Vanessa Millar School of Dancing

History of the School

Hilda Davies on stage at Belper School 1957-1996. The Hilda Davies School of Dancing
1996-2003. Footwork Dance Studio
2004-today. The Vanessa Millar School of Dancing

Read these dedications to Hilda Davies from Iris, Margaret Gummerson, Jane Bryant and Karen Davies, as printed in the Wishes program.

The Vanessa Millar School of Dancing, formerly known as Footwork Dance Studio and The Hilda Davies School of Dancing was founded by Hilda Davies (the principal). She taught for around 40 years with her best friend, Mrs Gration, (Miss Vanessas grandma) accompanying on the piano. During this time, the two of them produced shows, entered many competitions and put on events throughout the year. The school even went on to the television show Record Breakers for Tap Dancing.

Miss Erica and Miss Vanessa were both trained by Hilda to a very high standard, both starting very young and continuing up to adulthood making it their lifes ambition. Miss Erica went away to Ballet School to continue her training and then moved on to Cruise ships and Television work. Miss Vanessa stayed with Miss Davies at the school and completed her training. She was offered contracts abroad but she had no desire to leave her friends and her lifelong ambition was to teach at the school.

The years went by and then Mrs Gration was taken ill and passed away. We all found this very hard especially Miss Davies. They had been together as a team for years and they always said that if one of them went, the other would follow shortly after. Without Mrs. G, Miss Davies found the school to be very demanding and decided to slow down and she passed the school on to Miss Erica. A few months after, Miss Davies became ill and passed away, only a year after Mrs. G. The school felt empty without them and it was very hard to continue but Miss Erica persevered and kept it going. At this time, Miss Vanessa had reached her majors with tuition from Miss Davies so she took her teaching exams with Miss Erica. She then became assistant teacher to Miss Erica forming another close partnership and together rebuilding the school up to it's current excellence.

Vanessa pictured with the rewards for her talents

After 7 years as principal, Miss Erica decided to move on to other things and the school was then taken over by Miss Vanessa. Miss Vanessa, along with her team, are committed to continuing with the first class tuition that has become expected from the school. The Hilda Davies School of Dancing, now known as The Vanessa Millar School of Dancing is a winning team and will continue to be so. Miss Davies passed her gift on to Miss Vanessa and her team, as Miss Tesh, Miss Linzie and Miss Penny were also trained by Miss Davies, and made them into excellent teachers. Together with Mrs. G., she will always be part of this team and their spirits live on in the school and its students.

This page is dedicated to the memory of Miss Davies and Mrs G, who inspired a generation of dancers.

Mrs G pictured back stage at one of many shows.

Principal: Vanessa Millar (AISTD) Patrons: Derek Hartley MA(P.Arts), Julia Gaunt, Steve Pritchett Home \| About \| Latest News \| Dancing Timetable \| Diary \| Former Pupils \| HD Dance Shop \| History \| Links \| Piroueat Coffee Shop \| Teachers \| Music\| Contact \| Results \| Gallery \| Melody Bear
History of the School 1957-1996. The Hilda Davies School of Dancing 1996-2003. Footwork Dance Studio 2004-today. The Vanessa Millar School of Dancing Read these dedications to Hilda Davies from Iris, Margaret Gummerson, Jane Bryant and Karen Davies, as printed in the Wishes program. The Vanessa Millar School of Dancing, formerly known as Footwork Dance Studio and The Hilda Davies School of Dancing was founded by Hilda Davies (the principal). She taught for around 40 years with her best friend, Mrs Gration, (Miss Vanessas grandma) accompanying on the piano. During this time, the two of them produced shows, entered many competitions and put on events throughout the year. The school even went on to the television show Record Breakers for Tap Dancing.
Miss Erica and Miss Vanessa were both trained by Hilda to a very high standard, both starting very young and continuing up to adulthood making it their lifes ambition. Miss Erica went away to Ballet School to continue her training and then moved on to Cruise ships and Television work. Miss Vanessa stayed with Miss Davies at the school and completed her training. She was offered contracts abroad but she had no desire to leave her friends and her lifelong ambition was to teach at the school. The years went by and then Mrs Gration was taken ill and passed away. We all found this very hard especially Miss Davies. They had been together as a team for years and they always said that if one of them went, the other would follow shortly after. Without Mrs. G, Miss Davies found the school to be very demanding and decided to slow down and she passed the school on to Miss Erica. A few months after, Miss Davies became ill and passed away, only a year after Mrs. G. The school felt empty without them and it was very hard to continue but Miss Erica persevered and kept it going. At this time, Miss Vanessa had reached her majors with tuition from Miss Davies so she took her teaching exams with Miss Erica. She then became assistant teacher to Miss Erica forming another close partnership and together rebuilding the school up to it's current excellence.
After 7 years as principal, Miss Erica decided to move on to other things and the school was then taken over by Miss Vanessa. Miss Vanessa, along with her team, are committed to continuing with the first class tuition that has become expected from the school. The Hilda Davies School of Dancing, now known as The Vanessa Millar School of Dancing is a winning team and will continue to be so. Miss Davies passed her gift on to Miss Vanessa and her team, as Miss Tesh, Miss Linzie and Miss Penny were also trained by Miss Davies, and made them into excellent teachers. Together with Mrs. G., she will always be part of this team and their spirits live on in the school and its students. This page is dedicated to the memory of Miss Davies and Mrs G, who inspired a generation of dancers.