About our Principals:

Paula Graves

Paula Graves grew up in her mum's dance school spending all her time surrounded by people who love to dance so it was no surprise that she too wanted to teach people to dance.

It was the film Saturday Night Fever that (although too young to watch it!) bought out her desire to dance to the music. She used to teach all the latest moves during the popular discos at the Stardust Ballroom.

At the age of 14 she was in the first formation team and competed on the BBC’s Come Dancing, a program that she continued to dance in every year with her dance partner, first in the Standard and then in the Latin American sections.

On leaving school at 16 she moved to London where she began her successful career with partner Richard Porter. Together they worked their way up the competitive ranks and at the age of 20 became Open British Ballroom Youth Champions and went on the win the British Latin American Championship. They represented England as part of the British team and travelled all over the World competing and winning many titles.

Paula turned professional with the IDTA in 1990 and her love of teaching and travelling sent her to work with P&O Cruises. It was here that she developed her skill of making dancing fun and many passengers would only travel when they knew that Paula and her partner would be on board. Paula spent four years working with the Stadium Theatre Company in many West End shows that were performed on board.

Today Paula still loves to dance and with her American dance partner Bob Bahrs she travels between the UK and America taking dance lessons and competiting and is still winning World and European titles.

Paula took on the reins of the Stardust Dance Centre from her mum in 2006 and it is because of her highly successful competitive career, her knowledge of dance and love of making dance enjoyable and fun to all ages that she has brought the Stardust Dance Centre into the 21^st century.

Jean Graves MBE

Jean was an open competitor and had been a member of the famous Connie Millington formation team, before moving from her native city of Liverpool to Glossop in 1966, where she started teaching dance at the Crystal Ballroom.

The Stardust Ballroom opened its doors in 1976 and when Disco exploded onto the scene in the 70s, it was the life and soul of Glossop with full houses every Friday and Sunday night. Everyone came to learn all the latest moves from Saturday Night Fever.

During the week, Latin American and Ballroom Dancing was taught with classes catering for all ages. Top competitors from all over the country flocked to Stardust for coaching with the then World Latin American Champions – Sammy and Shirley Stopford.

The first formation team was put together in 1978. The Derbyshire Latin team represented the Midlands and West in the popular BBC’s Come Dancing program for many years working with hosts, Terry Wogan, Angela Rippon, and Rosemary Ford, until the BBC stopped filming the program. The Derbyshire Latin Team went on to become British Champions and represented Great Britain, traveling all over Europe competing in World and European Championships for many years.

With over 40 year’s experience, Jean has produced numerous adult and junior Champion Formation teams which have appeared on many TV programs like Barrymore, Gary Wilmot, Blue Peter, Making Out, as well as Christmas specials and pop videos.

Junior and Juvenile Formation teams also enjoyed success, winning the British Formation Championships at the World famous Blackpool Tower. It was in recognition of this and her dedication to Formation dancing that she met the Queen and received her MBE for services to Ballroom dancing in 2001.

A fabulous dressmaker, Jean has always made all the costumes for the dancers as well as many wedding dresses for team members as they grew older. Many children and grandchildren of past team members now dance at Stardust which is testament to its success.

Still dancing and teaching, Jean spends her retirement sailing on many Cruise Liners teaching people to dance.