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.