A DANCE school which has operated in Keighley district for many years has embarked on an exciting new phase by moving into its own premises in the town.

Sara Packham Theatre School now has a base in Springfield Mill, Oakworth Road.

The school’s founder, Sara, said a friend had suggested to her in February of this year that there was a chance she could establish her own studio at this venue.

With help and guidance from Gavin Meehan and Gary Wood, who both have daughters at her dance school, she has transformed what used to be a former dressing gown factory into a dedicated dance studio.

She said: “I never imagined this would happen. I dreamed of and longed for a studio of my own, but thought it was too late in the day.

“I had resigned myself to my working hours being in village halls, so this is the proverbial dream come true.

“My friends came up trumps, as we scraped up glue, painted, sanded, washed, wiped and decorated – all while listening to songs from the musicals! “There were sore backs and blistered fingers, but it was so worth it. Gavin and Gary are my knights in shining armour.”

On April 16 the premises was ready for the grand opening.

Sara said the ex-factory had been transformed into a large, light and airy studio, with a waiting room and a small coffee bar.

She added that the space was scarcely recognisable from how it had looked just four weeks previously.

The theatre school has two honorary patrons – comedy legend Billy Pearce and Hannah Bateman, who is principal dancer with Northern Ballet Theatre.

Sara said: “I’m delighted and honoured by these talented and genuinely lovely people agreeing to be our patrons.

“The children look up to and respect the work they do within the industry. They are fantastic role models.

“At our grand opening the majority of the dance school parents and pupils gathered to see Hannah cut the ribbon, which was held by Lexie Meehan and Maddi Wood.

“Hannah stayed for a short performance given by Isabelle and Gabriella Baglio, Lexie Meehan, Kasienka Mazur and Hollie Smith.

“The school is now well and truly up and running. Last week we saw 14 ladies attending our first ever adult ballet lesson.

“New pupils are of course welcome, and our contact number is 07988 484347.”

The school’s move to Springfield Mill is just the latest chapter in the theatre school’s story of success.

Sara moved to Yorkshire in 1990, having sold her dance school in Surrey. She had also been working at the Royal Academy of Dance, where she taught the children’s Saturday classes.

Having two young boys of her own, Sara said she initially had no plans to carry on teaching after moving north.

However, she said she soon got “itchy feet” and set up a small dance school with branches in Cross Roads and Oxenhope.

Its first performance, boasting just 30 pupils, took place in Holden Hall, Oakworth.

The school continued to grow, as did Sara’s family. After she had her fourth son she and her family moved to Cullingworth, where another branch of her school was set up .

Sara’s pupils have always been entered for RAD ballet exams and ISTD Tap exams, achieving a 100 per cent success rate.

Modern, jazz, drama and musical theatre were added to the school’s mix, with pas de deux and ballroom at a later date.

Soon after moving north, Sara and her family paid a visit to Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre to watch a pantomime.

Sara said she was fascinated to see the Bradford Sunbeams for the first time. “I became determined that one day my school would provide this children’s chorus,” she said.

As her own son showed a talent for performing, gaining the juvenile lead in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sara was about to realise another ambition – for some of her pupils to gain places in one of the most prestigious vocational schools.

In 2009 this became a reality when Hannah Smith and Barnaby Packham gained scholarships to the Hammond School in Chester. The following year they were joined by Emma Barber and Ester Cameron.

Over recent years many of Sara’s students have gained scholarships to the top schools, including The Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst, Tring Park, Hammond and Moorlands.

And her theatre school doesn’t only train ballet dancers.

Several of her students have successfully auditioned for Renaissance Arts in Leeds.

Two have graduated and are currently enjoying contracts on cruise ships. No strangers to drama and TV work either, Ellen Richard and Grace Macdonald appeared in a musical drama alongside Victoria Wood and Michael Ball .

Younger pupils have regularly appeared with the Northern Ballet Theatre, in productions such as A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet.

Sara said: “17 years ago it was announced that the Sunbeam contract was being open to applicants.

“Our dance school was amongst the three finalists and eventually we were informed that we had got the job. Our first appearance was for Aladdin, starring Cannon and Ball, with Kulvinder Ghir and Sooty and Sweep.

“And last year we enjoyed our 14th appearance in Cinderella.”