school history

SUSAN BRYAN M.B.A.T.D started dancing at the age of 3 in Romford Essex at Miss Rita’s School of Dance . When she retired Sue then went on to train at the Sheila Laing Academy of Dance in Harold Hill where she stayed until Sheila emigrated to take a teaching post within the Australian Ballet Company.

During the last few years leading up to Sue's Associate exams, Sue spent her training in Harlow, Essex with a teacher called Jean Groom. In 1971 she started a dancing school in Harold Hill called 'The Hill Academy of Dance' and had a successful school there until she married and moved to Sandy in 1975.

The Sandy School started in 1975 (around April of that year.) Originally, it was held at the Roundabout Club and stayed there for approximately 4 years whereupon we moved to Sandy Upper School, where the school has been based ever since.

Throughout most of this time Sue has travelled back to London on a regular basis to further her qualifications where in 1986 she then took a further exam to gain the qualification of M.B.A.T.D.

During this time pupils took part in Annual Shows, examinations and also competitions as well as performing at the Barbican Centre in London and at BATD General Meetings when I was asked to Lecture on Festival work.

Alex took over the dance school around 2000 when Sue was forced into retirment due to injury. Students in the school still take part in shows, train for exams and enter numerous compeitions throughout the year.