Step back to dance schools

11:09am Thursday 8th May 2008

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EVEN as a youngster in the 1930s, Sheila Grice, of Nelson, loved dancing.

After a busy day in the mill her aunts would take her to the local community hall, where she was enchanted by the grace and intricate patterns of the steps.

As she got older she also enjoyed dancing to the sounds of the big bands as people flocked to the dance halls for their weekend entertainment.

And she has been involved in dancing throughout her 70-plus years, owning local dance schools and also becoming a competition judge. Here's a picture from Sheila's days when she ran the Instep dance school in Nelson.

It was created from the old Railway Workers club, in Railway Street, and within five weeks had 500 members, attracted by Sheila's philosophy to bring the spirit of dancing to both young and old.

She also ran other dance schools at St Paul's, Nelson; and at Walter Street, Brierfield; and there was a profusion of others all over Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

Who remembers the Roxy, under the old Roxy theatre in Burnley, and those held in the Co-op buildings in Hammerton Street, for instance?

l Do you have any old dance hall photographs from the 40s, 50s or 60s to share with Looking Back?