Let's Dance! (Hassocks)
A history and introduction by Principal, Robin
Dance classes had been held at Keymer Church Hall for many years.

In 1987 the existing School Principal retired and a dear friend of Robin's, whose daughter attended the school, contacted her knowing she was a qualified dance teacher.  

Let’s Dance was ‘born’ on Saturday 7th November 1987 with Robin (Irene Bates) as Principal and sole teacher. Robin first got her ‘bird’ name when she ran 1st Hassocks Guides for 10 years and this theme is continued in the dance classes being named after birds. Naming the school ‘Let’s Dance!’ seemed to identify Robin’s aim to teach dance with an element of fun.

Opening with 40 pupils, private classes were soon being held on Wednesday afternoons in the back room and the School quickly grew to lessons on 4 days a week.   In 1989 the first of regular Shows in aid of Children’s Charities every two years at The Martlets Hall was staged – ‘Let’s Dance Presents….Let’s Dance for Children’   Since then over £40,000 has been raised for various Children’s Charities (please see the Charity page).   The annual BBC Children In Need Appeal is also included in the fundraising by holding sponsored Tap Dancing Sessions at Keymer Church Hall which has been a very popular event for many years.

Let’s Dance also charitably entertains the less able elder citizens. For several years pupils and helpers travelled to Merton in South London on a double decker bus to entertain housebound people. This was at the invite of the Merton Lions of which Robin’s parents were members. Over the years many performances have been given in various Nursing and Residential Care Homes and since 2008 has regularly performed at Valerie Manor in Upper Beeding which is run by Robin’s elder daughter Zoe who used to be a pupil of Let’s Dance and has herself given a Tap dance demonstration to the Residents with her Mum!
 
Displays of Country and Maypole Dancing, plus numbers from Shows have been performed at Fetes, Fayres, St. George’s Day, Christmas and many other events.
 
For many years a float was decorated in keeping with the theme of the Hassocks summer Fayre. The float lorry being on loan, plus driver Jim, from Corralls. Parents spent the morning of the Fayre decorating the lorry for the Parade and pupils dressed up to ride through the village to Adastra Park.
 
Over the years 3 generations of some families have attended classes with Robin.

Robin’s Biography
Robin started dancing at the age of 7 on the advice of her doctor who suggested it would help her Asthma and Bronchitis……it did! Within a couple of years she was completely in love with dance attending classes three days a week.
 
She lived to dance and performed in various shows and festivals as well as entering for Medals and Syllabus Examinations. Robin gained her Teacher Qualifications but then out of the blue and to the dismay of her parents, decided to give up dancing! - perhaps it was being a ‘Swinging Chick of the '60s’ that was the cause! Her Mum and Dad were however absolutely delighted when the now married with children Robin opened her own school ‘Let’s Dance’!
 
Robin and John have 3 Children. Damon the eldest performs in and teaches Marching Bands having also realised his dream of Marching as a guest in American Drum Corps Bands. He also managed the sound system for Robin’s last Show in 2011. Zoe runs Valerie Manor Nursing and Residential Care Home for which Robin is the Activities Co-ordinator. Sally-Ann has enabled Robin to take a sigh of relief by following in her footsteps in preparing to run the school keeping Let’s Dance! (Hassocks) alive.