About us....
The building was originally a WW1 Barracks and was purchased after the war and brought to the present site to be used as a 'Boys Club'.
At the outbreak of WW2 it was commendeered and used during the day as a day hospital and in the evening and weekends by the 'Home Guard'.
In 1947 Arthur Duce bought it and turned it into a Dance School teaching Ballroom dancing......... at that time it had a 'Barracks Room Stove' in the middle of the hall which 'singed dresses made from parachute silk if the girls went too close to it!'
At this time, Pauline Beadle who lived next door to the studio started to learn to dance.
In 1949 Bill Bretts who owned Bretts School of Dancing in Oxford bought the School and his brother Jack and his wife Pam ran it then eventually owned it.
Pauline Beadle qualified as a dance teacher at Bretts in Oxford in 1953 and taught there until 1956 when she got married and came to teach in Abingdon
In 1965 Pauline bought the school from Jack and Pam, but still retained the name of 'Bretts of Abingdon' until the early 1970 when the name was changed to the 'Selleck School of Dancing' (which was her married name).
Pauline's daughter Liz qualified in 1973 and became a business partner
In 1986 the name changed to 'Abingdon Dance Studios'
Over the years the school expanded first to teach Latin American then with the advent of the film 'Saturday Night Fever' introduced Disco Dancing until today it offers many styles of dance.
Liz became an examiner in 2003 and now trains teachers for their basic teaching qualifications and advanced qualifications in all styles.
As well as teaching classes and lessons for all levels the studios have produced pantomimes and then for the last few years they have produced an annual 'Showcase'.
These started very small in local halls and then for the last 2 years at the beautiful new Theatre at Radley College .
Other highlights include organising a national Dance event raising £32,000 for 'Children in need' with some of the juniors dancing on television with Roy Castle and hosting the event from Abingdon Guild Hall.
Dancers have represented the South East Area in Blackpool having danced through local heats of 'Medallist of the year' and still compete succesfully in the medallist festivals.
Over the years many Abingdon couples have met at the Studios and several generations have passed through it. Even some of the teachers have passed it on to the next generation................ Jackie Ridge was followed by her daughter Sally and one of the current teachers Ami Lewis's Mum Michaela was also a teacher at the Studio.