In 1995, Miss Jackie Brooks (AISTD CDE) founded Brooks Dance Academy, formerly known as The Shoreham School of Dance.

 

Her journey includes training with the late Miss Elizabeth Hodgshon, a senior ISTD examiner, and studying dance at Arts Educational dance college in London, earning her diploma and teaching qualifications in Ballet, Tap, and Modern.

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Transitioning from a professional dancer to a dedicated teacher, Jackie worked with various Sussex schools, choreographing successful festival groups and achieving outstanding results in ISTD exams.

 

In 2015, she realized her vision by opening her purpose-built dance studio in Lancing, now the heart of Brooks Dance Academy.

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Jackie remains committed to professional development, engaging in regular CPD with the ISTD, participating in the English National Ballet & The Royal Ballet's Inspire programme, and holding qualifications as a Progressing Ballet Technique instructor.

Maria Doick started her training with Elizabeth Hodgshon, followed by Bush Davis School of Theatre Arts. Gaining advanced levels in Ballet (RAD & ISTD), Modern ISTD, and her teaching qualifications with the ISTD, Maria went on to dance professionally with Vienna Festival Ballet dancing Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. During her two years with VFB she toured England, Switzerland and Germany.

 

She also worked for Carnival Cruise Line travelling around the Caribbean followed by a Far East Tour.

Maria then decided to focus on teaching – working for many local schools entering ISTD exams and choreographing for festivals and shows. She has worked at Lancing College since 2009 directing the dance department.

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Maria has taught at BDA for many years and loves the friendly, down-to-earth atmosphere.

Alongside her professional contemporary training at Laban Conservatoire, Alice trained and performed with one of London’s most respected HipHop dance companies,
Boy Blue Ent.

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Alice started her professional dance career at 19 years old when she landed a role in HipHop theatre show ‘Pied Piper’ at the Barbican. From then she went to perform in the West End with ‘Thriller Live.’

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Although remaining routed in hiphop Alice then went on to work more commercially dancing in commercials, music videos and live shows for music artists. Credits include; Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, French Montana, Will I Am, Beyoncé & Pharrell.

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Alongside her professional work Alice has also built her own creative company CRAFT ENT; which has landed her creative and choreography work. Credits include; Adidas, Universal Music, Melissa Steel, Manhattan Cosmetics and many more.

Lucy Brooks trained extensively at Brooks Dance Academy in ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, and jazz, holds her advanced ISTD exams and has a special passion for choreography.

 

As a member of the British Ballet Organisation, she earned her Level 4 & 5 Diplomas in Dance Teaching, is an ISTD affiliate and is a member of Rambert Grades. Additionally, she's a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor.

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Lucy holds a Masters degree in Drama and Theatre Studies from the University of Kent, where she actively participated in dance and musical theatre societies as a performer and choreographer.

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Her arts career spans roles with Royal Albert Hall, Brighton Festival, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures and Charleston.

 

At BDA, Lucy teaches jazz and contemporary, oversees the affiliate contemporary dance company, Brooks Dance Company (for dancers aged 15+), and choreographs competitive pieces for shows, festivals, and events.

Agnes started dancing at the age of 4 at her local dance school in Burgess Hill in ISTD Ballet, Modern, and Tap. She completed her Advanced 1 in all three genres and also her Advanced 2 Tap. She then went on to attend Sussex University where she completed a degree in Neuroscience.

 

At University, Agnes took up competitive cheerleading and competed at a regional and national level for 6 years. During this time, she developed a keen interest in the acro and tumbling side of the sport. This led her to find the Acrobatic Arts syllabus that she now teaches at
Brooks Dance Academy, which fuses these acrobatic moves artistically with dance.

 

Agnes helps teach and choreograph solos for the upcoming dance season and also now runs her own acro programme called 'Acro With Agnes' based in Hurstpierpoint.

Katie trained at Brooks Dance Academy from a young age in all styles. She is able to teach and choreograph across all genres including Tap, Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Lyrical. 

Katie is currently training at Chichester University on the contemporary dance course and returns to Brooks each weekend to support our troupe and competition teams with choreography and preparing students for events.

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Before Uni, she worked for a year at Shoreham Academy working as part of the dance department teaching students from Year 7 up to Year 13.