John Nurden

john.nurden@KRNmedia.co.uk

ANNA Greenhalgh liked her old dancing school so much she bought it.

When Hasland Dance Studio in Kings Road, Herne Bay, looked in danger of closing Anna, 22, from Canterbury, moved to take it over.

She said: "The school was established by Muriel Hasland in 1942 and when she retired her daughter Jacqueline Cartwright took it over.

"But when I heard Jacqueline was thinking of retiring I decided to buy it from her.

"I had always wanted to run my own business and I love dancing."

Anna has been dancing since she was three and enrolled at the Hasland School when she was 13. She went on to train as a dance teacher and moved to London, working in the West End.

"Now I have gone full circle," said Anna, who is holding an open day at the school with workshops on Saturday from 10am to 8pm.

She said: "Because of my contacts we will be having some top dancers joining our ten teachers."

Making a special appearance this Saturday is Tommy Franzen, the runner-up in the BBC television show So You Think You Can Dance.

West End dancer Joy Bennett, former pupil Thomas Snee, who has been with the National Ballet of Canada, and English National Ballet dancer Joshua McSherry-Gray will join him.

The school, which has 300 pupils, teaches ballet, modern and tap dance and has recently introduced classes for street dance, musical theatre, Latin and ballroom.

Everyone is welcome to the open day, although workshops must be booked in advance.

For more details visit www.haslanddancestudios.com, www.eventelephant.com/hdsopenday or call Anna on 07872 322268.