Gill's Early Years

Dance Classes at Doris' Juveniles.

Some of my best childhood memories have to be the dance classes I used to attend from the age of around 7 to 11.  The classes were run by Doris Fulman - Hence Doris' Juveniles .  We had lessons in tap and ballet and put on shows at old people's homes.

Seen here with my best friend Sally Jones (now Brown), she didn't go to the dance classes but had fun trying on my costumes.

I remember the outfit she was wearing was the Cockney 'Pearly Queen' and we sang and danced a routine to the cockney classic  "My Old Man Said Follow the Van"

The costume designs were fabulous, and made by some of the mothers.  I was fortunate as my friend Collette, who lived a few doors away, used to come to dance classes with me and her mother Frances was a dressmaker - so we tended to have some of the best costumes

Click on the photo's to see larger version, and caption (where available)

The photo below was taken at the end of a show at Grange Farm.  The mothers worked hard backstage managing our many costume changes.  My mum is 2nd on the left at the back, and Frances (Collette's mum, and our wonderful dressmaker) is in the dark top far right.

I am 5th from the left 2nd row, and Collette is to my right

Another photo from the same show - dancing the minuet. 

Collette and I are the couple 2nd from the left.