I was first given the idea of teaching, by my own ballet teacher in 1989. I started to teach in Sawtry on Saturday Mornings for the Community Education. The opportunity of classes then spread to Huntingdon Community Education. The student numbers and amount of classes grew steadily. I added to the classes by teaching in my own name at the Hartford Village Hall, Huntingdon. The old hall was a little run down and was demolished in 1998/99. This was a trying time. We had to split classes between 2/3 different halls to fit in the hours we required.

The school has grown during the past 18 years, to have in excess of 250 students and 36 classes a week covering Ballet, Tap, Modern and Jazz. Vast improvements have had to be made.

In 1998 I left the shelter of Community Education and started to run my own school completely. This has meant being able to expand the classes and move into the NEW Hartford Village Hall near Huntingdon, which has improved the facilities and given me the perfect setting for the school.

Students have been entered for Royal Academy of Dancing and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing exams every year since 1990. The school's 100% pass rate with both societies continues to keep the work at a very high standard.

We had been involved in pantomime for some years and performed dance displays at the end of term, which always received great support. So in 1997 I put together a full length show with all students from the school. Since then, there has been show every year during the Christmas Season. The main cast are students of the Saturday Dance Club who have the opportunity of singing and speaking parts as well as dance. Guest teachers are invited to give voice coaching. This club involves students in stagecraft also and they get heavily involved in the preparation of scenery and props.

Summer 2000 brought about our first Summer School, which was a fantastic success. Students put together their very own show, which included songs, dances and a script. During the course, which lasts one week, they enjoy a theatre trip to London and perform their own show on the Friday night. This has now become part of the School curriculum with guest teachers from abroad also taking part in one day workshops.

At A Glance:

• School running for 18 years
• Fully qualified teaching staff
• Exams every year, RAD & ISTD
• 100% success rate in all exams
• 1st rate facilities
• Full length performances every year
• Summer School
• Guest Teachers
• Easy to find