Spalding School Of Dance marks 25 years with a surprise milestone party for teacher

More than 200 students, friends and family members helped to organise a surprise party for a dance teacher to mark a special 25 year anniversary.

Spalding School Of Dance teacher Claire Patman, was left in the dark, as colleagues and students worked together to keep the celebration a secret.

She was blindfolded and driven around Spalding while everyone got in position to reveal the surprise held at the dance studio, on Rangell Gate, at the weekend.

Lorraine King, who has worked alongside Claire for 23 years, said: “When they pulled up at the studio, everyone stayed as quiet as they could. When they removed the blindfold she was quite emotional to see everyone and definitely wasn't expecting to see the volume of people.

“Some of the students travelled quite a distance to attend the party to say thank you and show what a difference coming to dance classes has made to their personal and professional lives.”

Claire set up Spalding School of Dance on her 21st birthday and started dancing when she was eight. Lorraine added: “She was a very shy child and her mum wanted to do something that could bring her out of her shell.

“We wanted to celebrate the anniversary because 25 years is quite a milestone. We all felt very proud and the day was amazing, there was such a good atmosphere and there were more than 220 people in the studio.

“There was a bouncy castle, balloons and banners on display, a fun quiz all about Miss Claire and the dance studio, speeches from previous students who have gone on to perform in dance and musical theatre, her oldest son and his friend sang a song for her and our senior dance group performed a dance for us – Claire had absolutely no idea and it was a complete surprise for her.”