Annual award to dancer in memory of much-loved teacher

A statuette will be presented annually in memory of Joy Beadell, who died last year in New Zealand aged 87.

The trophy will be awarded to the young dancer adjudged to approach ballet with the same dedication and artistry as Miss Beadell, who taught in Darlington for more than 40 years.

Royal Academy of Dance teacher Rachel Harrison, based in Darlington, was taught by Miss Beadell and attributes her success in dancing to the influence of her former teacher.

She added: "She brought so much joy and her talents as a teacher will live on in her students. She was teaching in the area for a long time and gave a sense of enjoyment through dance to her pupils.

"She was a very good teacher, and I just feel it would be nice for her to be remembered in the region."

Miss Beadell took up dancing after suffering a bad attack of scarlet fever as a child. A doctor told her dancing could help her recovery and it soon became a way of life.

When she was 18, Miss Beadell was accepted into the Russian Ballet, but with the Second World War looming, her mother refused to let her leave home.

She became heavily involved with amateur dramatics, and regularly donated money to keep Darlington Civic Theatre afloat.

She became director and president of Darlington Operatic Society and produced dance shows all around the region.

In 1988, Miss Beadell moved to Auckland in New Zealand to be closer to her son, Eoin, and daughter, Fiona, and within weeks of her arrival had set up another dance school.

In 2002, she was honoured by the Royal Academy of Dance with the special president's award to mark the Queen's jubilee.

She died peacefully in August last year following a bout of pneumonia.

The winner of the Joy Beadell Memorial Award will be chosen from those taking part in the North-East scholarship auditions, held in Darlington in September.

For more information on the auditions, or to make a donation towards the statuette, contact Debbie White on 01325-247791.