Pamela Darlington School of Dance History

The Pamela Darlington School of Dance began in 1982 in Newquay, Cornwall and soon after opened a branch school in Bodmin.
Classes have been running at the 2 schools for over 25 years.

Many pupils have progressed to vocational schools, The Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst Ballet School, Laine Theatre Arts, Doreen Bird College, Arts Educational School, London Studio Centre, Laban and Urdang Dance Academy.

The school works with the British Ballet Organization and examinations are conducted several times a year, in classical ballet, tap and modern.

'Showtime' is the school's show held at the Hall for Cornwall, every other year, all students are involved and it is a wonderful opportunity for pupils to enjoy the 'magic of the theatre.'



Pamela Darlington - School Principal

Miss Pamela trained with the British Ballet Organisation in Newcastle under Lyme, at the Minnie Skerrett School of Dance, gaining her Advanced Ballet and her Teachers Qualification, before becoming a professional dancer.

Having the time of her life Pamela worked on cruise liners, summer shows, cabaret circuits and the highlight of her professional life was a tour of Italy with Kodak as part of the 'Imagine Life' dance group. Often Pamela was head girl and would sometimes fly out before others to rehearse the orchestra and prepare the theatre technicians, she particularly enjoyed this part, rising to the challenge.

After 8 years Pamela decided Newquay was too beautiful to keep leaving and she set about starting her own dance school, her first premises were at the Elliot Cavendish Hotel, courtesy of Chris and Susie Hayman and she began her first Saturday with 8 pupils, the rest, as they say, is history and her school has now become part of her life, as are all her pupils, past, present and future.

The British Ballet Organisation has always been part of Pamela's life, so it was a natural progression to re-join them as a teacher and it was not long before they saw the potential and invited Miss Pamela to become an examiner for the organization, a position she was thrilled and honored to accept. She has since been made a Senior Examiner and relishes in her numerous trips to residential courses, always returning to the school with re-newed excitement and inspiration to pass onto her students.

She was asked to join together with Deborah Clarke, to visit Australia and New Zealand, to examine their vocational students and to teach the new B.B.O. syllabus at their summer courses, she was away for 6 weeks and really enjoyed the experience and again returned home full of ideas and passion.



Lucy Start - Assistant Dance Teacher

Lucy Start will be teaching for The Pamela Darlington School of Dance on a Tuesday evening and a Saturday.

Miss Lucy trained in Derbyshire, for 13 years, under the guidance of the I.D.T.A. and gained all her dance qualifications with the I.D.T.A. syllabus.

Miss Lucy went on to dance professionally, doing various pantomimes and numerous musicals. She then re-located to Cornwall and continued her dancing career as a choreographer and a dancer in various South West venues.

Miss Lucy then met and married Bradley Start and taking a break from her dancing life has had three gorgeous little boys to raise, she is thrilled to have a second chance at her life-long ambition to become a teacher of dance.

Miss Lucy will certainly bring enthusiasm and vitality into her lessons not forgetting to mention her sense of humour and calm disposition.



Success Stories

Congratulations to all of our dance school students, we wish them all the luck in the world as they follow their dreams, dreams helped to fruition by the excellent tuition found at the Pamela Darlington School of Dance.

Kate Hoskins
Kate has just completed her 3rd year at Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts and is now auditioning for work in the West End, she has recently made it through to the finals of: We Will Rock You, Mama Mia, Wicked and Mary Poppins and is waiting to hear.

Georgia Page
Georgia has just commenced her 3rd year at Doreen Bird and is hoping to audition next year to carry on her dream of working as a professional dancer/singer in the West End.

Rebecca Shipway
Rebecca is going into her 3rd year at the Royal Academy of Dance Teachers Diploma course, she is hoping to gain her Masters Degree in Dance and will then decide what path to follow, teaching or performing.

Alex Harrison
Alex completed his 3rd year at Elmhurst Ballet School and has now joined the National Ballet Company of Slovakia, a huge company with over a 150 dancers who are renowned for their huge productions of the Classic Ballets, he is soon to join them on a tour to Canada.

Aaron Renfree
Aaron has recently graduated from Laine Theatre Arts and has joined the cast of the new musical 'Flashdance' they had their opening night in Plymouth and many pupils traveled to watch Aaron as an original member of the 'Flashdance' company.

Camilla Pearson
Camilla is about to commence at Laine Theatre Arts on the first year of her 3 year course that should see her graduate and then be able to follow her dream of performing professionally on the West End Stages.

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