JLC Dance School

The early years

I started dancing at the age of 21/2 in a school in Runcorn were I learnt to Tap dance, when my parents move the family back to Crosby I took ballet and at the age of 6 started Ballroom and Latin American and later Freestyle and Classical Sequence.

Over the years I have attended many schools

Millingtons in Bootle,

Redmonds in Crosby,

Standfords in Blundelsands,

Bullens in Birkdale,

Hansons School of Dance, Southport

Vericos in Southport

and have learnt alot from the teacher in these school, Margaret Redmond, and her father Alf, Ken and Edna Cooper, David Bullen, Joan Hanson, Bob and Vergina Verrico and Iris Mayers and her sons Ian and Derick but the person I attribute most of my skills as a dancer and teacher is the late Eric Lashbrooke (Ex world Euopean, and British Champion ) who was my coach, collegue and great friend for many years.

See a tribute to eric at http://www.dance2drama.com/Eric/

My first studio

Having qualified as a teacher of dance in 1989, I worked for vaious dance and performing art studios before opening The Janet Lee School of Dance at the Sussex Dance Centre Southport in 1993, with the help of Eric, and my then dance partner David Doyle and a young newly qualified teacher Sharn Whitaker.

Eric and me at Sussex Dance Centre

Dance Steps

In 1995 we moved the Janet Lee school of dance to Southport town centre to run Dance Steps a studio based just of Lord Street. In the same year we entred a four couple team in the Nortwest team match of the Guild of Professional Teachers of Dance taking first place.

David and me at Dance Steps

David and I also did various displays in Ballroom and Latin American including the Roy Castle Appeal Dinner Dance.

In 2000 I married and closed Dance Steps The Janet Lee- Chapman School of dance was born (JLC dance) and after a few years in varous hall we moved in to the Academy of the Bullen School of Dance run by David Bullen. By now I had a new dance partner Keith Jones and it was with Keith that I worked for the Tate Northen, Channel 5 and the Liverpool Bienial in 2004.

Working with the Tate

Swirl by Valeska Soares saw a gallery at the Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, transformed into a mirrored ballroom with dancers Janet Lee Chapman and Keith Jones and some of their pupils performing the Rumba.

Tate Liverpool is gearing up for the Liverpool Biennial, the UK’s largest contemporary visual art event, with a series of twenty-two new projects by some of the most respected contemporary artists across the world. Collectively titled International 2004, the series of events will offer the chance to see new commissions that reflect the character and culture of Liverpool – a theme that naturally lies at the heart of the Biennial and is explored collaboratively with city venues and organisations.

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Brazilan Artist Valeska Soares created her mirrored ballroom, complete with chandeliers in references to the dance culture of the city of Liverpool

Soares has put the walls at a slight angle, so we do not simply see our reflections but find ourselves returned within an illusion of infinite space, meeting the image of others. Swirl thus refers not only to the movement in social dance but equally to the dissipation of time and space. The setting becomes the playground for a performative identity negotiated between escapism and social bonding, forever spiralling between desire, perceptual illusions and reality checks. Dancers perform throughout the duration of the Biennial and in a series of planned events visitors are given the opportunity to learn ballroom dances with Janet Lee Chapman and Keith Jones.

Press Releases

Observer

There are some tremendous pieces here that respond imaginatively to that brief: Valeska Soares's mirror-clad 'infinity ballroom' (beautifully exploited on my visit by local ballroom-dance teachers Janet Lee Chapman and Keith Jones)

The Guardian scouse stew

More fun can be had in Valeska Soares's ballroom back at the Tate. With mirrored walls, floor and ceiling, this infinity chamber means the room is always crowded, even if you dance alone with your multiple reflected selves. Some excellent amateur ballroom dancers were there on my visit, leading a growing number of audience members to take a turn.

Liverpool Daily Post 27/10/04

'The moment I realised the debt society owes to arts '
Matt Johnson, Managing Director of Mando Group on Valeska Soares’ Swirl (International 04)

‘Then there was one piece of art that changed my whole outlook of the day. It was a ballroom. When you walked into the room you couldn’t help but smile and start to dance. Surely this is what art is all about - changing the way we perceive our current and existing environment.’

Come Dancing at Tate Liverpool

Saturday 27 November 2004, 14.00–17.30

We are inviting all visitors, young and old, to join us for an afternoon of dance in Swirl, Valeska Soares' mirrored ballroom, complete with chandeliers and music. Trained dance instructors Janet Lee Chapman and Keith Jones will be on hand to guide you through the foxtrot, rumba, salsa and much more desides. Why not give it a try?

Thankyou

Janet and Keith would like to thank

Peter and Sandy, Pam and Andy, Graham and Sheila, Peter and Gillian and esspecaly David and Nancy for giving their time to dance at Swirl

Today

I now live on the Fylde Coast with my husband Dick who I am afraid is not a dancer and my two dogs Bill and Ben who don't dance either.

I now opperate out of the Blackpool area with classes at
Winstone Studio Friargate Preston

The Dance Studio Watery Lane Preston

Spirit The Venue North Promenade Cleveleys and

As Fusion www.fusion-blackpool.com

As the word says a Fusion of the Janet Lee Chapman School of Dance (JLC Dance) and Caroline Armstrong's Dance school.

I am also an Examiner for the UKA which takes me to different dance schools and a British Dance Council Adjudicator.