Laura Crane Trust

Dance Against Cancer

“When she was three years old, Laura made her stage debut at Bradford Alhambra – one of Dorothy Stevens' little girls who took part in her professional extravaganza in alternate years, with older students and with some who had gone on to graduate from world class ballet schools.  I have a lovely album of treasured photos of Laura’s dancing days, when she and I had great fun during theatre productions with some of the cast of 'Emmerdale Farm' and when I  helped her at home to practice what she'd learned at her lessons.  She always kept that grace that dancers often have and I still look back with pleasure on her dancing days, as do her older brothers."

Jacquie Roeder – Laura’s mother, Founder and Chair of Trustees, who managed the charity for its first 13 years, since its inception in 1996 until August 2009.

Laura loved to dance.  She inspired this appeal and in turn inspired dance schools across the country to ‘Dance Against Cancer’.  Since October 2003 ‘Dance Against Cancer’ has so far raised over £30,000 for our work.

We are also very pleased that the Northern Ballet Theatre has supported our 'Dance Against Cancer' appeal by promoting it to their audiences and offering prizes to top fundraisers.

Dance comes in many forms:

National and folk dancing, sword dancing, ballroom dancing, ballet, tap and modern, country dancing, Morris dancing, square dancing and many more. Below are some ideas to get you started.

The Deborah Bond Dance Academy held a ‘Bring a Buddy Week’ at all five branches of the school and raised £1394.95!  Pupils paid to bring their ‘buddies’ to class, one pupil brought along most of a local rugby team!

The Glenda Egan School of Dancing raised £1412 by putting on a Christmas show. They held a raffle and an auction and got a local celebrity DJ to accept the cheque on the Trust’s behalf.

Dance@Stirling Students' Union raised £514.40 through a 12 hour dance marathon

The Oakley School of Dance raised £489 from a one hour tap marathon

The Elaine Storey Dance School organised 'The New Maytime Dance Festival' and raised £1272.51.