A Cleethorpes woman has been tap dancing for nearly 70 years and isn't planning on hanging up her shoes anytime soon. Janet Dix, 76, fell in love with tap when she was just nine years old and hasn't stopped. She started her hobby with a lady everyone knew as Auntie Vie, being trained to the best possible standards. She went on to appear in a number of shows at the Pier as well as performing in a range of charity events with her twin sister. Soon, she started making a name for herself and, in 1985, she opened her own dance school in Immingham with up to 200 students at a time. Read more : Scunthorpe man hoping for dream wedding after tragic
cancer diagnosis Around 10 years later, Janet retired from the teaching scene and called it a day. However, she never stopped dancing and was recently inducted into the International Dance Teacher's Association for her 40 years of service. Now, she teaches people of all ages how to tap dance and says her love for it is what keeps her going. She said: "I started tap dancing at the age of nine and quickly became part of a dancing troop who performed all over the area, including The Pier and The Empire before they shut. I loved every minute of it and I seemed to take to it straight away. Janet Dix, 76, says her secret to keeping going is enjoying what she does and staying active (Image: Grimsby Live) "I got the bug from the moment I started and I've never looked back since. The more we were there, the more my sister and I did. We would often be taken to clubs and perform our own act whilst people got changed for their next dance or something." Janet was one of the four original Continentals in the area, often performing at the Winter Gardens and also in local pantomimes. "During panto season, we'd turn up in the morning with our suitcases and get sent off to where ever we were wanted, whether that was Grimsby, Cleethorpes or sometimes up near Market Rasen. Janet teaches people up to the age of 80 how to tap dance and says her love for it is what keeps her going (Image: Grimsby Live) "I was doing that pretty much straight away and loved every second of it." After years on stage, Janet was asked to be a teacher at a friend's dance academy, but originally turned it down. However, after some persuasion, she decided to go for it and have done so for 40 years. In 1985, she opened up the Janet Dix dance school in Immingham and spent 10 years teaching children. "At its height, we had 200 students and we would constantly be helping the local community and raising money for charity. "I left all that behind at one point, but I just loved it so much, it had always been a part of me. After retiring, I wasn't happy not doing it so I started doing it five hours a week as more of a hobby than anything." However, at 76, Janet is far more active than others her age and says her secret is her love for tap dancing. "It keeps me fit and makes sure my brain is ticking over. I absolutely love it and we have 60 members coming here every week to learn, I don't think I'll ever give it up." READ NEXT 'My favourite quality about him is his wallet!' - Couple with 'great banter' celebrate 60th wedding anniversary X Factor's Ella Henderson shows off new 'glam' look in bathrobe - but it's not what it seems 'I haven't had hot water for a week and I'm making cups of tea with my log burner' Hero Grimsby teacher thought his 'time was up' during crocodile encounter 'Boxing will only get bigger' says Grimsby's Levi Giles after landmark title fight Read More Related Articles Tributes for 'courageous' Anita, 43, who has tragically lost cancer battle Read More Related Articles Homeless man whose tent was set on
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