Summer 2019‘Keeping Rochdale Dancing’ for 70 years

Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2019, Turners Dance Studios was founded in 1949 by Joan and Christopher Turner.

From ballroom and Latin, contemporary, freestyle, hip hop and street, plus a more recently introduced theatre school, Turners styles of dancing and classes are continuously evolving with time.

Joan met her husband to be, Christopher, when she taught him to dance at the Rochdale School of Dancing on Yorkshire Street.

Taking over the School of Dancing as a couple in 1949, Turners Dance Studios was formed before moving to George Street, where it currently remains, in the 1960s.

Run by Joan and Christopher together, Turners specialised in Latin and Ballroom and Rock ‘n’ Roll - two styles fitting with the times – before their daughter, Stephanie, introduced Freestyle and Disco in the late 70s after the craze of ‘Saturday Night Fever’.

In 1978, dance teachers across England gathered at Turners for a chance to learn Stephanie’s unique disco style.

After 64 years of teaching, Joan hung up her dance shoes in 2012, but her passion lived on through her family.

Now owned by Stephanie, her husband Stephen and their son, Paul-Michael Jones, Turners has been a family run business over three generations.

Stephen said: “Joan totally lived for dancing. Even in her 80s, she would rest all day just to lead a dance class in the evening. It was Latin and Ballroom until the end.

“Dancing was the most important thing in her life, and we’re keen to continue moving forward and extending the business for her.”

Meeting as dance partners over 40 years ago, Stephen and Stephanie have won three Carl-Allan awards – described as the ‘Oscars of dance’ - for their services to the dance world.

Stephanie was the UK Disco Champion and North of England Latin Champion and Stephen won the British Youth Ballroom Championship, as well as multiple British Isles and European Championships with dance teams over the years. Before Strictly, they both also performed on the BBC hit ‘Come Dancing’.

Their son, Paul-Michael Jones, has been dancing from the age of six and first competed at 11. He represented England in the Latin American World Championships before attending Laines Theatre Arts in London.

Paul-Michael starred in ten West End shows, but his big break came in 2014 when he landed Patrick Swayze’s role as Johnny Castle in the first UK tour of Dirty Dancing.

His wife, who he met on the set of Dirty Dancing and goes by the stage name Lizzie Stavrou, is also now part of the family business; teaching regular classes such as a new heels class at Turners, alongside starring in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks.

Together, they also run a theatre school at the studio, providing students with all the information they need on auditions, how to prepare for rejection and success and what big schools to attend to gain the best opportunities in the future.

Paul-Michael said: “Turners Dance Studios isn’t just about dancing, it is about the social life you develop.

“Like the Turners generations who run it, we have generations of families attending who are always welcome.

“To have people coming back time and time again to a small school in Rochdale, after being at such a prominent school in London, to continue their development - that is truly amazing.”

Turners has four dance studios and recently underwent refurbishment and re-branding with a new website, logo, and dance outfits to continue to appeal to the next generation.