Page 19 - Real Rochdale Issue 05 Summer 2019

‘Keeping Rochdale Dancing’ for 70 years

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.
Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2019, Allan awards – described as the ‘Oscars of dance’
Turners Dance Studios was founded in 1949 by - for their services to the dance world. Together, they also run a theatre school
Joan and Christopher Turner. at the studio, providing students with all
Stephanie was the UK Disco Champion and theinformation they need on auditions, how to
From ballroom and Latin, contemporary, North of England Latin Champion and Stephen prepare for rejection and success and what big
freestyle, hip hop and street, plus a more won the British Youth Ballroom Championship, schools to attend to gain the best opportunities
recently introduced theatre school, Turners as well as multiple British Isles and European in the future.
styles of dancing and classes are continuously Championships with dance teams over the years.
evolving with time. 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
Joan met her husband to be, Christopher, when develop.
she taught him to dance at the Rochdale School Their son, Paul-Michael Jones, has been dancing
of Dancing on Yorkshire Street. 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
Taking over the School of Dancing as a couple in World Championships before attending Laines always welcome.
1949, Turners Dance Studios was formed before Theatre Arts in London.
moving to George Street, where it currently “To have people coming back time and time again
remains, in the 1960s. 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
Run by Joan and Christopher together, Turners Patrick Swayze’s role as Johnny Castle in the development - that is truly amazing.”
specialised in Latin and Ballroom and Rock ‘n’ first UK tour of Dirty Dancing.
Roll - two styles fitting with the times – before Turners has four dance studios and recently
their daughter, Stephanie, introduced Freestyle His wife, who he met on the set of Dirty Dancing underwent refurbishment and re-branding with a
and Disco in the late 70s after the craze of and goes by the stage name Lizzie Stavrou, is also new website, logo, and dance outfits to continue
‘Saturday Night Fever’. 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
Paul-Michael Jones, Stephanie and Stephen Jones, Lizzie and extending the business for her.”
Stavrou and her parents George & Dimidra Paul-Michael & Stephanie Jones with two students

REAL ROCHDALE - Summer 2019 18 19 REAL ROCHDALE - Summmer 2019