Stepping out to success

Her Zenith dance School at Lowton has seen hundreds of successful students step out through its doors and on to successful lives.

Jean, who leads classes at Lowton Civic Hall with her daughter Beverley Garland, is now teaching a new generation of winners.

At the 21st Lowton Dance Festival a team of the champion school's mothers shared the Classic Trio Trophy with their daughters.

Mums Wendy Valentine, Janet Howarth and Janet Gildart teamed up to take on daughters Shannon, Katy and Catherine and were delighted to tie for first prize.

Star of the festival was Wendy Valentine who collected eight trophies for novice solo ballet, novice solo tap, most promising musical comedy, the adjudicator's award and the novice highest mark award

She also won the song and dance duet and the national duet prizes partnered by Janet Gildart and the classic trio.

Other winners were: Abigail Seddon (open solo modern); Lucy Corless (open solo tap); Abigail Seddon (open solo musical comedy 10-13); Janet Gildart (novice solo national), Jessica Part (most promising national, Bethany Furby (most promising character), Shannon Valentine (most promising Greek classical).

Aimee Baker (most promising open solo); Jessica Calland (most promising novice solo); Becky Barham (baby cabaret (5and under); Jessie Calland and Laura Roberts (ballet duet); Aimee Baker and Abigail Seddon (modern duet).

Zenith Intermediate Group (Greek classical); Zenith Senior Troop (Second Cabaret Group); Beck Barham (baby aggregate champion); Aimee Baker (aggregate champion 10 and 11yrs).

Janet Gildart and Wendy Valentine (aggregate champion 18 and over); Laura Roberts (novice-open mixed aggregate champion); Jessica Calland (novice-open mixed aggregate second place); Aimee Baker (classical aggregate champion); Mrs Furby (costume award); Alex Roberts (chairman's award); Abigail Seddon (school award open highest mark).

Zenith won the Schools' Open Championship, Novice Championship and Overall Championship.