IT WAS the final curtain for a group of ground-breaking dancers in Dawlish at their last training session.

But their last hurrah was choreographed and taught by none other than a dance teacher who works on the iconic BBC series Strictly Come Dancing. 

Teacher Jenny Thompson has been helping the Dawlish Dancers with their unique routines since their previous tutor left.

However the dancers’ last training session, held at the Manor House, was a poignant event and marked with a specially made cake.

Chairman Gwen Wheddon explained: ‘This is our last dance session,

‘We have been running since 2009 but we need someone in the group to take over.

‘This committee has been running it since 2012 but with the loss off our fantastic teacher Anna Leatherdale who has taught us for 11 years, and no one else wanting to take over, we can’t carry on.

‘We need a teacher with a unique flare to continue our performances.’

The 15 members enjoyed their last training session before hanging up their dancing shoes. 

Their former teacher Anna was described by Gwen as ‘fairly uncommon’ and taught the group routines she choreographed herself which included Charleston, Bollywood, country and western and ballet.

Gwen explained: ‘When we first went to a multi group event, we didn’t know how radical this was.

‘Other dance groups were doing contemporary routines but Anna has been prepared to go outside the norm.’

Over the last 11 years, the group of more mature female dancers has learned more than 30 routines and performed at events in Dawlish and beyond.