Stories by Anne Knight
My Teacher
Miss Margery Barlow
With the return of ballroom dancing on TV, I was sad that one of
Stockport's great dancing legends had passed away in February 2009, at
the age of 88.
These are my memories of my dancing classes, taken by Miss Margery
Barlow, who ran the Osborne Bently School of Dancing. As a young girl my
mother took me to Osborne Bently School where I learned to do ballet.
Starting in the beginners’ class, wearing a little white dress with
boleros, this was the dress wear for a time. When I started as a
beginner we wore a type of black pump with a piece of elastic across to
keep it on.
One time, when I was about eight or nine years old, Miss Barlow told us
that some of the class were to dance at the Palace Theatre, Manchester.
They were doing Alice in Wonderland. Two girls had been chosen as White
Rabbit. I became the third understudy, so I went many times to practice
to dance and mime the part. I remember Miss teaching me the way to run
across the floor and to mime getting out my watch, to look surprised
that I was late (the tea party). I was not called upon to dance the part
but the understudy had to be there.
I also remember the huge cupboard with all the dancing shoes, be they
points or not, some in many shades. Mine were red ballet shoes. I left
just before I got all my points. I was very disappointed, but in my late
teens I decided to learn ballroom dancing. Once again I had to start at
the beginning, working my way up the ladder, first ballroom in the
fifties, then Latin American.
Miss Barlow asked me to help the men with their steps. I did this for a
year or two, I’m not quite sure how long. A Mr May used to teach me when
doing a quick step or waltz. Also all the special little steps, too many
to remember now.
In 1967 my fiance and I did ballroom dancing, as he had never danced.
Miss Barlow would pass me by, we would have a short talk and then on her
way. She would go to teach. I remember her as tall, very straight body,
with a lovely beret. It did suit her with that lovely white coat.
So this is the story of my younger days, as a girl then a teenager.
Dancing was my all. Miss Barlow gave me love and kindness to dance.
By Anne Knight
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