For twenty-five years Miss Paris has taught Dance in Shaftesbury and the surrounds. When she first arrived here in 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 1976, 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 1993. “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 1981 and 1990; 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.
CSSYD – 2016
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 cornerstone 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.
So, it really doesn’t matter about 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
