CELEBRATING “50” YEARS

Below are only a few of the many highlights of the Stenhouse School of Dance.

Present teachers joined Stenhouse in 1967 – Alison Swan, 1975 – Lisa Ambrose, 1977 – Ruth Brammah, 2008 – Clare Bungay.

1956: Stenhouse School started classes in the Plough Hotel, Stenhousemuir

1957:  Classes started in the Learmonth Hall, Bo’ness

1958: First dancing display in the Dobbie Hall, Larbert Classes in Larbert moved to the Dobbie Hall

1962: Bo’ness classes moved to the Town Hall Entered our first girls in RAD ballet exams: Grade One

1969:  Moved to Falkirk Town Hall for “Summer Revels”

1970:  First International Dance Festival.  From then till 1998 when we stopped competing, pupils won gold, silver and bronze medals and just about every trophy.  Many were winners in the Scottish Junior and Senior Championships.  With dances choreographed by Irene Langlands, Gwendolynn Arthur, Lisa Ambrose and Ruth Brammah (Acrobatic) the Stenhouse School became one of the top schools in the five dances competitions held in Scotland throughout
the year, wining the School Cup for about 14 consecutive years.

1970: Started classes in Falkirk and Charlotte Rooms, Linlithgow

1974:  Started Freestyle known as “go go” dancing

1976: Took part in Falkirk Festival performance

1977: Pupils danced in Scottish Ballet’s productions of “Nutcracker”, Julie Fleming being the first Pupil to dance Clara.  Pupils continued to dance in major ballet productions with Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera. Miami Ballet Company and others,

1977: Ruth Brammah joined staff and acrobatic class started in Falkirk

1978:  Acrobatic classes were started in Larbert and Linlithgow

1981: First disco dancing exams

1982: Won the International Cup at the International Dance Festival: It had never been won by a stage dance group

1983: Represented Scotland (and won) in the Jesse Matthews Choreography Competition in London Pupils competed every year and were always amongst the winners

1984: Moved into Dance Studio, Melville Lane, Falkirk

1985: Dance gala was held in aid of “Scottish Ballet Building Fund”

1985: Lisa Ambrose started Jazz and Tap classes

1987: Joanne Gibb and Carolyn McEwan were the first pupils to be accepted for the Royal Ballet Junior School

1988: Julie Fleming was accepted for the Royal Ballet Senior School. Since then, pupils have been Accepted for all the major vocational schools in London, going on to appear in all the top West End and touring musicals

1988:Pupils have successfully auditioned for the Junior Associate Scheme (Scottish Ballet) and the Dance School of Scotland

1989/08: Dancing displays, examinations, winning dance competition (acrobatic)

1997: Lisa Ambrose was invited to lecture at the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing National Congress in London and Sheila Morrison invited in 2006

1997: Classes started in the Camelon Education Centre

1998: Surprise “40th” Dance Gala for Miss Langlands – 350 children took part!!!

2004: Irene Langlands was awarded the President’s Award by the Royal Academy of Dance

2006: Ruth Brammah given an award by the BATD for consistently high results and well run Acrobatic exams

2007: First Summer School

2008: Celebrated 50 years

2010: Miss Irene Langlands was awarded an M.B.E. for services to dance

2011: Miss Irene Langlands was awarded "Personality of the Year" by Falkirk Arts and Civic Council.

Over the years hundreds of children have taken exams in ballet, modern, tap, freestyle and acrobatic with excellent results; have taken part in cabarets, charity events, dance displays, ect.. with thousands of pounds given to charity.

Many ‘children’ are now bringing their children and grandchildren to classes which must say something about ‘Stenhouse’. Roll on the next 50 years!