Abbey’s Heroes at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton each year. Currently in her second year with The Royal Academy of Dance teacher training program, she has been working closely with Mrs. Carrington and is now on placement at Hollywood Academy of Dance, where she can often be found assisting in classes.
Now a proud mother of two daughters, both of whom share her love of performing.
She is honoured to be teaching at Hollywood Academy of Dance, where her own training began, making it feel like she never left.
Leigh Rocha: PGCE, RAD Member PBT Registered Teacher, Rambert Contemporary Trained
| 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. |
Steffi Brown
Carly Phipps
Mrs Carrington, “Janny” has taught Carly since she was three, watching her grow and teaching her irreplaceable things, Carly is a post graduate student from Bournemouth University,studying an FDA in Dance. Through this experience and her previous achievement when receiving her BTEC in Dance at Bournemouth and Poole college she has found her love of choreography and enjoys lecturing in Irish dance.
“ I love walking into Hollywood studios because every student is a joy to teach!
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.
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.
Josh Piper: Visiting 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.
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.