Stratford’s legendary dance teacher Lesley Hadland steps down after 45 years

Although Lesley was sad to have to make the decision to stop, largely for financial reasons, she was comforted by the tremendous turnout, testimony to how much she has mattered to so many people.

“There were so many lovely faces – I hadn’t expected to see so many,” she told the Herald. “There were my five-year-olds there and girls I taught who are now in their 30s.”

Although she has no children of her own, Lesley said: “My students are my girls, I adopt them as they come through.”

Born and brought up in Stratford, Lesley took up dance lessons aged seven with Betty Laine, who was based just around the corner from where the Hadland School of Dance is on New Broad Street.

Later, when she was 16, Lesley went on to qualify as a dance teacher at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom which Betty founded.

“I was always going to be a teacher – it never popped into my mind to be a dancer on stage, it felt right that teaching was the career for me. I decided aged ten teaching was what I wanted to do,” said Lesley.

Besides her dedication, part of what makes Lesley unique is what might be called her old-fashioned approach. Her children learned to dance properly with live piano accompaniment, and could pick up classes in ballet, modern theatre, tap and drama.

“My passion is for ballet,” continued Lesley. “I love watching the children develop. My girls come to me age three and stay with me until they go to university aged 18. So it’s a privilege to watch them go from shy little ones doing ‘good toes naughty toes’, telling stories and being rabbits, to becoming dancers and having pointe shoes – and watching them develop as a person. Not many teachers that they come across at school can watch them for 14 or 15 years.”

The other thing that has made Lesley’s approach stand out is spontaneity. “If a child comes in and tells me something we can adapt the class around her story and create something spontaneous,” she said. “You can coach a child but also need to spark their imaginations.”

On Saturday, Hadland School alumni shared joyful memories of their time with Lesley.

“My older girls were going, ‘Oh we remember the caterpillar!’ – in dance you don’t stick your thumbs out, so I would say, ‘Your thumb is a caterpillar tucked into your hand which is a leaf, and that turns into a butterfly’. The children could relate to that.

“I wish I could remember all the stories and all the things the children have said to me over the years.”

Lesley has seen past pupils go on to dance successfully in Europe and on cruise ships on the Mediterranean and in the USA. Students have appeared regularly in productions with the RSC and other local groups and have successfully auditioned for the National Youth Theatre and the National Youth Music Theatre.

But it’s not just about success.

“The most satisfaction I get is from the child who works and achieves through her own determination. You watch her blossom – that’s where I get my satisfaction. It’s not all about talent. Like a little one that can’t skip – it’s actually quite difficult to master – and then suddenly they will get it. And you just go wow, how amazing.”

Although the school building is for sale, Lesley and Robert have yet to find a buyer. For now Lesley is continuing to teach just her seniors until they finish this summer, and also adult tap classes. Sadly, the impact of utility bill price hikes has made the business unsustainable. “My heart was saying carry on, you can do this, but the financial side made it impossible,” said Lesley.

She added: “I’ve had so much support from all the wonderful families over the years, it’s been such a privilege.”