In 2016 when I started JD DANCE, I never would have thought that it would be what it is today. We have built the school up from 1 child to 60 and have performed with the Lowry, Prestwich Carnival and Grosvenor Park. We have also scored 3rd at our very first dance competition.
At the end of February this year, I decided it was time to LEVEL UP! I wanted our own premises. A place not only for our dance school; but that could be used for the whole community, with the intention of allowing everybody to use it for different activities.
I knew I wanted a venue within the Broughton area which is what caused us difficulties, due to being so close to Manchester and rent being so high. One Saturday we were phoning around different landlords and one said we could come and view his spaces. So, after dance (because nothing gets in the way of dance) we jumped in the car but told nobody where we were going. Lone behold we found our perfect space!
This place was spacious, it could fit two studios inside and it was in our ideal location. We got it for a reasonable price but we had to find the deposit first, and that was £2500. We decided to set up a 'go fund me' page and managed to raise a big chunk thanks to you wonderful people donating for a worthy cause. A place the children would be safe to nurture their talents.
But we still hadn't reached our target. That's when Stockport Tri Club contacted us and said they would donate the rest of the money, as they loved what we do for the community. We would like to thank them for their support and amazing contribution to our community dance school. They made mine and many other dreams come true by helping us afford our very own space. To Jackie, Sally and the rest of the board at Stockport Tri Club, thank you from the bottom of my heart, you will never know how much this means to me. We will forever be grateful.
We FINALLY got the keys to the venue on the 27th of February. We still had a lot of work to do, as we needed to convert what was an old furniture store into two dance studios safe for children. We spent two weeks, day and night, at the studio decorating and investing in our new 'forever home'.
We had our grand opening on the 14th of March and the whole day was incredible. We played sponge the dance teacher, guess the teddy bear, had raffles and played games. It was amazing to finally have our own space and have it filled with love. My heart was so full and I had never felt so proud and so happy...
AND THEN
The Coronavirus happened...... 5 days later the whole country goes into lockdown!
