When Jodie met Molly

TWO friends who became an award-winning dance duo as children have opened their own theatre school.

Molly Assig and Jodie Harrop met when they were both aged seven at the former Doris Isaacs School of Dancing in Brighton.

Now in their 20s, and following a string of dancing and acting successes, the pair have just put on their first pantomime after setting up M & J Theatre Arts.

Cinderella was performed to more than 400 people at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, last month. Its cast members were all aged under 16.

Molly, from Worthing, said: "The pantomime went really well. We had four great performances, and great audiences. We received fantastic feedback from everyone.

"I felt all the children in the audience related to our panto as it was performed entirely by children their age."

Molly and Jodie have already booked the Barn Theatre for their first summer show in July and for another panto next year.

Molly, a former Davison High School for Girls, Worthing, pupil, said opening their own dance school was something she and Jodie had dreamed of since they met aged seven.

Before making their dream a reality, both girls have had busy journeys.

After the girls were made duet partners aged seven, they went on to win many competitions, collecting various medals and trophies, as well as making it to the All England dance competition.

When the girls were 14, the Doris Isaacs school closed and they decided to go to different schools in Worthing.