Carol Henchie School of Dancing
About Us
Carol Henchie School of Dancing
Started in 2001 with humble beginnings only having 20 students.
Over the years the School has grown and developed into
one of the leading dance schools in the country which now teaching 150 students between the studio and schools. Offering classes from Pre School to Advanced 2 on the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabi and has a permanent venue at Studio 14, Mount Pleasant.
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At the school our main aim is getting all students to perform to the best of their abilities, improve their strength and co-ordination, meanwhile enjoying moving to the wide music selection covered in each class.
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At a young age we focus on the fun elements of dance while moving with grace and technique, co-ordination and the discipline needed for ballet.
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As the students move up in the ballet grades we fine tune the basic ballet steps, taught early on, and we constantly add in harder and more complex ballet steps that the boys and girls need to master and achieve for the higher levels of the syllabus.
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The school’s principle teacher and owner is also a full time mother of two, and you can regularly see her daughters in the ballet or gymnastics class themselves.
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During the world wide pandemic of COVID-19 we have been able to do lessons online and at times in the studio with controlled sizes in each class. We have even been able to take our International Examinations on line in 2020 and will do so again in 2021.
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Every child loves to dance whether it is with or without music – at our studio we help to nurture the love of dance while adding elegance, strength and grace.
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Carol Henchie has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She danced with the National Ballet of Zimbabwe for
15 years where she became a Soloist in the Company. She passed all her ballet examinations with flying colours and since then has never looked back. Carol began her interest in teaching in 1996 when she started assisting her ballet teacher with lessons on the weekends. After realizing it was her calling she decided to become a full time teacher and studied with the Royal Academy of Dance, London. After graduating in 2001 she then founded her own ballet school.
The Studio partakes in two shows annually that the Dance Trust of Zimbabwe manages. For the teenagers and more senior dancers we have “Starlight Dancing” which is an open air performance usually in Late September to early October. The Second show is for the budding and younger ballerinas at Reps Theatre which is in November.
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Miss Henchie is an encouraging and patient mentor who is able to mold young students into a ballerina or dancer and brings out the best in their personality. With the help of her newly qualified teacher Joyce Mashiri the school works like clockwork in a fun and safe environment for all!!
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At the studio if we are not working towards the fun shows at the end of the year, the children spend their time working towards and achieving good results in their International Ballet Examinations which are held each year June in Harare. The qualifications are governed by the Royal Academy of Dance, London and in the higher graded vocational examinations they are the equivalent of O and A levels and they are recognized throughout the world and helps with credits when applying for University.
Joyce Mashiri was a former student of Miss Henchie and has recently qualified at a ballet Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance London in February 2021.
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she is a valuable member of the teaching staff at Carol Henchie School of Dancing and this is what she has to say....
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My name is Joyce Rufaro Mashiri. I discovered my passion for dance at the very young age of five. I recall that my first ballet class was in Grade 1, and I was introduced to ballet by Miss Henchie, who taught at my then primary school. In all my childhood, all I remember is the excitement of going to my ballet classes and how I enjoyed being in that space, as it allowed me to express my thoughts and feelings through dance. I participated in local shows such as Stars of Tomorrow and Starlight. I was also a part of a dance company called Backstage, where we performed different dancing styles, including modern, contemporary, and hip-hop.
Over the years, I went on to complete my RAD exams up to Advanced 1. In 2017, I started working at the Carol Henchie School of Dancing as an assistant ballet teacher, where Carol also mentored me. I registered for my teacher's qualification in 2018, and I am now a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance.
As a ballet teacher, it's part of my growing desire to bring dance into several communities and schools. I aim to nurture young talent and produce artistic, educated and outstanding dancers. I had a wonderful dance teacher in Carol, and she would always say, "there is no such word as I can't". This kind of positive thinking inspired me to become a teacher. One day, I want children to see someone like me and believe that they could defy expectations and stereotypes of what a ballerina is.
Lastly, no matter where you are in the world, dance brings people together. My belief is that dance can bring opportunities and the freedom to be whoever you want to be.
