40 years of fancy footwork

We are known for offering affordable accommodation for start-up businesses, but many of our customers are also established companies. One of these is a dance school in North Shields, which celebrated its 40^th anniversary this year.

Helping people of all ages learn to dance has been Maureen Slater’s mission for the last four decades.

After working as a performer and qualifying as a professional dance teacher, Maureen decided to take a chance at running her own business. Her dance school started small in 1976 at Rosehill Resident Association Hall, in Howdon, known locally as ‘the hut’. But now Maureen Slater School of Dance has evolved into a large and established business teaching a wide variety of dance styles and disciplines to adults and children in the North Shields and Newcastle-upon-Tyne area.

Developing dancers

Maureen says: “The business has developed at a steady pace by maintaining traditional dance and also embracing new trends and styles of the times.”

For the last six years, the dance school has been based at Albion House in North Shields. Maureen picked the premises due to its convenient and central location near the town centre and public transport links.

Safe, central and convenient

She says: “Another advantage is Albion House provides a safe environment for children of all ages and we receive a lot of support from Jennifer, our Bizspace manager. Our time in Albion House has been at No 17, however, with the continuous growth of the school, we have extended the premises to include No 15 Albion House which will be run by my daughter, Hayley Anne Wilkinson, as Slater Stars Cheer Dance & Fitness.”

The dance school celebrated its landmark anniversary with a special performance at The People’s Theatre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The show, called ‘Four Decades of Dance’ involved pupils at Maureen Slater as well as three other local dance schools run by former students of Maureen’s.

Classes for all ages

Maureen adds: “The plan for the future is to continue providing access to dance for all ages in North Tyneside, whether it is amateur, competitive or professional.”

The school is constantly adding new classes to its timetable and as well as teaching ballet, tap, street dance and cheer dance, it offers more unusual sessions including a parent and pram workout where new mums and dads can get fit using their baby’s buggy.

For more information on Albion House contact Business Centre Manager Jennifer Shelds on 0191 597 4655.