Gillingham & Shaftesbury Guide October

Paris remains ‘En Pointe’ after 25 years
For twenty-five years Miss Paris has taught Dance
in Shaftesbury and the surrounds. When she
first arrived here 1992, from London by way of
California, Australia and Mauritius, it was to settle
her daughter Geneviève into Port Regis School.
Paris had started her performing and teaching
career in London in ’76, and had not stopped since.
Her first ‘engagements’ here were with Motcombe
Grange School and Flying Start Nursery where she
took and passed their required NVQ’s and generally
increased her qualifications and experience of the
UK rules and regulations of working with small
children.
Then she introduced Dance to Port Regis School in
‘93. “I started with only four girls in one Ballet class
once a week. Within the first term the popularity grew to such an extent that I had 65 students attending Ballet,
Tap and Jazz”. But this was only part-time and so Paris found time to be the peripatetic Dance teacher for St Mary’s,
Sherborne Prep and Knighton House Schools as well.
Paris had already achieved her goal of being the “Owner, principal and senior instructor of a multi-genre studio” in
Sydney, Australia between ‘81 and ’90; so, she did it again here in Shaftesbury with her Paris Helen School of Dance,
in brand new premises on the Wincombe Business Park. In the last week of painting and decorating the studio Paris
and Geneviève were dancing together when the phone rang. Paris twisted around and… snapped a bone in her
foot. Her grand opening was made horribly frustrating with a cast on her foot, but her students and parents were
wonderfully enthusiastic and, quite literally, carried Paris through that first term.
She sold her business in 2010, but continued to teach at Knighton House, Bryanston and Clayesmore Schools; and
her ever popular adult ballet and exercise classes.
So, what is it that Paris teaches? Well, firstly, she is a member of the ISTD (Imperial Society for Teachers of Dancing),
and it is the Cecchetti method of teaching Ballet that is the corner stone of her portfolio. Out of this experience she
has designed and developed her own programs for teaching very young children how to develop their physicality
and musicality, through the exam syllabus of the ISTD for young students to learn and appreciate Ballet both
as recreation and vocational training. Indeed, many of her students have gone on to become performers and
teachers. Then expanding on the traditional Ballet class to teach remedial exercise and her own ‘Classical Ballet
Workout’ for adults; and right through to her ‘Chair Ballet’ for the retired residents of some of our local Residential
and Care Homes.
Transformation and
success in your life and
business
So, it really doesn’t matter your age or ability. If you love dance then ‘Miss Paris’ should be your first call. Contact
07710 420487 or email paris@parishelen.co.uk.
Executive &
Personal Development
Coaching
Tel: 01747 825288 / 07966 002927
www.helenlickerishconsultancy.co.uk
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