A Sheffield dance teacher was awarded for her 53 years of outstanding contribution to education at the Lord Mayor Awards on 13 March. 

Cheriene Bailey, 70, first started teaching dance at 17 years old when she opened her own business and said that she doesn’t know life without dance and teaching is what she was born to do.

Mrs Bailey has taught thousands of students across Sheffield, many of whom have gone on to have professional careers from ballet dancers to performing on the West End. 

One former student, Jay Olpin, now stars in The Play That Goes Wrong on the West End. He said he carries the discipline that Mrs Bailey taught him in his acting. 

He described Mrs Bailey as ”Incredibly passionate, very ambitious and very inspiring, very dedicated and had real amazing attention to detail.”

He said: “One time when I was around 12 she said I was perfect – that moment always stayed with me.

“Her words meant something.”

When talking about her former students, Mrs Bailey said: “We’ve had lots of success but also I’ve been very keen on high standards, but also I’ve been very much a friend and mentor to thousands of children and students.”

Jacob Whawell first joined Bailey-Cox Dance Academy at 8-years-old. He has since gone on to perform all over the world on cruise ships and starred in the West End show Cats. 

He said: “Cheriene had the most incredible command of any room she walked into. Forever poised, she grabbed everyone’s attention and focus, and without ever raising her voice, was instantly respected.

“She helped raise many generations of young people and really made the community a better place.” 

Adam Davies first started dancing at 3-years-old when he saw his sister in class. 

He said: “Mrs Bailey could be quite scary but that was more because she wanted the most out of everybody.”

Adam has since gone on to work in 14 different countries at various ballet and contemporary companies. 

The professional dancer described the time Mrs Bailey watched him perform at The Lyceum in Sheffield as a “full circle moment”.

Mrs Bailey spoke about her love for Sheffield at the mayoral awards: “We’re a northern city, it’s very friendly, very caring and It’s a beautiful place to live.”

She now teaches adult dance classes for older students. Speaking about this, she said: “I’m in a position to become their friend and it feels like we’re forming a community for those people and that’s really special.”