Janice Blake bows out

Little girls practising plies, older students turning pirouettes, and past pupils achieving professional success - they all passed through the front door of the school in Buckhurst Road to learn from Janice how it should be done.

The last show, Entertainment 2008, will be held at the White Rock Theatre on January 26 at 2.30 and 7.00pm, and then Janice will close the school at Easter.

"I have got to walk away," said Janice who is already anticipating how she will feel when her pupils all go on stage for the last time to sing Thank You For The Music.

She is planning to keep in touch with the dance world via freelance teaching and adjudicating but otherwise is ready for a social life free from the constant demands of running the school.

Janice, nee Hosker, arrived in Bexhill in the early 1960's to appear in Starlight Rendezvous at the De La Warr Pavilion having performed in pantomimes and summer seasons.

She met future husband David who was a member of the repertory company Penguin Players, which she also joined and then went on to star in leading roles such as Lady Windermere, and the Audrey Hepburn character in Wait Until Dark.

David and Janice married and had two sons, Richard and Steven.

She opened the Dance Studio which has produced many pupils who have gone on to professional careers, and thousands more who have enjoyed appearing in festivals and shows, pantomimes and Black Boxer Productions such as Annie, Cabaret, Half A Sixpence and The Pyjama Game, and have entertained Bexhill theatre goers with their Children Entertain show during the last 35 years.

She was last year "delighted" to be included in the Bexhill Achievers ceremony at the DLWP when she was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award.