Jan Mizen has taught majorettes and dancing to two generations of children living mainly on Canford Heath.
She began teaching at Oakdale Methodist Hall in 1972 and continued her lessons in a small hut after moving to live on the new housing estate on the heath a year later.
This became an inspiration for a community hall to be built so young dancers had somewhere more suitable to learn their routines.
Jan started Poole Majorettes in 1976 to join in the Canford Heath Carnival. The majorettes won many awards, including the Jersey Battle of the Flowers.
Many of the pupils went on to dance and teach professionally, including her daughter Heidi who won awards for majorettes and dancing and now teaches in the US.
A Western Association of Ballet Schools member, Janson Modern Stage School today does a show at the Pavilion and Canford School Layard Theatre.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here