Page 18 - Real Rochdale Issue 05 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’.
Paul-Michael Jones, Stephanie and Stephen Jones, Lizzie
Stavrou and her parents George & Dimidra
REAL ROCHDALE - Summer 2019
Meeting as dance partners over 40 years ago, classes such as a new heels class at Turners,
Stephen and Stephanie have won three Carl- alongside starring in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks.
Allan awards – described as the ‘Oscars of dance’
- for their services to the dance world. Together, they also run a theatre school
at the studio, providing students with all
Stephanie was the UK Disco Champion and theinformation they need on auditions, how to
North of England Latin Champion and Stephen prepare for rejection and success and what big
won the British Youth Ballroom Championship, schools to attend to gain the best opportunities
as well as multiple British Isles and European in the future.
Championships with dance teams over the years.
Before Strictly, they both also performed on the Paul-Michael said: “Turners Dance Studios isn’t
BBC hit ‘Come Dancing’. just about dancing, it is about the social life you
develop.
Their son, Paul-Michael Jones, has been dancing
from the age of six and first competed at 11. “Like the Turners generations who run it, we
He represented England in the Latin American have generations of families attending who are
World Championships before attending Laines always welcome.
Theatre Arts in London.
“To have people coming back time and time again
Paul-Michael starred in ten West End shows, to a small school in Rochdale, after being at such
but his big break came in 2014 when he landed a prominent school in London, to continue their
Patrick Swayze’s role as Johnny Castle in the development - that is truly amazing.”
first UK tour of Dirty Dancing.
Turners has four dance studios and recently
His wife, who he met on the set of Dirty Dancing underwent refurbishment and re-branding with a
and goes by the stage name Lizzie Stavrou, is also new website, logo, and dance outfits to continue
now part of the family business; teaching regular to appeal to the next generation.
Joan Turner
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.”
Paul-Michael & Stephanie Jones with two students
18 19 REAL ROCHDALE - Summmer 2019