The Juniper Green Dancing School
After moving the Anne Bangham dance school from Longstone in 1966 to the Village Hall in Juniper Green the school was renamed the Juniper Green School of Dancing. Forty two years on, the school is still flourishing having had many pupils, and a lot of wonderful memories.
The first hallkeeper was Mrs Brunton and the first pianist was Jimmy Baillie, who was also the organist at St. Margaret's Church in the village. Jimmy stayed with the school until 1972 and sadly died a short while afterwards. Jimmy was greatly missed.
Many pupils moved from Longstone to continue their classes. One pupil in particular, Julia Christie, although now living in Australia, still keeps in touch. Miss Bangham was invited out to Australia in July 2003 and took a week's dance workshop for all the local children in Julia's town.
Images in this article are from this year's concert in the Churchill theatre and the clown Sitting in front is Louise Chisholm and the ballerina is Rachel Berry
In 1968 the first concert was held in the Village Hall and then progressed to the Gibson Craig hall in 1970 when we even had curtains!! Programmes were six pence in those days. Currie High School was the next venue, then the Churchill Theatre where shows are still held every 2nd year.
In 1969 many pupils were chosen to dance at the Lyceum theatre as part of the Margot Fonteyn theatre appeal. In 1972 other pupils were picked out to dance with Scottish Ballet in the Nutcracker at the King's theatre. One of the young boy's who took part was Kenneth Burke who is currently Ballet Master with Scottish Ballet. Other companies with which pupils have danced include, The English National, The North Pacific and the Royal Ballet Company.
The school has donated to many great charities over the years by providing dancers for Gala days, or charity evenings. In 1976, 1977 and 1978 pupils danced for Barnardo's both at Ravelrig and Corstorphine. One special day was at Gosford House in 1980 when about 30 pupils performed in front of Princess Anne in aid of the Vietnamese refugees. We went along Princes Street in an open topped bus, then, danced at the George Square theatre as part of the Students Charity day. We performed at Heriot Watt University in 1985 in aid of the Save The Children Fund.
A "spectacular" social evening was held in the Kestral hotel in Balerno, in aid of one of the charities for the Blind. Our school shows have also helped donate to charities including: The Diabetic society, Marie Curie, The British Heart Foundation, The Sick Children's Hospital, The Tsunami and Children's Kidney Diseases.
A ballet set to music from Harry Potter featuring in the back row (left to right): Lisa Goldie, Gemma Gilchrist; Front row: Aisling Dennis, Beth McConnell, Catherine Fennessy
The 1980's brought along 21st, engagement, and wedding invitations as many former pupils reached that stage in life. The last of our shows in Currie High school was held in 1985 and two years later the first show was held in the Churchill Theatre much to the pupils delight at having a real "dressing room" with lights along the mirrors! By the end of the 80's the now married former pupils started to bring along their own children. For example, in the show in 2007 we had 11 children of former pupils participating, one of which actually wore the same costume, and did the same dance her mum had performed over 30years ago!
If you are reading this you may remember one of the following girls:
Julie Bangham, Linda Byrne, Alison Cameron, Louise Deans, Julie Harkness, Susan Inness, Debbie Miller, Susan Paisley, Claire Shirsinger and Kirsty Orr.
As well as all the fun, there have been pupils well in to the thousands who over the years have taken and successfully passed examinations. Finally I wish to thank the Juniper green 300 committee for all their hard work over the past year. Also as a result of the website many former pupils who no longer live in Edinburgh have got in touch with me. Charlotte Hitchcock, Elizabeth McBride, Pamela Roberts and Alison Bird have been in touch. All the girls attended classes in 1968, and it has been lovely to hear from them.
As a postscript Anne reminded me that for the old folk's Christmas party in 2006 she had written a new piece called the Juniper Green Reel so it was good to report that at the same event in 2007 Anne was able to write:
"My senior girls danced at the senior citizens christmas dinner at the hall last Saturday. Once again we did the Juniper Green reel as introduced last year. I taught it to the girls and on Saturday they all got a partner up to dance. It was good to see the younger and older generations up together. There was also a gentleman there who had brought along a cd with the anniversary waltz which he requested to be played in honour of Juniper Green 300."