The Hollis School of Dance is a family run dance school which has been established for 37 years in the Worthing area.
The current dance principal Miss Joanne Rogers was trained locally at Glendale dance school, Worthing and is now carrying on the dance school following her mother Mrs Marilyn Rogers into the business.
Dance School Principles
Mrs Rogers
My name is Marilyn Rogers. I was born and grew up in Brighton I studied dance through a dance school based in Uckfield.
I gained my teaching qualifications and opened the Hollis School of Dance in 1973 in Worthing with the help of Rita Ireland. I taught R.A.D (Royal Acadamy of Dance) ballet and started entering exams.
The school has gone on from there.
I have written and directed pantomimes giving support to Davison high for girls towards their sports hall. I was choreographer for Lancing Rep Company for many years with their pantomimes.
I have always run a busy school although not large making a happy and friendly atmosphere where pupils can learn the art of dance to high technical standard and having a confident outlook on life.
Now I have decided to take a step back even though I can’t give up completely (once a dancer always a dancer) and find myself coming to the classes to watch and see how the students are getting on.
I have let my daughter Joanne, is Jo to everyone to take over the running of the school. I am extremely proud of the way she has working with the children, older students and adults alike and I know she will make the school her own with her unique and wonderful way of teaching.
Miss Jo
Hi my name is Miss Jo, I started dancing at the age of two and a half at local school Glendale theatre arts. I knew from a young age I wanted to perform and then take over the Hollis School of Dance and Drama.
During my time at Glendale i was involved in many festival’s, show’s and did lot’s of pantomimes I was also involved in the English Youth Ballet in their production of Sleeping Beauty. Also during my time at here I took all my graded exams in ballet, tap and modern through to major’s and at thirteen, I took my a/s level dance whilst still at school.
At the age of sixteen, I left school and went to Chichester College where I successfully completed and passed my BTEC national diploma in performing arts. Whilst at Chichester I was still attending Glendale for regular dance lesson’s and also passed my a level dance.
At 18 I left Glendale and went to Deborah Capon Dance College in Kent this was a more teacher based college and I gained my associates in ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance). In the three years at college I was involved in their shows and also in the Grandison Clarke festival for national and went to the finals with our group dance.
On leaving college I started my performing career and my first job was for Disneyland Paris and I moved to France for 8 months. Returning home I got my second job working for the BBC - Tell Tale Productions and worked for them for 2 years. In 2005 i worked for Worthing high school as head of dance teaching gcse dance. Also in 2005 my mother Marilyn Rogers handed over the general running of the Hollis School of Dance and Drama to me.
In the time of running the school I have continued the high technical standard and also the fun and happy atmosphere. The students have been involved in many festivals, carnivals and also take exams on a regular basis with 100% pass rate. I am currently running the day to day process of the school whilst taking my exams for the new FDI and CDE dance papers to be completed by 2010 which will enable me to continue to teach and enter exams as a fully qualified teacher.