Meet our Teachers at Just Dancing Studios.
Dawn Longden-Whiting FIDTA BA (HONS)
Miss Dawn lives in Chesterfield and opened Just Dancing Studios along with 2 friends Miss Lisa who now has the Lisa Gail School of Dance in Mansfield, and Miss Lynne from Sheffield.
Miss Dawn was trained in Chesterfield by the late Miss Brenda Blakesley, and performed in many local shows at the Pomegranate Theatre and the Aquarius. As well as training in Chesterfield, Miss Dawn also attended the Pattison Academy of Theatre Arts in Coventry. Miss Dawn trained in Latin and Ballroom Dancing with the late Alex Brown in Chesterfield.
After the death of Brenda Blakesley, Miss Dawn attended classes with other local prestigious teachers, Emily Chadburn, Peggy Harrison, Betty Chappelle, Bobbie Drakeford and June Gill.and abilities and its pupils take part in shows and displays as well as various dance festivals.
Miss Dawn says; "I always wanted to dance from being a very little girl, I started when I was 2 years Old. It wasn't always easy, when I was 4 I developed a degenerative disease of the hip called Perthes this mean't I had to go into hospital for a long time and then I was in a plaster cast on both legs with a bar across so I couldn't walk for 2 years. When I came out of plaster all I wanted to do was dance. Unfortunately, when I was 13 I had problems with my legs again which made walking very difficult and dancing impossible as the pain was too much. This time I had to go into Harlow Wood Hospital for three operations on my legs so that I could walk again. Each time the one thing that helped me get better was to know I would be able to dance again! Dancing has always been one of the most important things in my life, and It Is important to me to be able to pass on the knowledge I have gained from so many astounding Teachers to the dancers of the future"
Cheryl Eggleton
Miss Cheryl has been dancing at Just Dancing Studios for over 20 years, She started when she was 3 years old and was a student teacher for 7 years before becoming Miss Dawn's assistant. Over' the years she has taken part in 8 shows in the old Aquarius Club, the Palace Theatre in Mansfield and the Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield. She has taken part in a number of festivals competing mainly in troupes and duets. She has also danced in a number of presentation evenings, school fairs, Chatsworth's Annual Show for Noel Edmonds' Airborne Charity and displays for St Patrick's day. She currently teaches classes in Ballet, Tap,. Theatre Craft, Disco and Modern.
STUDENT TEACHERS
Alex Fox
Alex was a pupil at Just Dancing Studios from the age of 6. She has attended MADD College in Nottingham and has worked at Disneyland Paris. Currently Alex teaches at the school on a part time basis
Emily Skill
Emily was a pupil at the school for 15 years before becoming the latest student teacher at Just Dancing. She teaches junior classes in ballet, tap and modern
Ellie Fox
Ellie has been a pupil at Just Dancing Studios from the age of 3. She now helps out with teaching of the Monday, Friday and Saturday classes
Student Teachers Rebecca and Emily are part of the Just Dancing Seniors Festival Team and are on hand during classes to help the junior pupils