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Meet Our Teachers

Experienced teachers, a welcoming school and support for every dancer.

Jo Fletcher

Principal & Teacher

Jo founded Rye Dance Centre in 1982 after training at De Haviland Dance Studios in Hastings. An ISTD Fellow and Examiner in ballet, modern and tap, she is also an approved tutor for DDE and teacher status examinations. She continues to lead the school, combining technical training with her love of choreography and performance.
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Joanne trained at her mothers’ school, De Haviland Dance Studios, Hastings, and then opened her own school Rye Dance Centre in 1982.

She continued training at the The Centre under Karen King and Deborah Capon College with Elizabeth Harrison and Kathryn Wiggins.

She achieved fellowship status in ISTD modern, tap and ballet, and is a ISTD examiner to Advanced 2 level in ballet, modern and tap.

As an approved tutor for all units of the DDE and Status exams she continues to run Rye Dance Centre.

Her love of choreography is her passion and entering pupils for festivals and the All England, writing and producing theatre groups and pantomimes within the school and local area.

Many past pupils have gone on to perform professionally both in the UK and abroad or moved into teaching.

In 2016 she was giving the opportunity to adjudicate The Guernsey Dance Festival. A memorable week which deepened her love of performance and dance.
She is very pleased to be appointed a member of the British and International Federation of Dance adjudicators and thanks all who have assisted her to achieve this.

Chloe Hall

Dance Teacher

Dance teacher with DDE qualifications in Ballet, Modern and Tap, and Licentiate qualifications in Tap and Modern.
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After gaining DDE qualifications in Ballet, Modern and Tap, she now has a Licentiate in Tap and Modern which she completed at Rye Dance Centre. Chloe is now assisting and teaching full time at the school

Sharon Parker

Dance Teacher

Dance teacher with DDI qualifications in Modern and Tap.
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After completing her DDI in both Modern and Tap, Sharon is continuing teaching at Rye Dance Centre whilst working in a local nursery as a deputy manager.

Polly Darkins

Teaching Assistant

Teaching assistant supporting younger students on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Polly has been a student at Rye Dance Centre for 10 years. She assists with our younger students classes on Fridays and Saturdays.

Maisy Bull

Teaching Assistant

Teaching assistant supporting the school’s youngest dancers in Friday classes.
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Maisy has been a student at Rye Dance Centre for 10 years and she assists with our little ones in the Friday classes.

Harry Parkinson

Visiting Guest Teacher for Boys

Visiting teacher and former RDC student, trained at Bird College with professional performance experience.
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Harry was a student at RDC before completing his BA Hons Degree at Bird College. Since then he has performed with Jason Manford in the Manchester Pantomime and been a performer on a cruise ship with Royal Caribbean. He’s currently auditioning and training for his DDE teaching qualification at RDC.

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