Betty Laine
Encyclopedia
Betty Laine OBE
, is a British dance teacher and former professional dancer.
, Wales
in the United Kingdom
, Betty Laine was educated at the Ursuline Convent School
in Brentwood
, Essex
, and received her vocational training in dance and theatre at the Romford
branch of the Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts, receiving tuition from Marjorie Davies, Joyce Percy and Daphne Peterson. She would go on to work extensively as a dancer in the theatre and television industry. After retiring from the professional world, she transitioned into teaching as a director of the Frecker-Laine School of Dancing in Epsom
, Surrey
. She ultimately developed the school into a full time dance and musical theatre college, today's Laine Theatre Arts
, established in 1974. The college is now recognised amongst the leading performing arts institutions in the UK, with former students working worldwide in dance and theatre, including West End
and Broadway
musicals, dance companies, television, film and pop music. In recognition of her work, Laine was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2002, for services to the Performing Arts.
, a dance teaching and examination board. She received her certification as a dance teacher with the organisation, and would eventually be appointed as an examiner for the Classical Ballet and Modern Theatre faculties. She is now a member of the Grand Council, the main administrative body of the organisation, and also works as a lecturer and adjudicator.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, is a British dance teacher and former professional dancer.
Biography
Born Betty Chamberlaine in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Betty Laine was educated at the Ursuline Convent School
Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School
Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School is a Catholic Voluntary Aided comprehensive school in Brentwood, Essex. In September 1999 the school became a specialist Arts College.-Admissions:...
in Brentwood
Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, and received her vocational training in dance and theatre at the Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
branch of the Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts, receiving tuition from Marjorie Davies, Joyce Percy and Daphne Peterson. She would go on to work extensively as a dancer in the theatre and television industry. After retiring from the professional world, she transitioned into teaching as a director of the Frecker-Laine School of Dancing in Epsom
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. She ultimately developed the school into a full time dance and musical theatre college, today's Laine Theatre Arts
Laine Theatre Arts
Laine Theatre Arts is an independent performing arts college, based in the town of Epsom in Surrey, England. The college was founded in 1974, and developed from an earlier school, the Frecker-Laine School of Dancing...
, established in 1974. The college is now recognised amongst the leading performing arts institutions in the UK, with former students working worldwide in dance and theatre, including West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
and Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musicals, dance companies, television, film and pop music. In recognition of her work, Laine was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2002, for services to the Performing Arts.
ISTD
Laine is a senior member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of DancingImperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing is a leading dance teaching and examination board based in London, England and operating internationally. Established on 25 July 1904 as the Imperial Society of Dance Teachers, it changed to its current name in 1925 and is now a registered educational...
, a dance teaching and examination board. She received her certification as a dance teacher with the organisation, and would eventually be appointed as an examiner for the Classical Ballet and Modern Theatre faculties. She is now a member of the Grand Council, the main administrative body of the organisation, and also works as a lecturer and adjudicator.