The Teachers

Gay Harris | Adele Harris | Helen Ridehalgh (Vocal Coach) | Laura Jones | Joanne Brett | Tara Leigh

Gay Harris
Gays’ first professional appearance was as a Juvenile performer in Pantomime at Coventry Hippodrome, followed by another season there, followed by a season at the Manchester Hippodrome with the Betty Fox Babes.

She then taught dancing for the Betty Fox School of Dance in Edgbaston, Birmingham before becoming a Tiller girl at the Theatre Royal Birmingham. Alongside the Dance training Gay also trained as a Soprano, using the name Gabrielle Webb her first Summer Season was in Rhyl, North Wales, performing with the late “Billie Manders” and is famous ‘Quaintesques”.

Many successful Summer Seasons were to follow along with many popular Revues, Pantomimes playing Principal Boys and Girls, and also performing in many Variety shows all over the UK.

Her favourite role was playing the leading part of Adele in “Gay Rosalinda” the Musical Comedy version of Johann Strauss’s Die Fleudermaus, (Gay named her daughter Adele because of the enjoyment she found playing the role). Her rendering of the famous “Laughing Song” won Critical acclaim all over, wherever it was performed at top UK venues including Wolverhampton Grand, Edinburgh Empire, Coventry Hippodrome, Liverpool Royal Court, Manchester Palace, Blackpool Opera House and the Sunderland Empire to name but a few, an interesting fact is in 1992 some years later Adele Gay’s daughter played Principle Boy alongside famous stars in a Production of Cinderella at the Sunderland Empire.

Gay Harris aged 21 pictured in her role as Adele in Die Fleidermaus back to top

Adele Harris

Adele daughter of Gay Harris who now runs “The Gay Harris Dancers” started dancing with her mum at the age of 4years and then continued her training at Merseyside Dance and Drama before taking up a full time professional career in the theatre.

She worked extensively abroad in Madrid, Majorca, Portugal and Greece and in 1986 did a tour of the Falkland and Ascension Islands with her own act.

She returned to this country in 1991 appearing in Summer Seasons in Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, Scarborough, Whitby and Bridlington appearing with Frank Carson, Mick Miller, and Linda Nolan.

Adele has worked in many Pantomimes including playing Prince Charming in a Production of Cinderella at the Sunderland Empire along side Mark Little (Joe Mangel - Neighbours), Rebekah Elmaloglou (Sophie – Home and Away) and Alex Papps (Frank - Home and Away), also playing Prince Charming at the Queens Theatre Barnstable. She also played Prince Florizel in a production of Sleeping Beauty again at the Sunderland Empire. Adele has also played Aladdin in Wolverhampton in a production of the same name incidentally she also choreographed this production. Adele also appeared in a Production of Cinderella at the Pavilion Theatre Rhyl along side Gayle and Gillian Blakeney (Alessi Twins - Neighbours).

She also appeared up and down the UK as a Magicians Assistant appearing on the same bill as Ken Dodd and Gary Wilmot.

Adele has taught for “Stage Coach Stage Schools” in Bolton, she was also the dance teacher at YPT (Youth Pavilion Theatre Group) and was Jazz Tutor for Swansea Grand summer school as well as running her own summer school “Stage Crazy” in Blackburn, she has also taught at “Congleton Dance and Health Studio”.

Choreography engagements include YPT Productions of “The Boyfriend” and “The Wizard of Oz”, Rhyl and District Operatic Society productions of “Brigadoon” and “Annie Get Your Gun”, Production of “The Railway Children” at the Pavilion Theatre Rhyl, also the award winning production of “Midsummer Nights Dream” at Theatre Clwyd and Bodelwyddan Castle. Adele has also been responsible for the choreography for various fashion shows and of course all the Gay Harris Dancers Productions.

Adele has appeared in Coronation Street, Brookside, Hollyoaks, Emmerdale, and the ITV Granada Drama series Reckless. back to top

Helen Ridehalgh (Guest Vocal Coach)

Helen was born in Lytham St. Anne’s, educated locally and then at the Royal Northern College of Music where she specialised in singing, performing in Pilgrims Progress, Cendrillon, Maid of Orleans & Die Fledermaus.

In 1993 she joined Buxton Festival Opera for the Summer Season. Operatic excerpts include Smeton (Anna Bolena), Flosshilde (Gotterdammerung), Second lady (Die Zauberflote) and Diana (La Calisto).

In August 1997, Helen performed the title role in Jim Thomas’s Jeanne d’Arc at the Edinburgh Festival. She has appeared as a soloist in recitals and oratorio including appearances with Lytham St.Anne's Choral Society.

Helen has a busy teaching schedule combining her role as a primary school teacher at Kirkham Grammar Junior School, a private singing teaching practice and running a part- time theatre school. back to top

Laura Jones (Guest Dance Tutor)
Laura began dancing at the young age of four with the Gay Harris Dancers .It was then that Laura developed her interest in the performing arts after completing her A Levels Laura studied at West Cheshire College gaining a National Award in Professional Performance as well as gaining advance level in ISTD Modern,Tap and RAD Ballet .At the age of nineteen Laura was awarded a full scholarship to the Hammond School a vocational college for dance and musical theatre gaining a National Diploma in Professional Dance. In her final year students formed a European touring Company "TaudeVan" taking them as far as field as Berlin performing excerpts from musicals and films including Saturday Night Fever, Mamma Mia, Chicago, Forbidden Broadway, Grease and Rent.

Since graduating from College Laura has had a busy year in the business. Dancing in Hot Legs,Casino Figueira , Portugal for Patrice Marques as 1st swing for solo whilst having her own solo. Laura then spent the festive season in Lebanon Beruit in Sexy Lady in Casino du Liban for Showstoppers. Laura's Television credits include dancing on S4C's Nosan Lawen,Nia,and more recently featured in Channel four soap Hollyoaks and the latest Robinsons commercial. Laura's theatre credits include performing A Night of the Stars, alace Theatre Manchester for Sue Jenkins, Narnia event with Sugababes, Will Young and Lionel Richie,Encore Theatre Clwyd,Pavilion Theatre as Princess Jasmine in Pantomime Aladdin for UK Productions, She also performed four consecutive years as senior dancer for UK Productions Pantomimes. Incidentally her first appearance in pantomime was as a Juvenile Dancer with the Gay Harris Dancers at five years old.

Laura would like to thank her family and friends for there continued support and a big thank you to the pupils and Mrs Harris and Adele who always welcome Laura back with open arms .

We are proud to have her teaching here whenever she can.

Laura is due to set sail aboard Costa Romantica Cruise ship and looks forward to the adventure. back to top

Joanne Brett (Dance Tutor)

Joey began dancing at the age of 3 with the Gay Harris Dancers appearing in all their shows and started assisting with classes at 12. Although her love of performing was strong she decided to go to John Moors University, Liverpool and gained a degree in Accounting and Finance while still helping with classes and rehearsals when ever possible as her heart was still in performing.

After working as Front of House Manager at the Pavilion Theatre she joined the Marketing Team in Venue Cymru in 2005.

Joey appeared in Panto twice as a juvenile dancer at the Pavilion theatre and also as a senior dancer in Jack & the Beanstalk in 1997/1998 as well as appearing with the Cabaret group Danzon in Llandudno.

She now spends most of her spare time teaching and assisting with shows and is a great asset to the school. back to top

Tara Leigh (Guest Dance Tutor)

Tara began her training from the young age of two and a half years old initially as a pupil with The Gay Harris Dancers, and also a pupil of TIC Theatre In the Community as well as being a Junior Associate at The Urdang Dance Academy in London. Tara was then awarded a full scholarship moving to London to continue her training in Millennium Performing Arts College. She has graduated with a National Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre and dance. Television Credits include dancing on ‘S4C’ Welsh Television as a winner of the National Eisteddfod on numerous occasions and appeared on HTV and BBC Channel dancing. Tara’s theatre credits include performing at Riverside Studios Theatre London, Baker Street Theatre London, St.Albans Theatre, Central Drama Theatre London, Millennium Theatre London, St. Helens Theatre Liverpool and the Pavilion Theatre Rhyl to name a few in various different performances. Tara has also performed in numerous Professional Pantomimes as a juvenile dancer before continuing her training in London. Performance experience includes shows of Chicago, Oklahoma, Honk, Joseph and his Technicolor Dream Coat, Kes, The Sound of Music, Barnum and Guys and Dolls to name a few.

Since Graduating Tara has performed and assisted with Choreography on the Ocean Majesty Cruise Ship with Sapphire Entertainment Company and performed on the P&O Oriana Cruise ship with Headliners Theatre Company. back to top