In the mid 1970's, Michael Facer, who had many years previously been a dancer with Ballet Rambert, formed an amateur ballet company in Leeds called Metro Yorkshire Dance. The company was made up of enthusiastic teenage dance students all chosen by audition. I was one of the lucky ones invited to join.

Over the next two years I performed in Swan Lake, and Giselle, as a soloist, plus several lesser known ballets (also in principal roles) at the Playhouse, the Civic and Bradford Library Theatres, with every Sunday spent rehearsing. I had dreamed of life as a dancer and this experience made me realise it was the life I wanted. After two years with the company, along with several others, I began auditioning for professional schools. That year, Metro Yorkshire Dance lost three dancers to the Royal Ballet School, one to The Doreen Bird School, and I was accepted to London College of Dance and Drama. Three years later, we were all performing with professional companies, and scattered all over the world.

Thank you Michael....you are remembered with love and gratitude.