Kickers dance

Her tuition has helped give talented dancers a leg-up in following their dream; a handful of whom have performed alongside superstars Sue said: “I feel very proud of them but they have done a lot themselves and they should feel proud of their achievements. “Dancing is a very hard profession and there is a lot of competition.”
Sue, who coaches at Kickers Dance Studio in Chesterfield, never had a burning ambition to become a professional dancer herself. She said: “I always wanted to teach. I liked being creative with choreographing dances and making dances up.”

The fruits of her labour will be showcased in the school’s show in the Pomegranate Theatre this week. She said: “Our shows are the icing on the cake and it’s great to see people enjoying them.
“I’m never nervous when we are at the theatre because we have done all we can. We encourage the performers to enjoy it because they’ve worked hard.”
This year’s production - entitled Simply The Best - will feature the third generation of her students. Sue taught Suzanne Hutton, then her daughters Kimberley and Tara and now teaches Tara’s daughter, Violet, who is four. Violet will be appearing in The Ugly Duckling sketch in the show.

Sue was just 13 when she took her first steps towards teaching dance by helping out her teacher, Pauline Thorpe.
Two years later, she set up her own school after Pauline left the area to become a physical training instructor in the Army. Sue launched the Spire Academy of Dance at the old Catholic Church hall in New Whittington and had just one pupil, Janet Fretwell. 
After the Catholic hall was knocked down, Sue moved to St Barnabas Church hall in New Whittington and later set up other branches at Holme Hall Community Centre, Whitecotes School at Boythorpe, Eagle Club in Newbold and in a 
school hall in Eckington.
In 1982, her school. which was now called Kickers, took over the upstairs premises above a baker’s shop on Sheffield Road, Whittington Moor. When the downstairs became vacant 20 years later, Kickers expanded and created an additional studio, changing room and reception area.

There are now 180 students at the school who continue to do Sue proud. Jessica Wilbourn lifted the senior scholarship trophy and Cerys Fennell the debut trophy in competitions at Buxton last month.
Sue, who is 65, coaches four days a week and examines on a fifth. While her knees won’t allow some of the dance moves she could do when she was younger, she said: “I can still tap better than most!”

Dancing is in the genes for Sue’s four daughters.
Kelly runs the Brampton branch of Kickers, Rebecca and Jenna teach at Kickers and Laurie was a professional dancer on cruise ships before becoming a mum.
Sue’s expertise and drive have had a profound effect on her offspring who said: “We are extremely proud of mum. She is an inspiration to us all, she is still as hard working and as involved today as she always has been.”
They arranged a surprise summer ball to mark their mum’s milestone in teaching. The 150 guests at the celebration in Brimington’s Ringwood Hall Hotel included past and present pupils.
Sue, who lives at Manknell Road, New Whittington, is married to Sheffield Wednesday coach Kevin Fogg. She said: “He is very supportive, very enthusiastic and likes to get involved.”

They’ve danced with Little Mix, Take That, Kylie Minogue, Sir Elton John, Tina Turner and Sir Cliff Richard in smash-hit films and in top West End shows.
But none of it would have been possible for these girls without the grassroots training at Kickers and the guiding light that is Sue Jones.
Sisters Kristina and Cassie Macmillan, who grew up in Clay Cross, are both professional dancers and have performed for the world’s top artists, on European tours of major musicals and in blockbuster films.

Kristina’s many credits include dancing for Take That, Little Mix, Kylie Minogue and will. i. am., performing on TV shows such as the X Factor and its live arenas show for the past six years, playing Cha Cha in London’s West End musical Grease for two years and appearing in Mamma Mia! the movie.
She said: “Sue gave me performance skills and experience in my field that made me want to go further.”

Cassie has appeared in Thriller Live in the West End, toured Europe with the musical Fame and has appeared in films such as Disney’s Beauty & The Beast and the upcoming Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again movie which will be released next summer.
She said: “Kickers has given me a fantastic platform which has enabled me to have a career in dancing which I am still doing today.”

Lorett Hill from Chesterfield has toured internationally with Sir Cliff Richard and Rachel Stevens, danced for Sir Elton John, Girls Aloud and Prince, and appeared in TV soaps.
She said: “As a professional dancer I had over 10 years with the most amazing opportunities and for that I am truly grateful to Sue for her dedication and support. My early training at Kickers is made up of the happiest of memories. Sue is the most inspiring, talented and caring teacher who provided me with the most exceptional training of which landed me a place at London’s prestigious Performers College - graduation with distinction and the recipient of the Outstanding Achievemnt Performance Award.”
Lorett’s 10-year-old daughter Erin-Grace is following in mum’s footsteps by being part of the Kickers journey.

Clare Turton, who grew up in Eckington has danced for Tina Turner, Cher, Pink and Taylor Swift and now lives in Los Angeles. 
She said: “I have such amazing memories of my time at Kickers, such as a beautiful family of people, such cameraderie and team spirit, encouragement and push. 
“Sue was always our matriach, the captain of our ship and fearless teacher.
“Sue gave me direction, stoked my passion and ambition even more, gave me the confidence nd vehicle to shine and grow. 
“I learned the need for discipline and perseverance but to never forget to love what you do and why you are doing it."