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Our Team

Sally-Ann Hodge - Principal

A.R.A.D, L.R.A.D, A.I.S.T.D (Associate National), R.T.S

Principal Sally-Ann Hodge

Sally-Ann trained at the College of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and is a fully qualified and registered teacher of the RAD. She has been teaching for over 30 years and established a Ballet School in Dulwich in 1990.

Following graduation, she was a member of a touring Ballet Company based in Germany for several years, before returning to the UK to both teach in local schools and start her own Ballet School. In 1998 she additionally took over the running of another local Ballet School and the Dulwich Ballet School (DBS) was formed.

Outside of DBS Sally-Ann runs a number of school ballet clubs currently at Oakfield Preparatory School, Duck’s Kindergarten and Infant School and Alleyn’s Junior School. For pupils attending those schools please contact the schools’ office.

Sally-Ann appears as the teacher with the students of Dulwich Ballet School in the successful DVDs “How To Be A Ballet Dancer” and “You Can Be A Ballet Dancer” and more recently she and students appeared in the Studio Canal film "King of Thieves”.

More recently Sally-Ann has started competing in amateur Ballroom and Latin competitions winning the Jive category in 2019.

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Liz Limb

Administrator

Liz Limb

Liz works with Dulwich Ballet School in the capacity of Administration Assistant which she manages to fit in alongside her professional career as a statistician with the NHS. She has been associated with DBS for over 15 years having had all her children attend the school.

Liz is a valued member of the team who is pivotal to the smooth running of the school. She ensures that all new and existing clients are kept well informed.

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Lucy Abbott

BA (Hons), LRAD, RTS

Lucy Abbott

Lucy began dancing at the age of 6 and has completed vocational exams in ballet, tap and modern with the RAD and ISTD. Lucy was a member of the Suffolk Ballet Scholars and performed ISTD graded ballet for teaching DVDs. She has performed with dancers from The Royal Ballet and English National Ballet in Gary Avis’ gala celebration and has danced principle roles with the Chelmsford Ballet Company.

Lucy continued her dance training at the Royal Academy of Dance graduating in 2019 with a BA (Hons) in Ballet Education and Licenciate of the Royal Academy of Dance. During her time on the course she taught and assisted in RAD ballet classes in London.

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Flora Martin

Level 1 & 2 (ASA)

Flora Martin

Flora began dancing at DBS from the age of 5. She trained in ballet and modern progressing to pointe work and studied up to the grade 8 examination (RAD). She has been a long term dance assistant and teacher at the school. She runs many of the Ballet Clubs at local private schools.

She has performed in several classical ballets produced by DBS and assisted in helping with rehearsing, sorting costumes, make-up etc. She is particularly good with young children who respond well to her firm but fun teaching.

Flora is also a qualified swimming instructor teaching at local schools and specialises in one to one lessons.

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Johanna Thorpe

BA (Hons), CBTS, RAD Silver Swans, RTS

Johanna Thorpe

Johanna has more than 15 years’ experience in teaching ballet, modern, street jazz and body conditioning.

She started dancing with Sally-Ann Hodge at the age of six at Dulwich Ballet School (then North Dulwich Ballet School). She began assisting the Principal with teaching classes at the age of 14, and through this discovered her love of teaching and a passion for working with children.

Johanna is also a qualified early years education practitioner and has worked in various early years settings from the age of 18, all the while continuing to assist at DBS.

After combining two careers, she decided to focus her career on dance teaching, and trained at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in 2008, being awarded her registered teacher status in 2010. She then continued her studies with the RAD and gained a BA in Dance Education from the University of Surrey in 2015.

Johanna has danced various classical roles with DBS, appeared in dance videos and and danced in London festivals. She has also taught in London summer schools, and set up the DBS first summer school. Johanna has taught both in various London schools, and also abroad, in Melbourne, Australia. Whilst abroad, Johanna worked alongside other RAD teachers/ examiners delivering the new RAD vocational syllabuses when they were first released.

Johanna has always had a passion for encouraging creativity and confidence in children through the medium of dance, and believes this benefits them in many other areas of their life. Her favourite thing is to see a child discover themselves in the studio and to thrive!

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Sarah Gornall

ARAD

Sarah Gornall

Sarah grew up in the North-East of England before moving to London to complete her degree in 2017.

She trained in RAD ballet from the age of 3 and completed all grades. She was a Yorkshire Ballet associate before going on to graduate from London Studio Centre with a first class BA (hons) in Theatre Dance in 2020. Since then she has worked as a freelance dance artist specialising in contemporary dance and Latin American/ ballroom dancing.

She began assisting classes from the young age of 13 and progressed to teaching, gaining strong experience in coaching RAD ballet, latin and ballroom (IDTA), contemporary, jazz and musical theatre for children and adults of varying ability. Sarah aims to create fun and focused classes, allowing children to grow as individuals in a creative environment.

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Dancers of today – appreciative audiences of tomorrow.
Just email info@dulwichballet.co.uk to book a trial

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Client Testimonials

Dulwich Ballet School is a wonderful community school offering many dance genres in addition to ballet. The teachers and staff are dedicated to each pupil and the standard of teaching is extremely high. Pupils can enjoy dance as a hobby or take it more seriously at Vocational level.

Both my daughters have achieved Advanced qualifications in ballet through DBS. Opportunities are available to take part in fully staged and costumed performances in a local theatre which are always amazing. Dulwich Ballet School is a welcoming, caring organisation with the highest standards and I would recommend it to any parent considering sending their child for ballet classes."
Gootjes Family
Dulwich Ballet School is an excellent local dance school. Teachers are very professional and friendly and are able to strike a good balance between making lessons personal without compromising ballet discipline. Our daughter has been going to this school for many years and she absolutely loves it, she has developed some very good and close relationship with all all the teachers she has had in the past few years."
Lucy Ryan
Words can’t say how much I have loved watching my daughter’s dancing grow & develop through DBS. You are a wonderful teacher, Miss Hodge with a wonderful dance school & we have so many cherished memories as a family. Thank you
Jenn O’Donnell
It’s hard to express how important you and ballet have been in our family’s life for the last 16 years. When our daughter started back when she was 2.4 years old, I knew she would love the pink skirt & shoes and the music. But over the years, coming to class every week, training her body, learning to express herself & perform, has become essential to her in ways I never imagined. The most important thing for her has been being part of the community that you have built, the girls she has been dancing with and you and your teachers have supported her through her childhood & teenage years. But even more special than that is the kindness, love, fun and warmth you have always shown her, and the space you have created for these girls to be themselves (in a world that rarely allows that), to find & love one another, and to love & be proud of what they can be. For that, I am more grateful to you than I can ever say
Emma Cockell
As my daughter leaves DBS, I feel a huge sense of sadness but also a feeling of happiness for the role you & your fabulous team have played in mine & my girls lives for nearly 20 years. Libby throughout your dance education has learnt discipline, loyalty, commitment & the thrill of following a passion. Wishing you & your exceptional team all the best for the future
Sarah Talbot
Thank you so much for the most magical 16 years of ballet I have enjoyed every second of it and I am in disbelief that it has flown by so fast. You are such a role model to me, and I am going to be so sad not to hear your wise words every week. It only feels like yesterday that I was a chicken in Carnival of the Animals. I hope that we can keep in touch and go out perhaps for a drink in the future!
Ella Sims - Past student
Thank you very, very much for all these fantastic years of ballet/modern/street dance. I have had such a wonderful time and made so many great friends & memories at Dulwich Ballet School that I know I will cherish forever. From starting ballet with you at Alleyn’s in Reception to achieving Grade 8 earlier this year, it has been quite the journey
Lara Tudor - Past student
Thank you so much for teaching me over the years, especially during Grade 8. I would not have been ready for my exam without you pushing me & I really appreciate all your hard work. I will miss Dulwich Ballet so much, thank you for creating such a special family, which we all love being part of. You are incredibly strong & a great role model to us all
Rosa Neather - Past student
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at DBS and loved the different opportunities this place has given me. Thank you for allowing me to volunteer as an assistant and then giving me a Saturday job, where I was able to help some incredible teachers. This isn’t something I will forget & I have loved helping so many young girls & boys find joy and excitement in dancing, just like I did
Jess Jarvis - Past student & assistant teacher
Being part of this lovely school has been one of the most consistent things in my life & I have loved every second. Recently dance has helped me get through a relentless Oxbridge process & my A levels. You have created such a special community and I am so grateful to have been part of DBS. My life will look different without this but I am excited to continue dancing wherever it will be
Ruby Hurst - Past student
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