Janet Lee Chapman...is a Northwest based Choreographer, and Dance Teacher who has worked in the industry
for 20 years. Her area of expertise is very broad and covers Latin American, Ballroom, including American Style, Tango, Salsa,
Swing, Freestyle, Street, Rock n Roll, Theatre Dance (Ballet, Jazz, Tap) and Drama. She uses studio's in Blackpool
and Preston, Lancashire.
My Qualifications
UKA Duel Examiners Diploma in
Theatre (Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Drama,) and
Ballroom ( Standard, Latin American, Freestyle)
A British Dance Council Championship Adjudicator in Ballroom, Latin, Freestyle
& Rock 'n' Roll
And hold
ADA Associate Diploma in Standard Ballroom
ADA Associate Diploma in Classical Ballet
UKA Associate, Licentiate, and Fellow Diplomas in Standard Ballroom
UKA Associate, Licentiate, and Fellow Diplomas in Latin American
UKA Associate and Licentuate Diplomas in Feestyle (Disco)
UKA Registered coach Diploma in Hip Hop & Street
UKA Registered coach Diploma in Oriental Dance
UKA Registered coach Diploma in American Style Ballroom
UKA Registered coach Diploma in Rock 'n' Roll
UKA Registered coach Diploma in Cheer Dance
UKA Diploma in Basic Anatomy
Licenced and insured to teach
Melody Movement,
Milligan Momement
Melody First Ballet.
Member of the Guild of Professional Teachers of Dance
The early years
I started dancing at the age of 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 teachers 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.
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 David and I 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
We also did various displays in Ballroom and Latin American including the Roy Castle Appeal Dinner
Dance at the Blundellsands hotel Crosby.
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.
Sadly
Eric died in 2005 and never did get to see me become a Fellow in Latin American or and Examiner
for the UKA.
and in 2006 I stopped teaching in Southport.
Moving North a found a studio in Preston (Winstone Studio) ideal for private lessons and did some classes
at The Dance Studio Watery Lane and also at the Vennue Cleveleys.
Private lessons at Norbreck Bowling and Tenis Club Blackpool
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.
.
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
