OUR INSPIRATIONAL STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER IS JANE

JANE

Classes Attends:

When did you start dancing?

When I was a toddler my mother sent my sister and me to dance classes but I don’t have any memories of them.  When we were about 13-14 years old my mother had another go and sent us both to ballroom dance classes.  We did achieve silver medals but I can’t remember any of the steps now.  When I was a teenager in the North East, my friends and I loved dancing at the local discos in my home town.  I was in my late 20s when I started regularly attending ballet classes in Leeds.  The classes were run by ex Royal Ballet dancer Michael Facer.  Michael was Artistic Director of “Leeds Ballet Theatre” and in 1982 I performed on stage for the first time in his production of Coppelia at Leeds Civic Theatre.  I was one of the corps de ballet dancing the Mazurka and Waltz of the Hours.  The Evening Post review referred to the mixed ability Corps de ballet – I was at the low end of the mix.  At the top end was Tim Ambler who danced the lead role of Franz.  Tim Ambler later became known as Scott Ambler, world renowned dancer and choreographer who danced Prince Siegfried in Matthew Bourne’s 1995 all male production of Swan Lake.

What is your favourite style of dance and why?

I have tried a lot of different dance styles: ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, flamenco, ballroom, salsa.  For the last few years I have concentrated on ballet, tap and jazz.  It is difficult to chose one as my favourite.  I think it depends on what mood I am in.  If I had to pick only one style to practice it would probably be jazz as it is so varied and can be quite flamboyant.  By the way,  2022 is my 10th year of the Tapathon.

Who inspires you to dance and why?

I like to dance because dancing takes me out of my normal life and makes me feel happy.  I am inspired to keep dancing by my dance teacher Ceris as she always comes up with good, often challenging choreography.  I am also inspired by my fellow dancers who I can see enjoy dancing as much as I do.