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, teaching, choreographing festival groups and achieving outstanding results in ISTD exams.

In 2015, she realised 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 and 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.

Amelia, AKA ‘Curly Coach’ is a West End specialist musical theatre vocal coach who has worked in the professional industry delivering coaching to children and young people who work professionally in theatre, film and television for 23 years. Amelia’s experience of performing, coaching and having run a 380 strong performing arts school, coupled with a passion for coaching professional performers, inspires her work, bringing an understanding of the complexities faced by young performers training for and working in the industry.

Amelia has worked at many UK training schools and colleges, and currently enjoys teaching some of the many talented performers at Laine theatre arts as well as at her private London practice and her Online Singing School Associate programme. 

Her studies have involved a multi-disciplinary research project for helping professional children in musical theatre experiencing performance anxiety. Amelia received a distinction for her MA research project and is now teaching these helpful strategies to teachers and performers of all ages across the UK. 2025 is the year Amelia will have two chapters published in books for singing teachers! 

You can find out more on her website www.ameliacarrvoice.com or follow her #curlycoach via all social media platforms. 

Lucy Brooks trained extensively at Brooks Dance Academy in ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, and jazz, where she gained her advanced ISTD dance exams and developed a special passion for teaching and choreography.

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

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

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

At Brooks, Lucy teaches core styles of jazz and contemporary, oversees the affiliate senior school performance company, Brooks Dance Company, and choreographs competitive pieces for shows, festivals and events.

Miss Chloe is an ISTD qualified teacher in Ballet and Modern and a versatile dancer and performer across all styles from
Lyrical to Tap to Musical Theatre.

Miss Chloe trained at local school Glendale Theatre Arts and has performed in local festivals and events for many years. She now teaches junior classes, choreographs festival groups in styles such as musical theatre and character, and choreographs solos, duets and trios. Chloe her extensive knowledge and experience performing in festivals herself as a child, and competing with solos at Dance World Cup.

Katie trained at Brooks Dance Academy from a young age in all styles. She teaches and choreographs across all genres including Tap, Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Lyrical. 

Katie is currently training at Chichester University on the contemporary dance degree course and returns to Brooks at the

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.