WESSEX SCHOOL OF DANCING

The Wessex School of Dancing was founded eighty years ago in 1920 by Marjorie Hooley in Christchurch, she shortly moved the school to the Boscombe Royal Arcade, where, during the next 30 years it established a firm reputation as one of the foremost dancing schools in the south.

The school progressed even more when Elizabeth Collins and Ida Stewart took over, and moved the school to Southbourne, converting a 20 bedroomed hotel in Arnewood Rd, into a purpose built concept, consisting of four large dance studios; it became, under their guidance, the only school in Bournemouth offering full time tuition in all aspects of dance, the main being, of course, ballet; but the curriculum included ballroom dancing, tap, modern, Greek, National, and historical; with parallel courses in drama.

The present owners, Susan Hill and Linda Attrill, were full-time students of the school and obtained their qualifications during the time that Misses Collins and Stewart were Principals. They went on to dance with the Tiller Girls, the Black and White Minstrels and the Blue Bells. After a professional dancing career spanning twelve years they came back to their roots, and took over the school from the Carters, a man and wife team,who ran the school after Misses Collins and Stewart retired.

The school is now based at the Wesley Hall in Southbourne, with branches at Broadstone (Methodist Church Hall),Talbot Heath School for girls,and at Fovant, near Salisbury.

The school is a member of the Western Association of Ballet Schools (WABS). The Association puts on a show at the Pavilion each year, so that children can experience the enjoyment and discipline of performing in public. The productions often involved celebrities, notable ones of which, were Roy Castle and Buster Merriefield; this involvement by the students has inspired many to take up dancing professionally, either on the stage,or in setting up their own dancing schools. Many children from Broadstone have taken part in these and other productions, one such, was Claire Gunning, who recently had the lead role in the Corfe Hills production at the Poole Arts Centre, with Naomi Lake and Sarah Cumming playing important roles backstage.

Julia Foreman started with the Wessex at the age of three and now at the age of eighteen has been accepted by the Urdang School of Dancing in London. Valerie Adams, another student of the Wessex, went on to run the teaching course at the Royal Academy of Dancing. These are just a few of the success stories from students of the Wessex.

Anybody wishing further information regarding the school please ring 499528 or 744533.

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