Mildred Eldridge dance school on Hastings Pier around 1954

photo © David Bastable

David Bastable… Hastings Pier probably around 1954. They were girls from Mildred Eldridge Dance School. There were other dance schools in Hastings at the time The dancers did shows at The White Rock amongst other places. Several dancers of that time,  went on to dance at The Windmill London and Las Vegas and one became a top ballerina.  I remember the embarrassment I felt when on being asked by a girl to dance on Hastings Pier, I realised I had no idea how to. I think her name was Stella Brown. Just to say now I  can dance just about anything !

Jacqueline Marsh… Me and my sister went to the Orchard School of drama at Sedlescombe Road North. We also put on lots of plays and dances at the White Rock great memories.

Andre Martin… That brings back Memories, Miss Catt was the principal very strict I recall her prize student was Gwen Watford who went on to a very successful career in the theatre and TV.

Jacqueline Marsh… that’s right Gwen was always held up to us as a model student. Miss Catt was indeed very strict. I remember the little old lady who worked in the kitchens and we children teased her unmercifully and taunted her with her favourite expression of “ I’m gonna pack my bags and leave”. For some reason we always found this to be hysterically funny. Kids are so cruel, poor little lady I feel so mean now about it.

Pauline Richards… Wasn’t that dancing school down Elphinstone Road?

Jacquie Abbiss… Pauline, that was Phylis Godfrey dance school . I use to go in the mid-60s. Did a few of the Musical festivals at the White Rock .

Michaela Lee… Pauline, my mum went to Phylis Godfrey to but in earlier years ,she lived opposite in Quarry Terrace

Margriet Ward… I use to dance at Mildred Eldridge Dance School. I still have my Bronze badge for Tap Dancing one year at the White Rock Gardens, we performed Itsy Bitsy teeny weeny yellow Polka Dot Bikini. Miss Eldridge got some material that was White with big Black Spots dyed it in yellow dye and the material was ok. We had big sombreros and of course Bikinis I gave ballet up but enjoyed the tap and modern I was too tall for ballet loved dancing but not brilliant at it xx

Amanda Hilton… I went to dance classes there in the 60’s

Frances Hughes… Lovely photo

Leigh Mitchell… Great photo.

Marilyn Spence… I remember a Stella Brown. I was in the same class as her at Woodlands Secondary School for girls. Sounds like Stella she would asked a boy to dance. She lives in France now

Jenny Tabberer… I’m Jennifer Betteridge third from left. I continued with my dancing career until I married and had my two daughters. I remember David Bastable and his sister Dianne. She is third from right. l’m now nearly eighty and a grandma of four, great to see this photo after all these years. Thank you so much, lovely memories.

Eileen O’Toole… I’m sure that’s where my sister and I went in the 50s

David Bastable… Marilyn, Stella was a really nice girl hence why I remember what happened so well. I am sure she won’t remember me. My sister Diane was at Woodlands and I think knew Stella. It was the memory of that occasion that led me to learn to dance later in life. something I still do. I was dancing tap with Miss Eldridge from the age of seven I was not very good though. Miss Eldridge’s dance school was in Ellensea Road near Warrior Square Station. Getting into sport was the end of that. There were very few boy dancers in Hastings then. I only remember Bruce Cameron. Several of the girls in the photo I remember well. If you hear from Stella please thank her for me

Susan Clark… I remember Phillis Catt, after classes she used to go down the hill, very petite lady in a fur coat. l believe her daughter was an excellent dancer. l lived in Quarry Terrace opposite

David Bastable… I remember you, Jennifer Betteridge very well. The girl next to you is Pat Brunton. The taller girl is Hazel. Your mother helped out with make up at the shows. Others you may remember are Carole. Brown Toshiko Slack who went on I believe to be a top ballerina, and Susan Schroeder Hopefully you still dance as I do.

Cilla Ball… Great photo. My cousin Yolande went to this dance school and my own little girl Maxine went there for a while before she started at the Ambury dance school run by Irene Spillet.

Jane Hartley… I went to Esme Child’s in Mercatoria.

Janet Gardiner… I and my 2 sisters were Mildred Eldridge girls until we came to Australia in 1952. Loved every minute of it.

Sharon Ballam… I went on family holidays to Hastings in the late fifties and usually went to see a dance show at the White Rock Theatre which I think was opposite the pier, maybe they were from the Mildred Eldridge Dance School.

Jules Mann… Love this !!

Wendy Jung… Original girl power!

David Bastable… Hi Jenny. I have a dance programme for 1952 Mildred Eldridge Dancing Display at the White Rock Pavilion October 1952. You feature on it both as a dancer and your grade one ballet marks.
It is quite tatty but just legible. I will try to put it on this site. Otherwise I can send you a copy.

Jenny Tabberer… thank you, love to see it.

Barbara Tippett… I used to attend Mildred Eldridge  Dance School, in fact Mildred was my great aunt.  I used to love doing shows at The White Rock Pavillion each year. Made lots of friends and dancing gave  me lots of confidence. Those were the days, many happy memories in the 60s, happy times.